This year’s Friday night pasta dinner event will feature a dynamic husband and wife duo from the HOKA NAZ Elite team out of Northern Arizona. Stephanie Bruce (nee Rothstein) is one of America’s most popular female distance runners. Stephanie’s open approach to social media, writing and speaking has made her a role model and inspiration to runners everywhere. She coaches athletes of all ability levels online and hosts, along with her husband Ben, a running camp in Flagstaff each summer. She is also well known as one of the co-founders of Picky Bars. In addition to her business endeavors, she’s really fast! Her 1:10/2:29 half marathon and marathon PRs make her one of the nation’s very best.
Stephanie recently finished 11th among elite women at the New York City Marathon with a time of 2:30:59. This summer she won her first U.S. national title at the 2018 AJC Peachtree Road Race which hosted the USATF 10km road championships. Her winning time of 32:21 was her personal best 10k time. This victory came two weeks after finishing 3rd at 10,000 meters on the track in 32:05.05 at 2018 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa at Drake University.
Ben has represented the United States on four World Championship teams (track, cross country and the half marathon-twice). His range sets him apart as one of the most well-rounded distance runners in the U.S., having run 8:19 for the steeplechase and 1:02:28 for the half marathon. In 2014 Ben won five Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon wins, a feat that garnered him attention throughout the running world, crossing over into the masses.
