Sean Brosnan on Beyond Fast, Newbury Park, UCLA and What’s Next

We talk with Sean Brosnan, the coach behind Newbury Park High School’s historic cross country program and co-author of the new book with Chris Lear and Andrew Geif dropping today "Beyond Fast." Sean discusses his unconventional coaching journey, the making of a high school dynasty, and his philosophies on training, athlete development, and overcoming challenges.

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• Show notes:

• 1:02 Introduction to Sean Brosnan Meet Sean and hear about his background, achievements at Newbury Park, and the new book "Beyond Fast."

• 2:10 Sean's Journey to Writing 'Beyond Fast' Sean shares what inspired him to write the book and what it was like working with co-authors Chris Lear and Andrew Grefe.

• 4:34 Sean's Unique Coaching Path From BMX to running, five colleges, and a winding road to coaching—Sean explains his unconventional journey and influences.

• 12:29 Innovative Training Methods Sean challenges conventional running wisdom, discusses his approach to mileage, and how he keeps athletes progressing year-round.

• 18:38 Building the Newbury Park Dynasty The early days at Newbury Park, earning buy-in from parents and athletes, and setting ambitious goals.

• 27:43 The Rise of Newbury Park's Fame The team’s growing popularity, social media, and the “4:20 isn’t fast” movement.

• 32:06 Sean's Departure from Newbury Park for UCLA Why Sean left for UCLA, the transition, and differences between high school and college coaching.

• 34:34 Challenges and Criticisms at Newbury Park Addressing common criticisms about athlete recruitment and the program’s success.

• 40:20 NCAA Violations and Legal Battle Sean discusses the NCAA investigation, his appeal, and the impact on his coaching career.

• 49:17 Current Coaching Endeavors and Future Plans Sean’s current work with post-collegiate athletes and plans for a new pro group.

• 52:28 Nico Young's Development and Potential Insights on coaching Nico Young and the development of elite talent.

• 58:27 Coaching Philosophy and Hard Workouts Sean’s belief in hard workouts, athlete individuality, and the balance between training and racing.

• 1:01:30 Conclusion and Book Promotion Final thoughts, where to find "Beyond Fast," and special offers for listeners.

Notable Quotes

• “I always hate the word base phase. ... I like to do everything year round, and to me it's all progression.” (12:38)
• “You gotta get the parents' support. ... ” (15:59)
• “I love showing up. ... I love trying to figure out how to get someone faster.” (25:32)
• “It's not that hard to be good in high school. ... If you have five guys that run four 20, you're like a top team in the country.” (16:40)
• “I think people are so scared to push that red line of like, of really hard workouts. ... You gotta callous the system a little bit.” (59:06)

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