Arthur Lydiard and his statements

You know what I mean.

Accept the fact that Lydiard lied in that tv interview I´ve mentioned which has been proved in that Vasala´s book. You or anyone else just can´t deny that.

the truth: wrote:Accept the fact that Lydiard lied in that tv interview I´ve mentioned which has been proved in that Vasala´s book. You or anyone else just can´t deny that.

You still haven't provided any kind of proof to back up this statement. Until you do, you are just being a troll.

YOU have to get an actual Lydiard quote to that effect. Even if it's quoted in Vasala's book it's not Lydiard's statement. So you're going to have to find that interview on Youtube or something and link it here. Otherwise all you're doing is making an unverifiable claim and there is NO reason to believe you.

I realize English is not your first language but here's the situation: You claim that Lydiard stated that he "coached " Viren. Even though you can't prove he ever said it, nor can anyone else here verify your claim.

No one here in their right minds is claiming that Lydiard ever coached Viren, or even said as much. I said I knew Arthur. I heard Lydiard speak of Viren many times, and I never recall him making the claim that he coached Viren. So what you're trying to do is debunk a "fact" that no one else seems to believe is true other than yourself. You are wasting your time, in other words. Is that clear enough?

I met Lydiard several times, talked with him, and have several of his books.

Anyone who has been around Lydiard should know that he exaggarated greatly, which is a nice way of saying that he lied. Anything to promote his personal program was status quo for Lydiard. He stole quite a bit of his method from Percy Cerutty, but acts like he created those same things himself. Lydiard probably got everything in his method from somebody else.

Another thing is that Lydiard was a braggart. I don't remember if he said he coached Viren, but talking to Lydiard you would certainly get that impression. And if you didn't buy into everything that he said then he would have nothing to do with you.

Yes I have. You just don´t want to face the truth. Get the book and shut up, you troll.

YOU have to stop being ridiculous. You seem to be just like Arthur was. Face the truth.

orbitboy wrote:

So what you're trying to do is debunk a "fact" that no one else seems to believe is true other than yourself. You are wasting your time, in other words. Is that clear enough?

I´m not trying anything. I am just telling a TRUE STORY from Pekka Vasala, who actually was in New Zealand and saw the tv interview. So I´m not telling just what I believe, I am telling what Pekka Vasala has said. Now, is that clear enough?

Thank you.

It's certainly plausible that Lydiard exaggerates, and it's not outside the realm of possibility that he even claimed more than once that he coached the Finns.

It's also plausible, for all I know, that Vasala is an exaggerator, didn't like "outside interference", or simply lacks native English comprehension skills. Whatever he said in his book, in Finnish, Vasala is just not the best source for "Lydiard's statements". That's why it's called hearsay, and not truth. Vasala acts as a distorted filter, giving his impression of the truth.

What's surprising is how quickly you apply the label of "truth" to Vasala's "hearsay" account of what he thinks he heard, in his non-native language (with an accent), in a tv interview 34 years ago. English is my mother tongue, yet I find myself often confused when Brits, Scots, Irish, Aussies, and Kiwis speak. It's also surprising that you labeled the words "Lydiard's statements" when you really meant "Duncan Larkin's" statements, or "Pekka Vasala's" statements. Shall I call you a liar for such misstatements?

Whatever Lydiard said in 1975, surely he came clean in his 1978 book, which described in great detail his role in Finland. At least you did not challenge that description. No one reading "Running the Lydiard Way" misunderstands Lydiard's role, as more of an advisor to the country, rather than coach to the athletes. This matter was resolved 31 years ago with less exaggerated truths historically recorded in Lydiard's book.

the truth: wrote:

Yes I have. You just don´t want to face the truth. Get the book and shut up, you troll.

We are still waiting for you to provide a direct quote from Arthur Lydiard saying that he was Viren's coach, Mr Troll...

You are splitting hairs.

"We are"? Speak for yourself, moron.

Who cares who coached Viren, he was a blood doper, plain and simple!

He was a blood "doper" (wasn´t illegal those days) as much as his competitors were. Did you know, for example, that at Munich 10k Emiel Puttemans ran faster than Lasse did? Emiel ran about 50m more in that race than Lasse. Also Yifter followed every surge by David Bedford. Lasse won with his intelligence, and the stupidity of his main rivals helped a lot.

Viren said he didn't blood dope, so what is the true truth the truth?

the thruth wrote:

Arthur Lydiard wasn´t Lasse Viren´s coach (that was Rolf Haikkola from the start to the end of his career). He gave some lectures in Finland but what he claimed about "coaching" best finnish runners, it´s not true.

I believe you. Arthur wasn't Viren"s coach or the best Finnish runners. Is this your finest moment criticizing a dead man, because it appears this way. You don't want us to believe you are a troll but you sure come off as one.

No, this isn´t my finest moment. I´m not criticizing, I´m just telling the truth.

the truth: wrote:

orbitboy wrote:

So what you're trying to do is debunk a "fact" that no one else seems to believe is true other than yourself. You are wasting your time, in other words. Is that clear enough?

I´m not trying anything. I am just telling a TRUE STORY from Pekka Vasala, who actually was in New Zealand and saw the tv interview. So I´m not telling just what I believe, I am telling what Pekka Vasala has said. Now, is that clear enough?

You couldn't possibly sound more confused or less clear. In fact, you sound crazy. I said you're wasting your time. If I'm wrong, please tell me what you believe you've accomplished with this thread. Again, you are trying to convince people that Lydiard never coached Viren. From what I can tell, no one actually believes this was true anyway. You are also trying to convince us that Lydiard claimed he DID coach Viren, an allegation you cannot support or prove. If this was a court of law, the judge would laugh you right out of the courtroom.