'', written by Chris Lear and published by The Lyons Press (ISBN 1585743283), chronicles the University Of Colorado cross country team's 1998 season from the late summer practices to the men's NCAA Cross Country Championships .
The book centers on the entire team and the workouts they run. Most of the story, however, is focused on Mark Wetmore, the team's coach, and Adam Goucher , the team's top runner and one of the best cross-country runners in the country. The story is written in a Journal fashion where each chapter represents a different entry. Each entry generally tells about the team's daily run and Wetmore's training methods which are based strongly on the legendary coach, Arthur Lydiard .
- -"Adam should be one of the best cross country runners in the nation this year. He has as good a reason as anyone to win the national championshiop. He's definitely among the top eight or ten runners in the country, and the other seven or nine will be dreaming of a national title. He might as well also."
- -"Wes is one of the hardest workers in our program. He could surprise some people and make our {Link without Title} team."
- -"Aaron had a good freshman year in cross and was disappointed with a left shin stress fracture during the outdoor season. He's been training full speed all summer and I predict that he will be much improved. I expect him to be a top-25 runner at nationals this year."
- -Walk-on seeks to make the roster.
- -"Matt has an outside shot of making our varsity this season."
- -"Mike will be an unknown guy on the national scene this year. He would make any other Varsity team in the United States, and will probably make ours. People are going to wonder where he came from. While Goucher, Batliner, and Reese have been getting all of the attention, he's been putting dollars in the bank and waiting his turn. He'll be a surprise in November."
- – the star runner on the team, Goucher is by far the hardest working runner on the team. After placing 4th last year, his goal has been to finish first at the NCAA Cross Country Championships .
- -Walk-on from Goucher's alma mater seeks to make the roster.
- -Enters the season hoping to end career on a positive note. A disappointing spring track season in 1998 followed by a case of mono places Johnson at the bottom of the heap starting his senior campaign.
- -Walk-on seeks to make the roster.
- -"Napier had a breakthrough last fall when he became an All-American. He is one of the great blue-collar success stories of CU running. He's in the best shape of his life, but he will most likely redshirt."
- -8:24 3000 meter runner is an unknown heading into the 1998 season.
- -"Oscar was a varsity runner until we had to go from nine to seven runners at the end of last season. He definitely wants to be in the seven that go to the NCAA championship. The only road he knows is the hard road. If he can survive 105 to 110 miles per week, he might get there."
- -"As was planned, Tommy redshirted last spring to balance his eligibility. His recovery from arthroscopic surgery in May has been slow. If rehab on his left knee goes the way we think, he will be among the varsity seven and be an All-American again this year. He's too good a runner not to make it back."
- -"Robbie was the most impressive guy at the Varsity Time Trial last year. But since the day he made the team, his training has been interrupted. A lot of guys have run more than him this summer."
- -"Ron pulled our tails out of the fire for us a year ago with a great race at the NCAA championships. He helped us to stay in third place. He's been training well this summer and if he takes the next logical step he will be a top-30 finisher and a First Team All-American at Nationals."
- -9:28 high school 3200-meter runner seeks to make the roster.
- -Colorado indoor 800 meter Record Holder (1:49.37) is a long shot to make varsity.
- -"Chris battled mono a year ago, but he's back in training. He's a little behind his normal summer; but he is completely healed. He finished 17th two years ago at the NCAA championsips and hopes to improve."
- —"He is a big talent. But most likely, he will redshirt."
- -Triathlete seeks to make roster
- -"A Brown transfer, Brock still has a cross country and an outdoor season of eligibility left. He's a national caliber 1500-meter runner, the fastest guy in the country who didn't qualify for the NCAA Championships last year. His success will depend on how he adapts to our system, but I'm pretty sure he will be a Varsity-caliber runner for us. I wouldn't be surprised if he finished top 30 or better in Lawrence."
- -Sophomore walk-on seeks to make the roster.
(quoted comments made by head coach Mark Wetmore)
- Wetmore started coaching the Buffaloes in 1992 after working with some other teams including Bernards High School and Seton Hall University . His teams have never finished less than 5th in Nationals since 1993.
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