@coachbenrosario1

BOOK SIGNING DAY!! @stephrothstein and I have signed the first batch of the autographed copies of our book. Thanks so much to all of you who’ve purchased yours already. You should get them in the mail any day now!! For those who still want to order, you can get a signed copy from the @naz_elite website (link in profile) or just go on Amazon to for the regular paperback or kindle version. So proud of this project!! #HOKA #journeywithsteph #gritfinale #runningbooks

FOLLOW YOUR HEART The Story of Stephanie Bruce's Not-So-Final Season New book! I'm really proud of this one. I'm proud of Steph, first and foremost, for being willing to do this. She allowed me to document what was meant to be her final season in the fall of 2022, writing a week-by-week journal of her training, her thoughts, her fears, etc. And those thoughts, fears, etc. (as well as a lot of background on her childhood and adolescence) live throughout the book in interview form--transcribed word-for-word--no filter. It's as raw as you'll ever get from a pro athlete. But that's Steph for ya. I don't want to give too much away but I do think if you read the book you'll understand why what was meant to be her final season turned out not to be. I'm also proud of the behind-the-scenes look the book gives the reader into the world of pro running, and into our last year or so at HOKA NAZ Elite. We went from a pretty rough 2021 to an amazing 2022. There were a lot of reasons for that and I tried my best to share those reasons in a brutally honest way (following Steph's example). And then there's the super fun journey the reader gets to go on heading into the NYC Marathon--following not just Steph, but also her teammates Matt Baxter and Aliphine Tuliamuk. Rarely does a marathon segment ever go exactly how you planned it and Allie, Matt, and Steph all had their highs and lows along the way. It was such a pleasure writing about those moments, and those awesome people. If you want to know more about the book (and read some quotes) click on the link in my bio. You can purchase it now either on the nazelite.com website (if you want an autographed copy) or on Amazon (paperback and kindle versions available). Happy Reading!! #HOKA #FlyHumanFly #StephBruce #FollowYourHeart #Running #RunningBooks #TCSNYCMarathon #NYCMarathon

Heck yeah!! The @hoka Rocket X 2 has launched!! This has been a game changer for all of us @naz_elite for the last several months. @marakwetexpress set our half marathon record in them (twice). @masai_alex and @aliphine wore them when they set our men's and women's road 10k records last spring. @stephrothstein won the @usatf 10k champs in them. @bigfoot_sum won the USATF Marathon champs wearing the Rocket X 2. And most recently Aliphine and @haagendazs_86 went 1-2 in them at the USATF half marathon champs in Fort Worth (Aliphine's time was a team record btw). Oh wait...they were also 12th at Boston, 7th at NYC, and helped us win the Pittsburgh Half Marathon, the BOLDERBoulder 10k, the USATF 25k Champs...and the list goes on. Now you can wear them too!! If you're looking to buy a super shoe, or if you want to try a new super shoe, I would HIGHLY recommend the Rocket X 2. And I'm not just saying that. Our athletes who came over from other brands have performed just as well, if not better, in this shoe compared to what they were wearing before. And they know what they're talking about!! And if you do buy them use the link in my profile, or go to the nazelite.com shop page. Portions of your purchase from those links go to the team!! #HOKA #RocketX2 #FlyHumanFly

What a fun weekend in Osaka!! @alicewright139 ran a great race to finish 11th at the @osakawomensmarathon . I got to cheer her on, walk tons of miles around a wonderful city, and meet up with one of my coaching friends, Katsuhiko Hanada (pic above). We talked marathon training for about 90 minutes using a lot of google translate!! Thanks to everyone in Japan for being so accommodating. This was truly one of my favorite race trips ever. I hope to be back someday soon. #HOKA #osakawomensmarathon #osaka #japan

THANK YOU STEPH!! After an amazing morning in NYC on Sunday where @aliphine (7th), @matthewrobertbaxter (12th) and @stephrothstein (13th) ran really fantastic races, we had an awesome night celebrating Steph's final marathon as a pro--her Grit Finale. It was an honor to get up and say a few words, but I focused on only two--gratitude and belief. I said THANK YOU to Steph for believing in what @jenrosario13 and I were building way back in 2014. THANK YOU for believing in me as a coach. And THANK YOU for believing in this whole crazy transition--bringing in a new head coach (@alanculpepper ) even in her final year. It says a lot about Steph, about her loyalty, her character, and her integrity, that she was so open and understanding during this process. But above all it says a lot about her belief in herself. Because coaches, and training, and workouts (earmuffs all you athletes out there)...are a little bit overrated. They're important of course, but they mean nothing without an athlete's belief in oneself. And Steph's belief in herself is why this party was even happening. A 5:00miler in high school, and a good college runner but not great, she believed there was more. Not hoped, not wished...BELIEVED. She believed enough to move to Eugene, Oregon, and eventually Flagstaff, Ariz. She believed even after she found out she had Celiac disease. She believed even after having a baby, and then another. And you know what's really cool? Belief begets belief. Steph's belief in herself rubbed off on her teammates, and our staff. We believed in ourselves, and each other, in a deeper way because of Steph. And that collective belief has been vital to our success. As Steph contemplates her next steps, I have one very simple piece of advice for her. Keep believing in YOU. #journeywithsteph #gritfinale

HUGE DAY for @naz_elite !! This morning we announced that we've signed Futsum Zienasellassie (@bigfoot_sum ) to the team. Futsum ran for us in 2017 and 2018 so I suppose technically we've "re-signed" him. When Futsum was here the first time around I really enjoyed working with him and during the years he was gone (and having quite a bit of success by the way) I often wondered if we may ever be able to get him back. Finally having that happen means a lot to me personally. And I also hope it shows the running fans out there that all of this is just a business--just like any other sport. Athletes and coaches and teams work together, and sometimes they go their separate ways, but that doesn't always mean it was some sort of nasty break up. Sometimes people just need change. And that's okay!! And speaking of change, we've had a lot of it this year, and it's all been for the good. We now have 17 athletes on our roster--nine of whom were either NCAA Champions or runners-up (including Futsum). We have a new head coach who was a two-time Olympian in @alan_culpepper . Counting me (and I do still get to do some coaching!), we have a three person staff with Alan, myself, and @jwrieden . We also have nine different massage therapists we work with in town, two outstanding strength and conditioning coaches, a mental performance specialist, and in September we signed a lease on a 2,600sq ft commercial space that will serve as our very own performance center complete with offices for the staff, a weight room, a treadmill, an @elliptigo_usa and more. Basically, we've taken a giant leap forward from where we've been (and we were pretty darn good before). The future is very bright as we look toward 2023 and beyond. Futsum- Welcome back man!! Let's crush it!! #HOKA #rudyprojectna #finalsurge #pickybars #flagstaff

Good luck this weekend @nickhauger12 !! #USARC #HOKA #FlyHumanFly #Haugs

NEWS: I’ve had the pleasure of working with @stephrothstein for the last 8+ years, watching her become a two-time national champion, an amazing mom to two boys, and one of the most influential voices in our sport. It’s been an honor. I could think of no better way to celebrate our final marathon training segment together, in this her last year as a pro runner, than to write a book about it!! The process has begun and so far it’s been super fun. I’ll try and keep you posted with little bits and pieces here and there but the goal is to document her training for the 2022 @nycmarathon , and weave in as many relevant anecdotes (past and present) from her life outside of running as possible along the way. #HOKA #FlyHumanFly #running #runningbooks #rudyprojectna #finalsurge #pickybars #flagstaff

I get to step away from my director role and do some coaching this weekend! I’m headed to Munich, Germany for the European Championships where @alicewright139 will be running the marathon for Great Britain 🇬🇧 on Monday morning. Alice has worked incredibly hard to be ready for this race. Can’t wait to see it all come together!! Go Alice!! Go @teamgb !! #munich22 #EuropeanChampionships #marathon #HOKA #FlyHumanFly #rudyprojectna #finalsurge #pickybars

Today marks the beginning of @hoka ’s new FLY HUMAN FLY campaign—a campaign that celebrates the joy, optimism, and possibilities that running, or movement, provides all of us. It’s given me opportunity to reflect on what running has meant to me since the day I ran my first official race—30 years ago this past spring. And there are no two better words to describe my feelings that day than joy and optimism. Just 12 years old at the time, I was full of (often misplaced) energy and (mostly unguided) passion, and running that race sparked a change in me—a change that helped shape my decision-making as a pre-teen and teenager for the better. With running as my north star, I became a laser-focused athlete and a dedicated teammate and leader. The lessons I learned about how to succeed during that formative time are lessons that serve me well to this day. So fast forward 30 years and here I am, after thousands of miles, and hundreds of races, and countless forever moments, and running is still my north star. And though it’s no longer a passion for my own running that guides me, as the director of HOKA @naz_elite the optimism I feel for all of our athletes at the beginning of a training segment, or on race morning, and the joy I feel when they succeed, keeps me excited about all of the amazing possibilities the future holds. #FlyHumanFly

MY FIRST TRIP TO KENYA!! Landed in Nairobi on Wednesday morning at 5am. Got two hours of sleep before heading over to Kasarani Stadium (pic 2) for the Athletics Kenya national championships (pic 3). @masai_alex had a tough go of it on the day but I am not worried in the least. He’s fit and will be right back at it soon. Spent the rest of Wednesday pretty much out of it and the next two days catching up on sleep and work. But made the most of my weekend—going to the Nairobi Safari Walk on Saturday (pic 1), which is essentially a zoo—albeit a cool one, and then a full on four-hour safari on Sunday morning at Nairobi National Park (pics 4-9 and the lion video!!). Really and truly it was the best four hours I’ve ever spent in the outdoors. I saw, up close and I do mean close: ostriches, warthogs, gazelles, antelope, impala, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, zebra, giraffes, buffalo, all sorts of bird species, and the highlight of the day…a lion!! My guide George was amazing. I learned more about animals in four hours than I could have ever imagined. And I really saw nature at work. It was beautiful. So yes—my first trip to Kenya but not my last. Next time it will be up to the Rift Valley—to the famous dirt roads of Iten and Eldoret!! #nairobinationalpark #kenyaphotodump

It’s been a fun @bostonmarathon segment with these two, made all the more special knowing that this is @stephrothstein ’s last year as a pro. For those who want a peek into her training; it was really broken into three blocks—block 1 in prep for a 10k on the track (where she ran her third fastest time ever), block 2 in prep for the NYC Half (where she was 10th in a very good field), and block 3 put the final touches on the specific prep for Boston. It was always about being the most ready for April 18th. Now we get to see if we got it right!! Go Steph!! #timetofly