Stephanie Bruce: Pacing the OTQ, Mentorship, and Showing Up for Women in the Sport

Lindsey Hein and Peter Bromka are joined by one of the most respected and generous voices in the sport, Stephanie Bruce, on this episode of Road to the Trials.

Stephanie joined the show during a busy weekend surrounding the California International Marathon, where she played a pivotal role as both mentor and pacer. Through the Tracksmith Stamata team, Stephanie spent the weekend supporting and mentoring a group of women targeting times from sub-2:30 to sub-2:50. On race day, she served as the official pacer for the women’s Olympic Trials Qualifying group, helping guide dozens of athletes through the early and middle miles of CIM.

What makes the weekend even more remarkable is the timeline. Just one day earlier, Stephanie raced at the USA Cross Country Championships in Portland, placing 14th in a gritty effort. Less than 24 hours later, she lined up at CIM and ran 20 miles at OTQ pace in service of others.

In this conversation, Lindsey and Peter talk with Stephanie about:

• Mentorship through the Tracksmith Stamata program

• What it means to pace an OTQ group and put others’ goals first

• Balancing elite competition, coaching, and motherhood

• Longevity in the sport and continuing to show up at the highest level

• Why investing in women at every stage of the journey matters

A mom of three, coach, retreat host, and multiple-time national champion, Stephanie brings perspective, humility, and deep care for the running community. This episode highlights the work that often happens behind the scenes and the people who make moments like CIM possible for so many athletes.

We want to thank NOOGS for supporting this episode. NOOGS are sports nutrition chews created by a registered dietitian who wanted a fueling option that actually tasted good and delivered the electrolytes runners need. Designed to fuel both training and race day, NOOGS combine fast carbs, salt, and great flavors that make fueling something to look forward to. Learn more and save 15 percent on your order at noogsnutrition.com with the code RTT15.