Steph Bruce is one of America’s most loved distance runners and our next Athlete of April. She has grit, incredible endurance, and the drive to chase her dreams. Steph took a minute out of her busy day as a mother and professional runner to answer some of our questions!
How do you balance your personal and professional life from family to finish lines?
“I used to think you couldn’t have both. You couldn’t hold space for two truths. Your passion/job and your family. When I became a mom a little part of my confidence faded away. I wondered if I could still set bold goals and have the guts to chase them. Most of the time I’m still figuring out how to balance time, guilt, and space. My life isn’t the same as some other pros and sometimes I feel out of place. But I do know for 2-3 hours of everyday I allow myself to feel like a badass training. Like I’m unstoppable. Like I’ll throw down in the moments I need to. And as I think about the coming days, and months of what I’m trying to achieve, making the Olympic Team, I remind myself, you have to balance in ways that feel sustainable for you.”
How has being a mother empowered you?
“A few years ago a post came up about me that I was just this “mommy blogger” pretending to be a pro runner with mediocre class times. Understandable. From 2013-2015 I was absent from the sport, pregnant with my 2 sons, and clawing my way back to post partum running. I could have stayed hidden. I could have not told you my first run 8 weeks post partum lasted 3 minutes and I just about had my uterus fall out. I could have not shared that my stomach was so separated, people asked me how far along I was at 12 weeks post partum? I could have kept quiet that I was embarrassed about my new body and thought it was failing me. That I wanted to pursue my athletic passions, but I was guilty for leaving home and pumping breast milk on my way to the workout. My workouts that never clicked, my race results that were lackluster. For 3 years. I wanted to throw in the towel. But I also wanted to prove I could come back from 2 babies and not have an asterisk next to my name “that’s a good result for being a mom.” I vowed during this time to leave a mark on the sport beyond my results.”
Running has its ups and downs, successes and failures. What would you tell a young runner who is chasing the Olympic team dream?
“I would tell someone to put in the time, the work. Don’t compare yourself to others or to your former self. Each day is a new opportunity to achieve what you missed yesterday. This attitude has led to the longevity of my career.”
What does the phrase “it takes a village” mean to you professionally and personally?
“It takes a village means you can’t do it alone. And even if you could it’s so much more worth is to have people along the way, supporting, being part of. Because on the days it really comes together, that’s my way of giving back. To all my family, friends, massage therapists, PTs, coaches, agents, sponsors who believe in me and provide every opportunity for me to be successful, that’s the village it takes.”
Running and training at a professional level must be taxing. What are your go-to recovery methods to stay on top of your game and prevent injury?
“After every workout, I’ll usually do some light stretching, make a protein smoothie, hop in a warm epsom salt bath and slip into my ProCompression marathon socks. I have used my PC socks for 8 + years and they have contributed to my lower legs staying healthy, strong, and recovered after putting some heavy mileage on my legs. My favorite are the Marathon Socks in classic black or white.”
What’s next?
“Try to make the US Olympic Team in the 10,000m this summer in Eugene. OR. And get my kids through kindergarten and 1st grade! Both equally daunting.”
