EMOTIONAL RETURN TO MINI FOR STEPHANIE ROTHSTEIN BRUCE
By Chris Lotsbom
(c) 2013 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - Used with permission.

NEW YORK (07-June) -- When Stephanie Rothstein Bruce crossed the Oakley New York Mini 10K finish line in 2012, a wave of emotion hit the always-smiling athlete. The then 28-year-old had run a personal best of 33:04, finished as the top American, and was sixth overall, earning herself a nice prize of $5,000. But none of that mattered to her.

What stood out in her mind was a man named James, her father who called New York his home. The 2012 race was only eight days before Father's Day, and Rothstein Bruce had chosen to dedicate her race to James, who had passed away about eight years before.

"Doing it [setting a personal best and finishing as top American] back here in New York at something like this really brings it full circle for me," Rothstein Bruce said at the post-race press conference, fighting back tears. "He never got to see me race professionally."

Now, one year later, the moment and race is still fresh in her mind.  New York City has come to mean the world to Rothstein Bruce, now 29 and married to steeplechaser Ben Bruce.

"I love New York, I love racing in New York. It just holds a special place in my heart," Rothstein Bruce told Race Results Weekly today.

Rothstein Bruce's connection to her father isn't the only reason she feels at home in New York. The U.C. Santa Barbara graduate was born here, spent her first few days out of the hospital with her mom Joan in --of all places-- a drawer in the Plaza Hotel, and returned for many summers and Christmas celebrations to spend time with her father.

Two years ago, Rothstein Bruce got engaged to husband Ben on Long Island prior to the Fifth Avenue Mile, another reason to make her smile. Not only that, but she's run extraordinarily well in the city, placing as top American at last year's Mini 10K and setting a personal best of 1:10:53 at this year's NYC Half (again as the top American).

"It feels cool. Every race, I just keep getting another reason to love New York," she said with a smile. "I don't know if that just gives me special energy, but there's something about this city. I have the same excitement this year."

Though she doesn't think about it while racing, the city certainly is on her mind before the gun sounds.

"It's like a mojo," she said with a laugh. "Everyone calls New York the place where dreams are made of. It's such an opportunity to run here that I don't want to blow that, so I dig down that much deeper every time I race here to make my roots proud."

At tomorrow's race, Rothstein Bruce hopes to use her love of the city to continue her streak of good fortune.

"Things have been going really well and I'm excited," she said. "Since I've come to New York, I've always shot for top American."

After finishing sixth last year, Rothstein Bruce is eager to improve her placing.

"New York always brings in a great field but I'm really looking forward to mixing it up," she said. "I don't think shooting for that top five is out of reach. I always have my eye on that."

Since finishing 15th at April's Boston Marathon, Rothstein Bruce has gotten in a solid block of training following a two week period off from running. Tomorrow she'll be up against 14 other sub 33-minute 10,000m performers, including 8 other Americans.  Rothstein Bruce feels she has the home field advantage.

"I really do," she emphasized. "I love New York."

PHOTO: Stephanie Rothstein Bruce and husband Ben Bruce before the 2012 Honolulu Marathon (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)


ENDS