My thoughts on programs like Brosnan’s NP or even FM during the heyday are the following: I think programs like this show how severely undertrained a majority of XC programs are at other high schools. XC is already at a disadvantage. Unlike soccer, baseball or other sports, there is no “travel” or “club” option for most kids. So many elite or even good runners don’t have training partners since they have to rely on what their high school can give them. In high school I was good (All State) but not elite. Still I spent two years training entirely alone. I know when elite runners like Kara Goucher and many others try to push the “don’t do too much!” Idea they mean well, but they are talking to like, 0.5 percent of high school kids who actually are overtraining. A vast majority probably aren’t doing enough. It makes no sense that schools like Saratoga, FM, York, or NP could produce dynasties from pretty random populations in the country, that are so much more dominant than everyone else. And they do it year after year. I read Amazing Racers some time ago (About FM) and my first thought was: was I actually national class, and I didn’t know it? If I had trained with them, would I have been elevated to that level? There was one year where FM’s top 5 would have beaten the top 5 of the rest of the nation. That is insanity. FM is in suburban Syracuse. Nothing crazy about them. You have to believe that many girls who are running 5:20 maybe could actually run 4:50? So to that I say the following: high school coaches, don’t be afraid to push your kids a little harder. Not saying running 100 miles a week at altitude, but doing a solid 40, a 10 mile long run and hard workouts, and gym workouts wouldn’t hurt them.
UPDATE! Beyond Fast: How a Renegade Coach and His Unlikely High School Team Revolutionized Distance Running has revealed a new cover that features a lot less of Brosnan's besunglassed face:
Why am I not surprised this dude put a giant picture of his own face on the front cover?
how dare he writer of the book put a picture of himself and a picture of the top Newberry Park athletes reflection in his sunglasses on the cover. HOW DARE the author do this.
He ended up deciding not to have that in the cover
Why does everyone think that Sean is making these posts?
They don’t really believe this. It’s like that joke we all heard — not just dead, but embalmed. Behind a screen and a username, they feel safe to spread lies or false info because they don’t expect to be held accountable. When one achieves success or has something they want, you get hate and it’s a field day online.
I absolutely love that Brosnan teamed up with Chris Lear on this one too. It’s such a cool collaboration.
Chis Lear teaming up with Sean Brosnan is seriously epic. Also, the Newbury Park story is legendary when it comes to high school running and beyond. It’s inspiring to see that kind of energy in the sport.
Trolls thrive on spreading false information, hoping their targets will see it and react. In reality, the only thing these individuals are guilty of is being successful—something trolls resent. Craving attention, they lash out, crying foul and stirring drama just to be noticed