Their Effort Was Like Toothpaste...

Finally a book written for women's running. Effort Like Toothpaste is a new required reading for girls team running, the female equivalent of Running with the Buffaloes, Harriers and Juggernauts. This is a must-read for everyone involved with girls high school cross-country. Geoffrey Owers is a young high school teacher that falls into the head coaching position of his school's girls cross country team. Within one year he takes an average team from a disjointed, middle of the pack qualifier, to a state championship title team. And he continues building overachieving teams by winning three more state titles in the next four years. I actually had to start reading Geoffrey's book with a highlighter. As a coach of a girls high school cross-country team I had some success coaching individuals to state titles. However, I could never get a team to gel like I could the boys teams. I had "aha moments" almost every chapter. Geoffrey writes in a beautiful way that narrates how each season he molded a different group of individuals into a selfless team with one goal in mind. Putting together workouts is the easy part. As Marty Liquori says, all it takes to win a gold medal is several months of building the base with long-distance runs, eight weeks of interval training that conclude with shorter, faster intervals, followed by a few weeks of tapering. Go buy the Daniels Running Formula for a training schedule. What Geoffrey Owers does here is document the non-running aspects of coaching a girls team, the social component and team dynamics that are one hundred and eighty degrees different from coaching a boys team. This book confirms my belief that girl high school runners are more willing to push beyond physical pain and compete with total disregard "what others might think" pressure, if you can get the group to run for each other. The author demonstrates how to do this over and over, taking a different group of individuals every season to that mystical level of "how can I help my team today". Geoffrey Owers just might be the new Bill Bowerman or Joe Newton of girls high school cross-country.

Great book. Nicely written and very entertaining. I now have a new insight into cross country racing

Coach Ower's book is truly inspiring. I read the entire book in 2 days, and it brought me to tears (the good kind), with the stories of teamwork, effort, and overcoming challenges. This book is not just about running, it is about the unique stengths of the individuals and how they excelled as a team, it is about effort, and sportsmanship, and the love for teammates. I believe any person (runner or not) would love this book -- but definitely any runner or coach, especially anyone who has ever run on a cross country team will find this story hits home. I highly recommend this book to anyone. Another reason to read this book. It includes the high school story of the late Sally Meyerhoff, one of the best marathoners in the country, a running legend, and amazing person who was tragically killed in an accident in March of 2011. If you want to know what excellence and the drive to be a champion looks like, read this book, and read about Sally Meyerhoff and every other girl on the team who gave their all in every practice and every race.

As a four year member of Coach Owers' cross country team, I can attest to not only the accuracy of the book, but also to its honesty. It gives true insight into the world of high school sports and while it could be labeled as an inspiring sports story, it is really much more than that. "Their Effort Was Like Toothpaste" is best described as an account of the blood, sweat, and tears that make up a team. Reading the story not only takes me back to my high school years, but it reminds me of just why a group of teenage girls and I willingly spent four summers of our youth rising before the sun to run miles upon miles in the Arizona heat. Most think it was done in the effort to defend the 5A Cross Country State Championship title another year longer, which is partly true, but it was really done for each other.

This book is personal for me, as a chapter is dedicated to a very impacting event that happened in my life, a chapter about my daughter. She was a part of team, and became ill, and missed her big race; and then she and miraculously recovered. It is moving, it is powerful and is recommended. Coach Owers took his team to championship, but also took them to limits, to achievements, to pride in themselves and in their team. I will never forget the team and the impact on my daughters life that Coach and the team made.

Coach Owers tells a tale of finding purpose and meaning in the context of sport, but anyone (whether an athlete or not) will relate to this amazing book. It is a story not only about dedication, hard work, and the thrill of winning, but also one of overcoming life's challenges and the rewards of fostered relationships through difficult life experiences. A teacher and coach who gives his all to his students and athletes and receives much more in return! I couldn't put this book down and nearly completed it in one sitting. A must read!

I absolutely loved this book. It was not only a true story of the how the lives of teenage girls can change when it comes to running and being coached by Geoff Owers, but it put the emotions into what can come from running and even being on the coaching end. I got a very good feel for Coach Owers and how much coaching meant to him. He made many sacrifices for not only the team, but for his family. His true passion and love of the sport shine through.

Ower's book was an interesting read. A heartfelt story of coaching by a dedicated cross country runner and coach. His story transcends coaching; it has applications for all: drive, detemination, teamwork, and more. The book kept my attention all the way through and I couldn't wait to see how the team's final season would end. Owers writes with an honest, open voice that keeps the story interesting and engaging. Recommend this book for anyone who has ever been part of a team, runner or not!