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“An inspirational and intimate story well told.”–Pete Pfitzinger, two-time Olympian
“NAU and Flagstaff represent our sport at its best.”–Meb Keflezighi, 2014 Boston Marathon winner

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, the book 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.
 

About the Author

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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 lives in Flagstaff.

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.