Runner wins half-marathon while 20 weeks pregnant

It was a good day in San Luis Obispo for the young Bruce family, soon to be one member larger.

Stephanie Rothstein Bruce, at 20 weeks pregnant, won the SLO Half-Marathon in California. Meanwhile, her husband, Ben Bruce, was winning the men’s race.

Stephanie and Ben, both members of the Northern Arizona Elite training group, also have a 10-month-old son and Stephanie is a co-founder of upstart sports nutrition company Picky Bars.

“Between the family, training for (Olympic) trials and running my own business, it was tough but worth it to get back to the Central Coast,” Rothstein Bruce said to local paper The Tribune after the race, noting she hopes to be fit to challenge for a spot on the Rio 2016 US Olympic team.

Proud to be back in SLO. Couple big checks for @Steph_Rothstein & I @SLOMarathon. Put this race on your bucket list! pic.twitter.com/mF2gk38HX4

— Ben Bruce (@bbjamin) April 26, 2015

Ben, a three-time member of different world championship teams, broke the course record in a modest (for him) 1:10:55. Stephanie ran 1:23:14. She’s due in September.

Rothstein Bruce isn’t the first athlete to race while pregnant. One of the most memorable was when Alysia Montaño raced the 800m at US championships while 34 weeks pregnant last summer, drawing a range of reactions.