At the outset, the 1998 cross country season appeared to hold magnificent promise for the men of the University of Colorado. With 2000 Olympic hopeful Adam Goucher poised for his first-ever NCAA cross country title and the Buffaloes shooting for their first-ever national team title, it seemed that nothing could stand in the way of their victory. But in the rigorous world of top-level collegiate sports, blind misfortune can sabotage the dreams of individuals and teams alike. Plagued by the onset of numerous injuries and the tragic loss of a beloved teammate, the Buffaloes found themselves challenged in ways they could not have foreseen. What they managed to achieve in the face of such adversity is the stuff of legend and glory. In Running with the Buffaloes, writer Chris Lear follows the University of Colorado cross country team during one unforgettable NCAA season. Through unparalleled access to team practices, private moments with the athletes, and the beliefs and teachings of Mark Wetmore - one of the country's most renowned and enigmatic coaches - Lear provides an unprecedented look a the triumphs and heartaches of a perennial national championship contender and the men who will stop at nothing in their quest for excellence. He captures the lives of these young men and offers a glimpse of what drives a gifted runner like Goucher and an iconoclastic coach like Wetmore. Running with the Buffaloes, is, at once, a celebration of a sport and an inspiration to anyone who has ever had the courage to beat the odds and follow a dream. (6 1/4 x 9 1/4, 280 pages, b&w photos)

A celebration of sports that follows the University of Colorado cross country team during one unforgettable NCAA season.