This book starts with an historical account of the Southwest High School cross-country team, from the beginning in 1942, through to the last state championship in 1980. The author was a member of the cross-country team in 1970, 1971 and 1972. The book chronicles his senior season; the summer lead-in, the mileage run during the summer, then the workouts and meets during the season, culminating in the state championship.

The book switches after this to following Coach Hall's 30+ year coaching career and how he used the "Southwest System". It looks at all his coaching stops and how this system helped him with the many successes in his career. Interspersed along the way are coaching and running tips and suggestions on how to be a better runner and coach. There is also a summary at the end of how the "Southwest System" works and how it still applies and is relevant today.

The author attended Southwest High School where he ran cross-country. After graduating from the University of Minnesota, he started coaching cross-country and track & field in 1979, continuing in one or both sports until 2017. He now makes his home in Louisville, Ky., with his wife and two children and is semi-retired from more than 40 years as a mathematics instructor.