Flagstaff, in the mid-1970s, I was self-coached by something of a maniac. There were stair workouts, observatory runs, tofu loaf for Thanksgiving, there were two-mile repeats, lost in the woods, European goats on the loose and Native American buddies, the devotion of young wives and so much darn fun. Must have been all that fresh air. Because we were sure high on something. – JDW
When Jim Fixx produced The Complete Book Of Running, I got in touch. Told him his book was embarrassingly incomplete because our magazine – RUNNING – was NOT mentioned. Gives you some idea how small we were, an enthusiastic genius couldn’t even find us in 1976.
I was mentioned by name in his next book and we became good friends.
RUNNING was founded in Flagstaff, by two Northern Arizona University students, at a time nothing much was going on, running-wise. We started the first club, we originated events, we spread the word. I personally designed “The Dump Run. Watch For Trucks.”
Historians might say we were the match that lit the fuse.
So, when I heard about a new book, Running up the Mountain : Northern Arizona Altitude, Lumberjack Attitude, and the Building of a Distance Dynasty, I couldn’t help wondering how accurate it would be. After all, the authors never interviewed me.
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.
Back cover
“In a remote Arizona mountain town more than half a century ago…” 1973, just when I arrived. Coincidence? I like to think not.
Of course, Scott Baxter was already there when I got to Flagstaff. Luckily, Matt Baxter and Ron Mann interviewed him.
Baxter, along with fellow runners Ned Frederickson [sic] and Jack Welch of Flagstaff, bonded over a common infatuation with the Finnish mystique known as sisu. Exemplified by twelve-time Olympic medalist Paavo Nurmi in the 1930s and 1940s and double 1972 Olympic medalist Lasse Viren, sisu describes the spirit of the Finnish people and can be interpreted a few different ways.
The three friends translated it as “pride, determination, and courage,” and Baxter silkscreened a few white shirts with “Sisu” on the front and the Finnish flag on the back. They proudly wore their printed shirts during workouts and at races, which soon caught the attention of other runners in the community.
What began as a cool shirt idea evolved into the formation in 1974 of Flagstaff’s first running club – the Sisu Striders. The club’s first newsletter outlined their motivation:
"The two greatest sources of encouragement for the runner (beyond his/her basic motivation) are competition and companionship. Not just the companionship of having someone to run with but the comradery [sic] of sharing the secrets and discoveries of running. There is so much to learn and so much to share that only another runner can understand or relate to."For an annual fee of $10.00, each person who signed up for the Sisu Striders received a free T-shirt emblazoned with “Sisu Striders,” a year’s subscription to Running – The Journal of the Scientific Study of Distance Running, and a waiver of entry fees to all local club races. “What’s left of the $10, after all these expenses are taken care of, will be used to encourage running in Northern Arizona,” read the club’s newsletter.
The Sisu Striders set simple goals. “We will first try to educate the public about the physical and emotional benefits of regular running,” stated the newsletter. “Secondly, we hope that the enticement of rewards and recognition at local races will stimulate participation.”
The Sisu Striders proved an invaluable piece of the emerging running community, laying the foundation for later clubs. It was a complement to the NAU track and field and cross country program, as well as another small group of runners who enjoyed spending time jogging together.
pp. 52-53
I’m in the book! I’m in the book!! And my name is even spelled correctly.
There were three of us – Scott, me and Dr. E.C. “Ned” Frederick. Humble origins indeed.
You’ll have to read the book to find out what happened next. I have long wondered myself.
I remember training for a day or two in Flagstaff with George Young, Billy Mills and Jim Ryun. They were getting ready for the 1968 Olympics. I was writing an article on Jim for World Book Yearbook. – Hal Higdon