"Bloom pulls back the curtain on this wondrous team. An illuminating narrative with cultural power and unflinching love."
Description
What would one call taking teens with no evident running talent and putting them through breakneck training combined with mantras from the rock n' roll, techniques from Kenya, philosophy from Australia and turning them champions? Is it revolutionary? Or just plain crazy?Bill Aris has heard both, but one thing is indisputable. Everything Aris does with his runners—male and female—is new and extraordinary, and he has created a new American running dynasty. The runners of Fayetteville-Manlius High School, or F-M, have won the last nine out of ten national championships and have the best cumulative record in cross country history. F-M's domination has shocked the sport for its defiance of accepted running principles and limitations. One year, the girls defeated the 2nd-place team in the country by an average of 59 seconds per girl in a 5k race. Another year, the F-M girls’ ran faster than their Kenyan counterparts, who had come to Oregon as a showcase. Across the country, top coaches all whisper, “How do they do it?”From adopting long-forgotten Spartan creeds to focusing on teenaged developmental psychology and gender-blindness in training, The Running Revolutionaries is a a must read for millions of runners and the millions more who strive for better performance.
Reviews
"Who would think that the story of an upstate New York high school coach and his young runners could be so inspiring! Marc Bloom gives us a beautiful exploration of the meaning of success in running—and in life. Amazing Racers tells us how we can perform at a higher level than we ever imagined."
"Bloom, the oracle of high school cross-country, gives Aris and the F-M team the treatment they merit given their astounding success. Bloom's attention to detail allows us to understand for the first time how Aris adapts his cherished 'Stotan' philosophy to create a culture of success. Bravo!"
"An engaging portrayal of an idiosyncratic coach, his stout-hearted athletes, and the wonder of powerful running. Marc effectively shows how a coach holds a mirror up to his harriers, pushing and pulling them to train with diligence, and how to find the freedom, beauty, and strength in their pursuits. Along the way, they discover truths about themselves and, best of all, a life-long love of running. "
