Running Against the Odds--A True Story of Grit, Rivalry, and Resilience in the Heart of Rural America. It is 1982 and the farm crisis has gripped the rural economy of southwestern Wisconsin. It is a time without cell phones or the Internet, as small-town teenagers search for a place to belong. Socio-economic change is underway, straining the traditions of the past. This is a true story about a group of cross country athletes from two of those communities, reaching for success while facing difficulties on and off the course. It is the story of two novice coaches, pioneering their programs in a once obscure yet ancient sport. Surrounded by the rugged beauty of Wisconsin's Driftless Region, the programs collide on an emotional rollercoaster that rolls toward four decades of achievement. Told by a member of one of those pioneering teams, this is an inspiring journey that illustrates the best lessons that interscholastic sports have to offer.