We Share the Sun: The Incredible Journey of Kenya's Legendary Running Coach Patrick Sang and the Fastest Runners on Earth

(Hardback)

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An enlightening biography and gripping sports narrative that takes us behind the scenes into the lives of some of the worlds most elite runners in Kenya and their coach, Patrick Sang.

"I highly recommend this book." Meb Keflezighi

At a secluded training camp in Kaptagat, Kenya, a small town nearly 8,000 feet above sea level in the Great Rift Valley, three-dozen world-class runners, including Olympic champions, world record holders and the fastest marathoner of all-time, share simple dormitory-style rooms and endure grueling workouts six days a week.

These determined, devoted, and selfless runners are who they are because of a man named Patrick Sang. One of the greatestand least-heralded coaches in the sportSang is described by his athletes as a life coach.

In We Share the Sun, Sarah Gearhart takes us inside this high-octane world of elites of which few are even aware of and even fewer have ever seen. We are immersed in Sangs remarkable story, from his college days in the US to winning an Olympic medal in the steeplechase, and his journey to become a man who redefines what coaching means. There is no singular secret to athletic success, but, as readers will learn, Sangs holistic philosophy is like no other approach in the world. It is rooted in developing athletes who can navigate the pressures of elite competitionand life itself.

In these pages, we explore Sangs influence on his athletes including his unique and longstanding relationship with marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge as they prepared for the delayed Tokyo Olympics and other competitions. We witness the remarkable recovery of two-time New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor after a freak accident as he strove to earn his first Olympic medal. And we follow one of the worlds most dominant mid-distance runners, Faith Kipyegon, as she attempted a historic repeat title in the 1,500 meters three years after the birth of her first child.

We Share the Sun brings forth the remarkable lives and stories of East African runners, whose stories are seldom shared. Through Gearhart's vivid prose, we experience the richness that exists in Kenya as we come as close as we possibly can to running alongside a current and future generation of elitesand the man who molds them into champions.

Reviews

"Gifted sports journalist Gearharts account of the fabulous success of Kenyan distance runners focuses on Sang and his world-class training program. Gearhart shares rare insight into the coach and his methods, which emphasize helping runners achieve their full athletic potential as well as developing them into humans with a 'strong moral compass.' Running fans and coaches will surely draw inspiration from this humble coach who rewards effort, imparts life lessons, and shares uplifting holistic philosophy. -- Booklist, starred review
"A fascinating ode to all a coach can offer beyond holding the stopwatch. Eliud Kipchoge calls Patrick Sang a life coach, a man who confesses to speaking in parables and who sees his job being to shape the whole person, not just the athlete. Like Sangs coaching vision, this book contains wisdom that extends far beyond the track." -- Michael Crawley, author of Out of Thin Air: Running Wisdom and Magic from Above the Clouds in Ethiopia
By turns moving and insightful, We Share the Sun is the fascinating story of one of the worlds greatest coaches as well as a window into rural Kenya and how the way of life has given rise to one of the most dominant sporting cultures on the planet. Patrick Sang is a man full of wisdom and compassion. Its a joy to read his story. -- Adharanand Finn, author of Running with the Kenyans and The Rise of the Ultra Runners
Life is like water poured on the ground. It naturally finds its course. Patrick Sangs life journey as a humble and hard-working man who gives back is beautifully illustrated, and I highly recommend the book.
-- Meb Keflezighi,Four-time Olympian, New York City and Boston Marathon Champion, and New York Times bestselling author
"More than his staggering success as a coach, its Patrick Sangs thoughtful approach to personal developmentto finding each athletes Whythat shines through in Gearharts charming and deeply reported account.

-- Alex Hutchinson, Ph.D., National Magazine Award-winning journalist, author of Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance
"In prose as elegant as the strides of the athletes she describes, Sarah Gearhart takes us deep within the monastic world of elite Kenyan runners and their mentor Patrick Sang. Her unhurried inspection brings to life the determination, dedication, and urgency to succeed. Its a captivating study of striving at the highest level and will inspire anyone to press on no matter the challenges that confront them. -- Toni Reavis, U.S. broadcaster, writer and recipient of the George Hirsch Journalism Award
"Sarah Gearhart unravels the secrets behind the coaching of the best athletes in the world. Anyone who cares about performing at your best should read this book. The stories are captivating, and the lessons are invaluable. -- Steve Magness, world-renowned performance coach and author of The Science of Running and Do Hard Things
I enjoyed reading Sarah Gearharts We Share the Sun about Coach Patrick Sangs leadership role in Kenyan athletics. It was interesting to learn how Sangs experiences while a scholarship college student in the US influenced him, especially the strong bond with his own coach. Gearhart reveals Coach Sangs discipline with his athletes alongside the emphasis on hard work. Runners can learn so much from this book! -- Bill Rodgers, Olympian, four-time winner of the Boston marathon, four-time consecutive winner of the New York City marathon
"The great Eliud Kipchoge is a man without equal in the sport of running. Or so I thought before I read We Share the Sun, Sarah Gearharts captivating biography of Kipchoges charismatic longtime coach Patrick Sang. -- Matt Fitzgerald,author ofOn Pace, 80/20 RunningandRunning the Dream

Author Bio

SarahGearhartis a sportswriter based in New York City. Formerly a senior producer atUSATODAYSports Media, her work has appeared inThe New York Times,The Wall Street Journal,ESPN,Runner's World,Vice SportsandVictory Journal. Hawaiian-born and an avid runner for twenty-two years (and counting), she has completed fourteen marathons around the world, including the Boston Marathon three times.