Meet Your Coaches...

Ben Rosario - Head Coach

I'm BEN. I always like to capitalize my name because I am a very loud talker so I like to write it the same way I pronounce it. Matt makes fun of me for it but I think it's very honest and forthright of me. Anyway, I'm supposed to be telling you about myself so here goes: I am the proud co-owner of Big River Running Company, a title better than any I could ever have imagined being bestowed upon me. I'm 27 years old, a graduate of St. Louis U. High and   Truman State University. Technically my diploma says I have a degree in communications but I like to say I majored in running!

After college I ran professionally for the Hansons Brooks Distance Project in Rochester Hills, MI for two years. I traveled all over the US and ran against some of the best runners in the country and in the world. I came back to work for the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon (now GO! St. Louis) and eventually opened the store in 2006. All told I have run nine marathons including the Chicago Marathon, The Boston Marathon and twice I was fortunate enough to qualify for the US Olympic Marathon Trials. My best marathon ever was when I finished second at the US Marathon Championships at the Twin Cities Marathon in 2005.

My last marathon was the Olympic Trials this past November and though I didn't run well the experience was great and well worth all the hard work. I am super pumped about coaching this training group as coaching is one of my absolute favorite things to do. I have coached everyone from junior high kids (we were a powerhouse team by the way, go Van Hoosen!) to elite level runners and everyone in between. I promise we are going to have a blast over these next 12 weeks and I already can't wait for the post-race party which I am going to host in my backyard so be ready because there will be much to celebrate!

Julie Bokermann - Assistant Coach

Hi, I'm Julie Bokermann. I'm 27 years old. I am a physical therapist and athletic trainer for PRORehab in Bridgeton, Missouri. I live in Maryland Heights. I attended St. Joseph's Academy graduating in 1997 where I played tennis and soccer(and no desire to run at all) and then went on to Dubuque, Iowa to Clarke College where I played tennis and softball. 

Iowa is where my running obsession began due to there being not much else to do after class and practices. I ran my first marathon in Chicago in 2001 and since then haven't stopped. I have since ran 2 more Chicago, 2 Boston, St. Louis, Cinncinati, Phoenix, Honolulu(for Arthritis Foundation), Seattle, South Bend and San Francisco(Leukemia and Lymphoma Society).  I just also signed up for my 13th one which will be in Memphis in April.   I have run numerous 1/2 Marathons--probably around 10.  

My best marathon time was 3:35 in South Bend this year and my best half was Lewis and Clark 2006 at 1:39:35. My goal is to run a marathon in every state before I die. I also want to complete a 1/2 IronMan and IronMan. I have a 4 year old yellow lab named Madison who has become my best running buddy. Besides running I like to workout at the gym, bike ride, swim, hike, camp and just hang out with friends. I also love going to listen to live music at Blueberry Hill and the Pageant.

Jessica Smith - Assistant Coach

The history of my running is probably different than many other marathoners that you meet. I was always the last one to finish my laps at soccer practice and the last in every gym class race growing up.  

In 7th grade I started running Cross country, I was an average runner but then something I hated to do turned into something that I love to do. (Of course all of my friends were running cross country and track) By the summer break between 7Th and 8Th grade I was running every day and was ready for 8Th grade Cross Country.

The funny part is I did not run High School Cross Country. I still ran three or four times a week but I was more into Ballet. It was when I was at Mizzou that I starting running four to five days a week and participating in intramurals that I began making running a priority.

It wasn't until I was out of college and working a few years I started doing some 5K's. My first 5K was the Race for the Cure. I was a chair person for Ford Motor Company at the time, my theory was why walk when I could run.  I had a blast running even though my team was 20 minutes after me walking it was fun to go back and walk with them after I finished running.  A few serious runners that I worked with found me that week and gave me some great running advice. 1) invest in good shoes and 2) join a running club. I did both. I not only met some great people I became a better runner and I enjoyed running even more.

My First Marathon was done on a bet. I was dating a man who said I could never finish a Marathon. I signed up and trained for Country Music Marathon in Nashville in April 2002. I not only finished the marathon I beat his time by 10 minutes! Needless to say I have been hooked ever since. I have completed seven other marathons, and  fourteen 1/2 marathons. My favorite marathon course is Grandma's in Duluth, MN. The view is beautiful, and the locals are very supportive, just don't forget the sunscreen! 

Carrie Clay - Assistant Coach (picture coming soon...)

Once upon a time, I was a very fit high school swimmer and college cyclist and triathlete.  However, upon graduating from college, I went to work as an accountant (the ultimate desk job), had very little time to workout, and had a baby.  This led me to feel very out of shape, so about 1 1/2 years ago, I decided to start running to get my fitness back.  I attempted to train for my first marathon in Spring of 07, but was only able to do the half, because of injury.  However, I didn't really get into running until I started attending the Big River Tuesday Night Speed Sessions.  I found that I liked having goals to work toward in my running, rather that just running aimlessly.  I also liked meeting other people that have similar interests as me.  I enjoyed the speedwork sessions so much that I signed up for the Big River Training Team to train for the 2008 GO! St. Louis Marathon. 

As I had never run a marathon, my first goal was to finish, and my second goal was to be able to walk the next day.  I'm happy to say that I did complete the marathon with a time of 4:00:26, which was 20 minutes better than my goal time, and was even able to go for a jog the next day.  I am planning on running my second marathon next spring, but I don't know which one it will be.  Although I have really grown to like running, my true passion is triathlon.  I completed my first half-ironman distance triathlon last year.  Some of my recent triathlon accomplishments include qualifying for the 2007 Halfmax National Championships and 2008 USAT Age Group National Championships.  In 2009, I hope to train for and complete Ironman Louisville.  I am currently in the process of becoming a USAT Level 1 Certified Triathlon Coach, so if anyone feels like they might have the triathlon bug, I'd love to talk tri with you.  I am very excited to be helping out with the training team and am looking forward to running with everyone!

Dave Rhoads - Assistant Coach

Hello everyone, my name is Dave.  I am very excited to be involved with this team.  I am the elder statesman on the team at a young 44 years of age.  I am a Director of Finance with Atlas Supply Co., a plumbing supply distributor.  I, like Ben, am a graduate of SLUH.  I graduated from UMSL with a degree in Accounting and worked in both public accounting and corporate finance before landing at Atlas.  I love golf and thoroughly enjoy coaching.

My running career really started as a way to lose weight.  In the early 1990's, I decided it was time to get into shape and lose a little weight.  Like most of us who battle our weight, I would do well for a while and slip back into old habits.  My running continued, very casually, throughout the 1990's as the need to lose weight would arise.  In 2002, I joined a gym in Alton near my work and I met a running group.  The Team Alton running group was inspirational and before I knew it, I was racing.  I ran my first half-marathon in St. Louis in the spring of 2003 and my first marathon in St. Charles in the fall of 2003.  My first full marathon was a great experience, since I helped pace a good friend of mine to her Boston qualifying time.  Since that race, I have always wanted to qualify for the Boston Marathon. 

In addition to running my first distance races in 2003, my son began his running career at SLUH and my wife made me give away all of my fat clothes.  I was inspired by my son's running to continue racing and with the loss of all of my “big” clothes, I needed to continue to run if I was going to fit into my current wardrobe.  Since 2003, I have continued my fluctuation with weight and running.  It is always a battle.  I have run a total of 5 half-marathons and 5 marathons.  I have run both the Chicago and Lewis & Clark marathons.  My fastest marathon and half-marathon have both been in the last 2 months, since being involved with the Big River Training Team.  Thanks Ben.  I ran a 3:22 marathon at the Go St. Louis marathon and 1:35 at the Kansas City Hospital Hills half-marathon.

With my recent time in the marathon, I am now qualified for next April's Boston Marathon.  My first.  I am currently training for the Lewis & Clark marathon, where I intend on running with my son.  My son would like to run 3:10 and qualify for the Boston Marathon.  I look forward to working with all of you as we prepare for the fall racing season.  You may hear some of my friends call me the Energizer Bunny, so don't be surprised if I get you to run a little extra with me.  Hopefully, this will be as enjoyable for you as it already has been for me.  Good luck.