Lyle Smith

AUTHOR

Blood, Sweat & Spikes

At the height of the first American Running Boom, a small town in New Jersey emerged as a magical place in the sport.

Running the Wetmore Way

Tiny Bernardsville, in the Somerset Hills of New Jersey produced dozens of local, state, age-group, and national champions and claimed a places in the pantheon of American distance running. A junior program fed a high school team of boys and girls that claimed legend status.

Before he was one of the best collegiate distance running coaches on the planet, Mark Wetmore was the young, ambitious, experimental coach of this program.

BLOOD, SWEAT & SPIKES is one story of one of those runners in that town and the people who made it unique in the history of the sport.

Watch the Official Book Trailer >>>

Read a short excerpt >>>

A man standing outside a building with a pile of chopped firewood behind him. He is wearing sunglasses, a gray cap, a cream-colored knit sweater, dark jeans, and brown boots, smiling at the camera.

About Lyle

Lyle Smith is the author of the memoir, BLOOD, SWEAT & SPIKES and WHY YELLOW MATTERS, that explores the importance of asking “why?” in everything we do. He makes his home in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with his wife, Heather, and son Aiden. It is a place he’s wanted to return since he first ran the Junior Olympic Cross Country nationals here at age 11. Originally from Bernardsville, NJ, he can proudly say he was a part of The Long Red Line of Bernards distance running as a two-time high school All-American, 16-time NJ state champion and twice a member of the Penn Relays high school boys distance medley Championship of America team.

Shop Nymblesmith

BSS, The t-shirt!
from $25.00
This t-shirt is everything you've dreamed of and more. It feels soft and lightweight, with the right amount of stretch. It's comfortable and flattering for all.

• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz./yd.² (142 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• Side-seamed construction
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Blank product sourced from Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, or the US

Disclaimer: The fabric is slightly sheer and may appear see-through, especially in lighter colors or under certain lighting conditions.

This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!
Unisex relaxed mid-weight hooded sweatshirt
from $44.00
This relaxed hoodie combines a soft brushed feel with a clean everyday look. The structured hood, kangaroo pocket, and mid-weight fabric make it easy to layer through every season, whether you're going for casual comfort or elevated streetwear styling.

• 80% organic ring-spun combed cotton, 20% recycled polyester for fulfillment in the US
• 85% organic ring-spun combed cotton, 15% recycled polyester for fulfillment in the EU
• Fabric weight: 8.3 oz./yd.² (280 g/m²)
• Soft brushed fleece interior
• Relaxed fit
• Double-lined hood
• Kangaroo pocket
• Ribbed cuffs and bottom hem
• Twin-needle topstitching for added durability

Note that we show the EU sizes for Stanley/Stella products. The sizes correspond to a smaller size in the US market, so US customers should order a size up.

This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!

The Story Forge Podcast

Making Things Matters

The collected stories of people making things that matter and inspiring others to do the same. Those unique and special individuals who start create things that matter to them and other people. Things like music and art; places to gather and get to understand each other; things that make our lives better, richer, and more enjoyable or passionate. These are the stories of those people in pursuit of their own dreams, that if we listen a little bit closely, can inspire us to be better and make the world better.

Refer a person or story that matters to you >>>

Get the newsletter.

We send occasional information of interest to our readers. Don’t worry, we never sell our lists.