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Stupid Fast: A Runner's Story
A page-turning saga of heart, sweat, and determination, where the underdogs rise to the occasion and show that sometimes the gift of speed comes at a price.
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 Stafford, 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.
Stupid Fast 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 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, and the chance to etch their names in the annals of cross country history?
If you're looking for a story that challenges expectations and grapples with the dark side of ambition, lace up your shoes and prepare for an unforgettable run.
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 Stafford, 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.
Stupid Fast 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 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, and the chance to etch their names in the annals of cross country history?
If you're looking for a story that challenges expectations and grapples with the dark side of ambition, lace up your shoes and prepare for an unforgettable run.
259 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 20, 2024
57 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 3, 2025
If you are looking for a good book about running, please go anywhere else but to this book. This was by far the worst running book (both fiction and nonfiction) that I have ever read. The author is not a runner, and while that is not required to write about the sport, you could do a google search and have a better understanding of running than Matt Balleza. He did not do his research and did not even try to hide it.
That brings me to my second issue. I’m fairly certain he used AI to write sections of this book, and used AI to make the cover of the physical copies. Like you couldn’t pay a real artist to design a jacket that would be 10x better than some AI slop?? The editing of the actual book is awful, there are a ton of plot holes, and the characters do not act like any high school athlete or runner I have ever met. I was and still am a competitive runner and this is just painful to read. Nobody who has ever run at any level, as a profession, for fun, or otherwise could find this book entertaining, because it is simply not about running. It is more about really ugly, mean people and unrealistic high school drama than anything else.
In sum, if you like books so bad no one but the author could stand to edit or even publish this book and you like shitty high school drama, then this may be the book for you!
That brings me to my second issue. I’m fairly certain he used AI to write sections of this book, and used AI to make the cover of the physical copies. Like you couldn’t pay a real artist to design a jacket that would be 10x better than some AI slop?? The editing of the actual book is awful, there are a ton of plot holes, and the characters do not act like any high school athlete or runner I have ever met. I was and still am a competitive runner and this is just painful to read. Nobody who has ever run at any level, as a profession, for fun, or otherwise could find this book entertaining, because it is simply not about running. It is more about really ugly, mean people and unrealistic high school drama than anything else.
In sum, if you like books so bad no one but the author could stand to edit or even publish this book and you like shitty high school drama, then this may be the book for you!
January 8, 2025
Let me start by saying I am a runner and a running coach. This is a fictional book about a high school boys cross country team and their drama filled season. It was alright. The second half was definitely better and I ended up reading 2 hours straight which is not normal for me. I was hooked and wanted to know what happened. There were sections where I quickly skimmed because he went on and on about nothing. You don’t learn about running, but you get to see some of the quirky characteristics of runners. Due to the drug use and hazing I would not recommend this to my high school athletes. If you’re older and want a quick, easy read, you might enjoy this.
December 15, 2024
Love the passion with which Matt writes! This book is a fun and quick read because of the exciting and intriguing storylines of each runner on the team. You truly start to get to know them.
Character development is thorough, except I would've loved to know more about couch Cal.... he interested me.
Recommended, especially for those who love to run. Cross country is such a beautiful sport. Props to the author for bringing that beauty to the written word.
Character development is thorough, except I would've loved to know more about couch Cal.... he interested me.
Recommended, especially for those who love to run. Cross country is such a beautiful sport. Props to the author for bringing that beauty to the written word.
December 23, 2025
Pretty good. Fast read. Might recommend for: runners (adult and student), parents of runners, parents of athletes, parents of high schoolers. Nothing wildly unexpected. Balleza sure knows how to create a believable villain, story shows good depth and character development.
August 11, 2025
I was enjoying reading a high school boys thing! I just wish more stories about the cross-country race.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews