#222 Stephanie Bruce: A Career in Running, and the Advice That Surprised Me Most

The Marathon Podcast is now proudly sponsored by Saysky Copenhagen. Use code TMP15 for 15% off at saysky.com. Get 20% off a Strava annual subscription with code KRISTIAN Save on FlexBeam using code WARWICKRUNS or this link: https://rechargehealthas.sjv.io/55GAPb Kristian sits down with Stephanie Bruce, a professional runner of over 15 years and now the head of Project Stamata, supported by Tracksmith, for a conversation Kristian calls pure gold for runners at every level. Stephanie shares her path from a reluctant, unmotivated high school runner to a national champion and longtime pro at HOKA NAZ Elite, and opens up about the sudden loss of her father during her senior year of high school, a moment that changed how she approached the sport. She talks candidly about building a life around running as a mom of three and serial entrepreneur, from co-founding Picky Bars to now leading Project Stamata, a program supporting women chasing the 2028 Olympic Trials. The conversation turns into a genuinely useful masterclass on marathon training, including the one thing Stephanie says matters more than any workout: fueling. In this episode:- A special Boston Marathon cutoff time announcement- From an unmotivated high schooler to a national champion- Losing her father suddenly during her senior year of high school- Building a life in running as a mom of three and serial entrepreneur- Co-founding Picky Bars and years as a pro with HOKA NAZ Elite- Leading Tracksmith's Project Stamata for future Olympic Trials qualifiers- Finding the balance between hardcore dedication and living a full life- Why fueling, not training, is the biggest thing that makes or breaks a marathon cycle- The most common under fueling mistake she sees in athletes- What's next: a national team spot and racing New York in the pro field Timestamps00:00 Welcome and introducing Stephanie Bruce02:10 Announcing the podcast's sponsorship with Saysky Copenhagen02:17 A special Boston Marathon cutoff time announcement06:52 Welcome to Stephanie and the idea behind this series09:05 How she landed the role leading Project Stamata11:19 Stephanie's introduction: 15 years as a pro, mom of three14:00 An unmotivated high school runner living on Chick-fil-A14:10 Her father's cancer diagnosis and declining health14:53 The sudden loss of her father during her senior year29:07 Finding the right level of dedication for each phase of life31:07 Diving deeper into her professional running career36:34 What it means to have Olympian next to your name or not51:11 The most important thing in marathon training51:54 Why fueling makes or breaks a training cycle52:44 The most common under fueling mistake she sees2:13:10 What's next: a national team and racing New York2:14:20 Closing thoughts and thank you to Stephanie Stephanie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephrothstein Start your free Musicbed trial: https://fm.pxf.io/kristianwarwick Full episodes + the Boston 2025 documentary: https://www.youtube.com/@WarwickrunsFollow my training journey on Instagram: @warwick.runsMusic from Musicbed: MB01XPYH8ZYENVAMB0133EV2TCQFZY