The Build: Author Chris Lear Reflects On The Legacy Of Running With The Buffaloes And His New Book “Beyond Fast” On Coach Sean Brosnan’s Newbury Park Cross Country Dynasty

“The overarching message that I think Sean has with this book is that whatever ‘it’ is, go for it. If this is your thing and you give it all you’ve got and don’t limit yourself to what’s been done and what’s been possible, the sky’s the limit on what you can do.”

Today's guest is someone whose work has shaped how we understand running at its most human level through writing about running. Chris Lear is the author of Running with the Buffalos, a book that for many is the gold standard of distance running storytelling.

Two decades ago, Chris embedded himself with the University of Colorado's cross country team during one of its most dramatic seasons, and what turned out was a story of triumph, tragedy, and relentless pursuit that became a cult classic for runners everywhere. Now Chris is back with one of the most anticipated running books: Beyond Fast - the story of coach Sean Brosnan. It's written with Sean Brosnan and NBC News' Andrew Greif.

Brosnan's journey is an unlikely one from BMX tracks on Long Island to the world of collegiate running and eventually to Newbury Park High School, where he transformed a struggling program into a dynasty. During his six years there, Brosnan didn't just build champions; he built what many believe was the greatest high school cross country team of all time.

His impact went beyond workouts and race results; he created a culture that challenged young athletes to push past their limits and reimagine what was possible. In this conversation, we talk with Chris about the stories behind Beyond Fast and how a coach with a renegade spirit changed the sport of high school distance running.

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Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠

Guest: Chris Lear

Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

Mentioned in this episode…

Pre-order: Beyond Fast: How a Renegade Coach and His Unlikely High School Team Revolutionized Distance Running

Order: Running with the Buffaloes: A Season Inside With Mark Wetmore, Adam Goucher, And The University Of Colorado Men's Cross Country Team

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