info
Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
February 2024 MBR The Sports Shelf
3 views
Skip to first unread message
Midwest Book Review
Feb 20, 2024, 10:26:19 AMFeb 20
to
The Sports Shelf
Running Up the Mountain
Matt Baxter, author
Ron Mann, author
Soulstice Publishing
9781734989960, $28.95, HC, 296pp
https://www.amazon.com/Running-Up-Mountain-Northern-Lumberjack/dp/1734989963
Synopsis: In a remote Arizona mountain town more than half a century ago, a collegiate dynasty was born. Northern Arizona University learned about excellence in the altitude mecca of Flagstaff, a training ground for generations of legendary runners. But this school with no traditional powerhouse credentials fought to build momentum and a culture of success over decades before finally exploding to become the country's preeminent distance-running team.
Authored by three-time cross country All-American Matt Baxter and Hall of Fame coach Ron Mann, "Running Up the Mountain: Northern Arizona Altitude, Lumberjack Attitude, and the Building of a Distance Dynasty" authentically captures NAU's humble origins and growing pains, culminating in an insider's perspective that will delight running fans.
Running Up the Mountain is a moving portrait of an elite squad with colorful characters fighting to reach the summit of their sport amid the pressure of intense rivalries and the jarring impact of COVID-19. From quaint beginnings to national champs, grit and commitment endure as defining features -- when you're running with the Lumberjacks!
Critique: A seminal history that will be of immense and particular appeal to readers with an interest in sports/athletics in general, and running/jogging in particular, "Running Up the Mountain: Northern Arizona Altitude, Lumberjack Attitude, and the Building of a Distance Dynasty" is exceptionally well written, organized and presented. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Sports/Athletics collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Running Up the Mountain" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99) as well.
Editorial Note #1: Matt Baxter was a top-15 individual for Northern Arizona University's first three NCAA national cross country championships. He's now a professional for HOKA NAZ Elite, where he has been a New Zealand national champion and a national record holder in the indoor 5000m and the road 5K. This is his second book. He was author of Hurt Me If You Can: The Tales of a High School Runner, a memoir of his formative years as an athlete in New Zealand. He currently resides in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Editorial Note #2; Ron Mann is also an NAU alumnus and letterwinner who went on to coach his alma mater's cross country and track and field squads for 22 years, where he mentored 107 All-Americans, four NCAA individual national champions, and 16 teams that finished in the top 10. He coached USA men's national teams in international competition and held administrative positions with the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, including the presidency. He coached 47 more All-Americans at the University of Louisville before retiring from collegiate coaching in 2013. Mann continued to coach elite runners, including 2012 Boston Marathon champion Wesley Korir, and was inducted into the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame in 2018.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.
The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com
Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
Running Up the Mountain
Matt Baxter, author
Ron Mann, author
Soulstice Publishing
9781734989960, $28.95, HC, 296pp
https://www.amazon.com/Running-Up-Mountain-Northern-Lumberjack/dp/1734989963
Synopsis: In a remote Arizona mountain town more than half a century ago, a collegiate dynasty was born. Northern Arizona University learned about excellence in the altitude mecca of Flagstaff, a training ground for generations of legendary runners. But this school with no traditional powerhouse credentials fought to build momentum and a culture of success over decades before finally exploding to become the country's preeminent distance-running team.
Authored by three-time cross country All-American Matt Baxter and Hall of Fame coach Ron Mann, "Running Up the Mountain: Northern Arizona Altitude, Lumberjack Attitude, and the Building of a Distance Dynasty" authentically captures NAU's humble origins and growing pains, culminating in an insider's perspective that will delight running fans.
Running Up the Mountain is a moving portrait of an elite squad with colorful characters fighting to reach the summit of their sport amid the pressure of intense rivalries and the jarring impact of COVID-19. From quaint beginnings to national champs, grit and commitment endure as defining features -- when you're running with the Lumberjacks!
Critique: A seminal history that will be of immense and particular appeal to readers with an interest in sports/athletics in general, and running/jogging in particular, "Running Up the Mountain: Northern Arizona Altitude, Lumberjack Attitude, and the Building of a Distance Dynasty" is exceptionally well written, organized and presented. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Sports/Athletics collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Running Up the Mountain" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99) as well.
Editorial Note #1: Matt Baxter was a top-15 individual for Northern Arizona University's first three NCAA national cross country championships. He's now a professional for HOKA NAZ Elite, where he has been a New Zealand national champion and a national record holder in the indoor 5000m and the road 5K. This is his second book. He was author of Hurt Me If You Can: The Tales of a High School Runner, a memoir of his formative years as an athlete in New Zealand. He currently resides in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Editorial Note #2; Ron Mann is also an NAU alumnus and letterwinner who went on to coach his alma mater's cross country and track and field squads for 22 years, where he mentored 107 All-Americans, four NCAA individual national champions, and 16 teams that finished in the top 10. He coached USA men's national teams in international competition and held administrative positions with the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, including the presidency. He coached 47 more All-Americans at the University of Louisville before retiring from collegiate coaching in 2013. Mann continued to coach elite runners, including 2012 Boston Marathon champion Wesley Korir, and was inducted into the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame in 2018.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.
The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com
Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
0 new messages