New book captures the spirit of the running boom
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A Memoir That Captures the Spirit of the Running Boom: Blood, Sweat & Spikes: Running the Wetmore Way
At the height of the first American Running Boom, on nearly any weekend in New Jersey, you could find a folding table, a ballpoint pen, and a stack of entry forms. Runners of every age and ability would pin numbers to their shirts, toe the line, and set off together in a celebration of movement. It was a time when running wasn’t about technology, splits, or likes on social media—it was about community, joy, and the pursuit of something deeper.
In Blood, Sweat & Spikes: Running the Wetmore Way, author Lyle Smith takes readers back to one of those rare places where the boom took root most powerfully: the tiny town of Bernardsville in the Somerset Hills of New Jersey. From its winding roads and wooded trails emerged a flood of champions—local, state, national—and a high school program that became the stuff of legend.
At the center was a young coach named Mark Wetmore. Long before he became one of the most renowned collegiate coaches in the world, Wetmore was experimenting, inspiring, and connecting with a generation of athletes who would go on to define their own excellence.
Smith, himself a two-time high school All-American and 16-time New Jersey state champion, writes not just of his own journey, but of the collective spirit of “The Long Red Line” of Bernards distance running. The book is both a personal memoir and a love letter to a time and place that shaped the sport in America.
Elite marathon coach Brad Hudson captures it well:
“We chase happiness in grace, pleasure and more importantly, what the Greeks called arete—excellence. Lyle Smith, with Blood, Sweat & Spikes, has shown us a peek of a world once lived before the internet and social media. A time and place and story that should be told.”
Today, Smith lives in Colorado, in the shadow of the mountains that first drew him west at age 11, when he ran in the Junior Olympic Cross Country Nationals. With Blood, Sweat & Spikes, he returns to the beginning—to the magic of Bernardsville, the wisdom of Coach Wetmore, and the enduring lessons of running that shaped him and so many others.
Blood, Sweat & Spikes: Running the Wetmore Way is available now lylesmith.net
Media Contact:
Heather Smith
cheers@nymblesmith.com
(303) 834-7322
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lylesmith.net
Zolly House celebrates release of You Are Just Beginning
It all begins with an idea.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Zolly House Press Celebrates the Pre-Order Release of You Are Just Beginning: A Journey Into Leadership by Jim Ridgway
[City, State] — [Date] — Zolly House Press is excited to announce that retired U.S. Navy aviator and leadership expert Jim Ridgway’s new book, You Are Just Beginning: A Journey Into Leadership, is now available for pre-order.
For Ridgway, leadership has never been about titles or positions—it’s about growth, resilience, and the willingness to start fresh no matter where you are in life. In his new book, he draws on 23 years of service in the U.S. Navy, including deployments around the world and command of multiple units, as well as a decade of leadership in business and emergency management. The result is an inspiring guide that’s both deeply personal and refreshingly practical.
“Leadership is not a finish line you cross—it’s a journey you choose to begin every day,” says Ridgway. “This book is for anyone ready to take that first step, or the next one.”
You Are Just Beginning weaves together stories, wisdom, and lessons learned in high-stakes environments, showing readers that true leadership is about courage, humility, and service.
“At Zolly House Press, we’re proud to bring Jim’s voice to the world,” said Zolly House co-founder Lyle Smith. “This project captures what we value most: authentic stories that inspire people to lead, live, and grow with purpose.”
✨ You Are Just Beginning: A Journey Into Leadership is now available for pre-order, with official release on September 30, 2025.
🔗 Pre-order links:
Amazon: https://bit.ly/4nCTpKc
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3VnJdcm
About the Author
Jim Ridgway is a retired U.S. Navy aviator and leader who served as Commanding Officer of two Navy Operational Support Centers and as Chief of Staff for Destroyer Squadron One. Since retiring from the Navy, he has continued to lead in roles across change management, aviation management, and emergency management. He lives in California with his wife, Sarah.
About Zolly House Press
Zolly House Press partners with remarkable authors to bring meaningful books to market with speed, excellence, and care. Authors keep their copyright, their creative control, and 100% of their royalties.
Media Contact:
Lyle Smith
Zolly House Press
Email >>>
(303) 834-7322
