Grinders Find A Way: A Runner's Story

by Matthew Balleza

A page-turning saga of heart, sweat, and determination, where the underdogs rise to the occasion and prove that when you're a grinder, you always find a way.In the fiercely competitive world of high school cross country, the Loyola High men’s team is a force to be reckoned with. But they are about to face their greatest test yet.At the center of this riveting tale is Paul, the prodigious protege of a coach whose name is synonymous with greatness. With dreams of glory and a heart full of ambition, Paul's every step is driven by the pursuit of excellence.When their legendary coach suddenly departs, the team is left adrift, struggling to find their footing, and Paul begins to unravel, pushing himself to the brink of self-destruction.The team, once inseparable, splinters into factions, torn apart by clashing ambitions. Enter Coach Cal, a newcomer with unconventional methods, and Felix, the lightning-fast transfer who threatens to dethrone Paul as the team's star. As rivalries ignite and secrets simmer, a dark cloud looms overhead in the form of a school doping scandal.Grinders Find A Way is a mesmerizing story of guts and glory, where the pursuit of perfectionism is a double-edged sword, and the race isn't just about running fast; it's about discovering who you truly are. Amidst the electrifying energy of the starting line, this tale weaves together the drama of high school life, the yearning for greatness, and the intoxicating romance of running.Will Paul overcome his demons? Can the team come together and recapture their former glory? Or will their dreams be left in the dust as they navigate the tumultuous journey of high school, running for redemption and the chance to etch their names in the annals of cross country history?This is a story that will keep you turning the pages, one breathtaking stride at a time.

286 pages, Paperback

Published January 22, 2024

Reviews

[Carter Solomon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fair book on running. No once a runner or running with the buffalos. Weird writing and I think fiction. Was exciting early then got slow then climax was good actually.

[Haas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun fiction read as a 40 yr old that runs and is an assistant XC coach while fully aware I’m prob not the target audience (grabbed the book from a give a book / take a book library). Enjoyed the story the same way I enjoy “cobra kai” or “Wednesday” on Netflix - kind of funny, kind of quirky, a little campy, definitely nostalgic- but all around super entertaining and enjoyable.

[Twobchelm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Competitive sports is a grind that bleeds you dry, some can handle but some go off the rails… teamwork is powerful!
Hated the bullying and nastiness but that makes it real.

[Jeanine · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me this book was ultimately an illustration that our true power lies in our abilities to say “I’m sorry”, to forgive ourselves, to forgive each other and to be willing to start over.
I loved the story and the characters so much but found it pretty unrealistic. The lack of IV antibiotics/ medical care for that dog bite and the freedom granted to these high school boys would have been more believable if this has been set in the late 70’s/ early 80’s or at least pre smart phone. I would really like to think that the abuse and hazing are far fetched but unfortunately those practices are likely still alive and well today. The “ frog in the boiling water “ aspect of becoming so used to abuse, little by little, that it takes something really severe to recognize it as wrong is sadly all too par for the course. I wanted to scream ,” where are the authorities ? “so many times but as in reality, it seems corruption is king.
Ultimately I loved this book, a tough and thoughtful story.

[Brian Corbin · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book may have some interest when it comes to team and some of the characters but two things make this book a one star for me: 1) Lack of quotation marks when people were speaking drove me nuts. I guess I’m old and traditional. 2) A hazing scene was horrible and ridiculous for a group of high schoolers. I question if the author went to high school and if so, what kind of high school experience was had. Once A Runner was great because it understood the college and running experience. The book did pretty well with running, not so much high school.

[Amanda Gallenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose this book because it was about a cross country team. And while that was in fact what the story was about, it wasn't the book I was expecting to read. Mostly, this book focused on one specific team member with the rest of the team sprinkled into the story and circled backat the end to wrap it all up with a team ending. It wasn't a bad book, it held my interest......but it just fell short--it was missing something. Or maybe because it felt like it should be a college team and not a high school team.

[Rita Hochstedler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story about being part of a team or group and how to\not to handle controversy. Quick read. Enjoyed the athletic vibe.
Not worthy of a "5" since part of the storyline is unrealistic. Also there weren't any consequences for bad and harmful actions. Behaviors and incidences swept under the rug it appeared. Parents and school administrators were absent I guess. And who allows a bunch of high school boys to rent a beach house hours from their home?

[James Rohrbaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who enjoys running and the commitment and passion that running entails, I enjoyed what was a very quick and easy read. It followed the tragedy of the high school running career of an exceptional athlete. The underlying story highlighted the challenges of real life and the ability to be distracted by unforeseen changes no matter how talented or successful you are. It also reinforces the importance in challenging situations to pull together as a team and look out for one another.

[Chris Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable and easy read. Flows very easy with sometimes very short chapters, which I do not mind. The dynamics between the teammates are mostly relatable. Paints a good picture during the runs but doesn’t spend a lot of time on them. I had some issues with the ending, nice that he finds personal redemption, but there was little to no price to pay for what was multiple violations of the law. Often found myself saying, “Where is the coach?”.

[Lauren J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthew Balleza tells a gripping story of one HS cross country team through a season. When the coach unexpectedly leaves the team with no explanation it pushes the lead runner on the team Paul to the edge. The newcomer on the team Felix further pushes Paul and the outcome is very dangerous. It is a gripping story.

[Brian Cools · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good nuggets, but this book needed a professional editor.

I enjoyed the story and much of the runner’s wisdom but the grammar and structure of the writing often went horribly wrong. Why doesn’t the dialogue use quote marks? Ugh. When a book is about persevering, you shouldn’t take the easy way out on the writing.

[Keone Weigl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love an athlete/sport story. This one had so much depth in it from the grueling workouts and competition, to the team dynamics, individual personalities, and drug complications. It was a fast-moving read that I dug right into and could not put down until I finished.

[Robert Isaac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read but some inconsistencies and oddities with HS life/cross country. In some cases had a hard time following if the words written were spoken or just background as no quotes were used (small thing for most probably but I didn’t like the punctuation missing).

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like this story, the language or the abuse. This is not a book about the joy of running.

[Dee Tighe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow start.

[Lisa J. McManaman · Rating 3 out of 5]

more drama than running

I expected more technical running dross-country content but got more high school drama than I wanted. It was only an ok read.

[Carol Haile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really a book about running as much as it is about teamwork, learning how to overcome disappointment and defeat, bullying and growing up.

[Tia Brandenburg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Totally different than my usual book.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish there would’ve been a bit more editing. The book would’ve benefited from more traditional punctuation and a bit tighter structure. Less about running than interpersonal relationships.

[Scott Simons · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, but so poorly edited. And except for a couple of brief appearances, where are the parents of these kids throughout?!

[Faith Erwin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish. Barely even started. Too much language for me to enjoy. What I did listen to (Audible) felt very "high school."

[Nance · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the worst books I’ve ever read, feels like it was a high school assignment. I only finished it because it was so small and I couldn’t believe how bad it was

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story however it needed better editing. Many incorrect words and poor punctuation. The writing was uneven at times - a bit poetic and then basic. Still made for a good story.

[Rick Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great title -- and I kind of thought it would lead to some insightful cross country stories. Unfortunately, it seemed to focus very little on the running and way more on hazing and what I would consider to be behavior more befitting of college kids, not of high school teens (but I wouldn't know.) So, if I'm left to judge it on the storyline -- that made it pretty hard to score it any higher than 3 stars.