Reunions spur on many things for returning alumni. For David Bruhn, the 2024 Beavers Runners Reunion got him to write his 36th book. Bruhn has long covered running in California with “Stride Out” and “Distant Finish”; his most recent release covers 15 years of American River College’s track history.

The book “Beavers: American River College’s Running Dynasty, 1964-1979” chronicles a portion of the career of coach Al Baeta and his role in shaping ARC Track and Field. 

“I originally intended to cover all 32 years of his tenure at ARC, but quickly determined that I could only fit the first half of his remarkable coaching career,” Bruhn said in an email to The Current.

Baeta has had a long and varied career that spans his time as a physical education major while attending UC Berkeley, to his time as coach of the 1992 U.S. men’s Olympic track and field team. For Bruhn to cover even a small part of it took effort.

“The book centers on ARC Cross Country and Track & Field team and individual performances at NorCal and State Championship Meets.” Bruhn said.”Coach Baeta was able to dramatically improve athletes and get them to perform at levels many likely did not think possible.” 

Bruhn is a former student of Baeta’s when he was a student at ARC in 1976. During that time, he was a member of the cross country team and had similar comments to other former ARC students.

Michael Vandergriff, a former student and track runner, was coached by Baeta and used what he learned to become a trainer for law enforcement.

“Coach Baeta is unmatched in his ability to read people and inspire them to reach (and seemingly exceed) their potential,” Vandergriff said. “After thirty-five years in consulting and training, I may know only half of what Coach knows.”

To learn more about the book or purchase it from the publisher, you can visit Heritage Books  online.