What is your favorite Lydiard quote?

"If you understand the mindset of the Americans, you will understand why they finish last. Too much anaerobic work means long term failure."

"Miles make champions." - Arthur Lydiard (1917-2004)

"Eating a ham sandwich immediately after 5 rather large hamburgers tends to make the ham in the ham sandwich taste more like ham"

Classic. And if you can't recognize the parallels to the sport we all love then you desperately need to revisit Lydiard.

Lydiard, in his subtle yet poignant manner, said before the Charlotte talk, "All the Doctors with the diplomas on the wall, they are not the coaches. Runners figure out what really works, and then the doctors tell us why, not the other way around. The real coaches don't work in the vacuum of a lab."

Michigan Runner has posted the Internet TV/Video of excerpts from Arthur Lydiard's presentation in Utica, Michigan, December 1. Much of what he said made us smile.

On racing, at the Chicago talk:

"You should race when you're ready. Don't go out there and make a fool out of yourself."

if you can't make it 20 miles, you're going too fast

From a clinic in Europe:

"Americans just don't get it. In many ways they have it all. But when it comes to distance running they are quite the ignorant fools."

Good one. I remember the Denver Broncos had a running back who supposedly did that in the off season.

"Stop chasing pussy, train hard and become a champion and it will chase you"

"I drank what?"

Funny Guy wrote:

"Stop chasing pussy, train hard and become a champion and it will chase you"

He told Rich Englehart that the secret to a happy life was to get a Finnish wife and move to New Zealand. Same difference.

Bart- I definitely have a sincere love for running, but I have no idea what the ham sandwich deal means. I'd really appreciate it if you filled me in.

I think what it means is that anaerobic speedwork (the ham sandwich) feels more unique and benefits you more if you do it after gobs of aerobic foundation work (the hamburgers). Of course, if it gets any more complicated, this could become like explaining old Kung Fu episodes with a hangover.

Memories from the Westchester NY camps at Bard College in the mid-late 80's hosted by Tom (rest his soul) and Marlene Robinson:

"Three Olympic medalists just didn't happen to be living a mile and a half from my house". Like a Walter Brennan TV cowboy said, No brag Just fact. While at a watering hole off campus Arthur held his beer to the light and opined,"You Americans drink piss water!".

j squire wrote:

Funny Guy wrote:

"Stop chasing pussy, train hard and become a champion and it will chase you"

He told Rich Englehart that the secret to a happy life was to get a Finnish wife and move to New Zealand. Same difference.

He also told me he couldn't stand the smell of fish.

I don't have a quote for you but I can tell you I ran the

FAMOUS Wiatarua run toay being Sunday 19th Dec from out side Arthur's old place.(5 WainWright Ave)

Barry Magee was there to send all 10 of us off on the run,

along the way we got Rain, Hail, and finally great sunshine.

The course is fantastic with alot of hills.

It was very emotional standing outside his old house and think Peter Snell, Murray Halberg, Barry Magee, Jeff Julian, Bill Bailey all these great runners have run out of this house.

The 22 miles went by to quickly as the people I ran with all had things to share about Arthur,at 2hrs 24min we finally arrived back from were we started.

I am a true believer of the Lydiard training that is why Barry Magee coaches me.

The funeral for Arthur is on Tuesday 21 Dec it is going to be big,as it should be KING ARTHUR.

Long may he run.

Darren Keenan

This is a message for Mark Coughlin

Thank-you Mark for your Email,

But I don't have your Email address so I can reply

can you please forward it to me.

Regards

Darren Keenan

Auckland

New Zealand

"One of the greatest things Arthur told me was to drink beer. Thank God he never told me to stop."