Motivation

Q&A with New Balance athlete Jess Bailey

Jess Bailey, a rising middle-distance runner, recently signed with New Balance, marking a major milestone in her athletic career. At 18, Jess reflects on her journey—from early inspirations to overcoming setbacks—and her unwavering ambition to represent Great Britain on the senior stage, with the Olympics firmly in her sights.

Hi Jess, thanks for taking the time to chat. Please could you introduce yourself…

Hey, my name is Jess Bailey. I'm 18 years old, and I'm a middle distance track and cross country runner.

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Thinking about your running journey up to this point, can you share the moment that you knew you wanted to pursue athletics at a competitive level?

Good question! I really enjoyed it as a kid, but I remember one moment that hurt the most was finishing second in English Schools Cross Country Championships, really close to the win. I was so excited because I'd got my first England vest off the back of this, for the SIAB Cross Country, and that was supposed to happen a week later.We then suddenly went into lockdown, and I got that first international experience taken away from me. I was so heartbroken and so determined that I had to get another international representation, because I didn't want my one shot to never happen. So I decided I was going to take this much, much more seriously and try to make a career out of it.

What's one memory from your early days as an athlete that still motivates you, today? 

I remember being in assembly in, like, year five. I'd just got a mile swimming badge, and the head teacher stood at the front and she was joking about ‘our Jess is going to be in the Olympics one day, just watch out’. I remember being sat there and knowing she was trying to be nice, but I could tell she was joking. I remember sitting there thinking, ‘Oh, I want to prove her wrong. I want to actually go to the Olympics.’

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So if you weren't an athlete right now, what do you think you'd be doing?

I would definitely be at university. After university, I'd probably get a camper van, tour around Spain and Europe with a job online that doesn't hold me anywhere. Surfing, climbing, wild camping, just live quite rough. Embrace each day as it comes.

Would you consider yourself a bit of a free spirit? 

I definitely think you don't need a lot of things in life. It makes life a lot more enjoyable when you've got the simple pleasures. I will keep the New Balance trainers though! 

What's one lesson that athletics has taught you that applies to your life outside the sport?

It definitely teaches you discipline, I think. For example, when I had a stress fracture, all of a sudden, I felt like I had no time, because I got so lazy and unmotivated. I watched so much TV. When you don't have that training structure in your day, it kind of falls apart. 

Whereas, ironically, when I was training and competing, I had so much more time to do my school work. I could do the things I enjoyed, because you had so much more energy. So that was kind of the point where I realised actually, a life in athletics, is just so much better. For me anyway.

I think even if you do sport on a low level, it makes a massive difference to your life. You'd think it'd make you tired, you know, run out of time, but actually it makes you so much more productive and happy!

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Who or what inspires you the most in your athletic journey?

I remember being young I found Jessica Ennis really inspiring, mainly because we shared a name and she liked Bruce Springsteen too! I've been so inspired by Beth Potter, and the way she's transferred from track running into triathlon, I think, and the dedication it takes to be a triathlete is incredible, and I've really enjoyed watching that online.

What's a dream milestone you'd love to achieve?
I think the big one for me would be to get a British vest, as a senior. To represent Great Britain on a senior level, you've really made it, and, you know, you've done well in your sport. Whether that takes 2 or 12 years. 

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What does the future look like for you?

I think that's a really good question, because I wish I knew. I don't know.

I try not to think too far ahead and just focus on the process and where we are now. I think you look ahead and there are so many exciting things on the horizon. European under 20s in the summer, there's the European cross next year, but beyond that, there's the Commonwealth in Birmingham, there's the Olympics in ‘28, ‘32.  It can get quite overwhelming, and you don't know. In three months time, I may be in a completely different position, like injured or the opposite, maybe it’s going really, really well. I think that's probably something sports taught me, is how unpredictable it is, and you just don't know where you'll be, when. So we're trying to take each month as it comes and just work with what we've got at the moment.

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