Pace Setter : April 2026

Book Recommendation: Beyond Fast by Sean Brosnan

Title: Book Recommendation: Beyond Fast by Sean Brosnan

Review Written by Thomas O’Grady

You’ve likely heard the names Nico Young and Aaron Sahlman—Young, the American record holder in the outdoor 5,000 meters (12:45.27) and two-time NCAA champion, and Sahlman, the Millrose Games 800-meter winner (1:44.70) and NCAA indoor 3,000-meter national champion. What you may not know is that both runners launched their spectacular running careers at Newbury Park High School under the guidance of coach Sean Brosnan. Their extraordinary journey is included as part of the core subject of Brosnan’s new book, Beyond Fast: How a Renegade Coach and His Unlikely High School Team Revolutionized Distance Running.

When Brosnan took over the Newbury Park cross country program in 2016, the team hadn’t qualified for a California state championship in 25 years. Brosnan was a collegiate All-American who had spent years chasing his own professional running ambitions without much to show for it besides a desire to coach younger runners to their own greatness. Brosnan made a bold promise upon taking the helm at Newbury Park: give him total commitment, and he’d deliver a state championship in four years. That may sound crazy, but he was serious. And he delivered! He also delivered much more. His athletes went on to claim three consecutive national championships, smash records, earn Division I scholarships, and represent the United States in the Olympics.

Beyond Fast chronicles the team’s remarkable ascent and is a story that reads equal parts insight and heart. Brosnan traces the team’s early breakthroughs, their painful setbacks, and the relentless determination that carried them to the pinnacle of high school distance running. Called “inspiring and entertaining” by coach Jerry Schumacher and “a deliciously rich tale” by author Neal Bascomb, this book is a compelling reminder that the only limits that matter are the ones we set for ourselves. I received a copy of the book for Christmas and finished it up while traveling for the Houston Marathon. The book was hard to put down.  Whether you’re a coach, a competitor, an everyday runner, or simply a fan of a good underdog story, Beyond Fast deserves a spot on your reading list.