Ben Bruce To Run Debut Marathon At Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans On February 2nd
Press Release
January 23, 2014
FLAGSTAFF, (AZ) – January 23, 2014 – Just one day after the Competitor Group Inc. (CGI), owner of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, announced it would be reinstating its elite athlete program, Northern Arizona Elite has announced that Ben Bruce will be making his marathon debut at Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans on February 2.
Bruce has been one of America’s most versatile distance runners for the last several years, having made World Championship teams in track and field (steeplechase), cross country and on the roads (half marathon). He is coming off a personal best in the half marathon, set at last Sunday’s U.S. Championships in Houston, where he ran 1:02:53.
Bruce said he and his wife Stephanie, also a professional distance runner, are excited about CGI’s decision to get back into the professional running world in a big way.
“Steph spoke at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Expo last weekend and was really excited about the conversation she had with Tracy Sundlin [CGI’s senior vice president of events],” Bruce said. “She and I will be headed to New Orleans together and we’ll definitely be on the Expo stage at some point during the weekend.”
Bruce said he would be taking a very conservative approach to the race itself.
“My main goal for the race is to win and get my first experience at the distance,” Bruce said. “Looking ahead to 2016, the marathon will be a focus of mine.”
The Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans course is known for being flat and fast. Last year’s half marathon was won by Great Britain’s double Olympic Champion Mo Farah in 1:00:59. The marathon course record is 2:18:49, set by C Fred Joslyn in 2011.