Arthur Lydiard has died

Classic trolling by some young jerk who has never known success, never truly believed in anything, and who has concocted a fantasy world of false superiority around themselves. I know that I am feeding your desire for attention Daisies but at some point, you will come to realize how utterly worthless, immature, and unintelligent you really are. In fact, deep in your heart you already know this hence, why you feel the need to lash out so.

I had the pleasure of spending time with Arthur over the years and he truly was a great man. He freely shared his ideas and ideals with all and had no pretenses whatsoever. The sport owes him a great deal of gratitude.

Somewhere beyond our level of existence, Arthur is downing a pint with Bill Bowerman, Percy Cerutty, and Mihaly Igloi and debating the finer points of training distance runners. Godspeed Arthur! You are already missed.

Another piece from an interview by Mike Prizy (Chicago Athlete).

http://www.chicagoaa.com/features/speedplaylydiard03.html

The Law, Twisted wrote:

Somewhere beyond our level of existence, Arthur is downing a pint with Bill Bowerman, Percy Cerutty, and Mihaly Igloi and debating the finer points of training distance runners. Godspeed Arthur! You are already missed.

I can\'t help but smile imagining such a scene; especially recalling the strong personalities of the participants!

I feel very fortunate to have gotten to see him on his speaking tour. He was everything I had hoped and more.

One of the true legends.

Been very sad ever since I heard about his passing. Some have mentioned honoring him by going out for a long slow run. Not me, my run was long, but it wasn't slow. I could have just jogged it, but that was not the Lydiard way. Ran my best aerobic pace like Lydiard would have wanted. RIP Coach

I think part of what is expressed within this outpouring of loss and affection is a sense that Arthur was really OUR coach; a world-class coach for a lot of us who aren't talented enough to merit a coach. He was the guy who seemed to want all of us old, slow, flatfoots to excel. He seemed to enjoy it whenever people did the thing correctly, even those with no hope of seeing an Olympics without a ticket. And I know he is responsible for a host of us chopping tens of minutes, even hours, off marathon PRs at ages when our fathers couldn't jog to the mailbox. And he was relevant to us in a way a lot of modern coaches couldn't be -- Arthur coached when people had to train while working eight hour days, when no one had a personal nutritionist and no one took drugs; that is the reality for most of us at all talent levels.

In one year we lost Johnny Kelley and Arthur. That's a hell of a running club up there somewhere.

You calling me out with that handle? I think I'll stay.

Whay an inspiration! I met Arthur last Tuesday in Dallas, and he did an incredible job of presenting himself and his message. I feel very unworthy/privileged to have met him. He even took my shoes and re-laced them for me. I have an enormous amount of respect for him; Despite his poor health condition, he was out spreading his message and SHARING with people. He will be sorely missed. RIP

Just received this message from Mr. Garth Gilmour; one of Arthur's very long time friends and co-author of all of Arthur's books as well as the author of his biography, "Arthur Lydiard--Master Coach". I would like to share this with you:

"Nobby, dear man

Do not have Arthur's death on yoour conscience. You could not have prevented it. Arthur has always been noted for his uncanny ability to predict events and he told me everal times last year that 2004 would be his last year

and that, given the choice, he wold prefer to die in the United States, among people who valued him most. It's happened because, I believe, this is what he planned or, at least, wanted. Although he was surrounded by close friends here, he was also among his greatest critics and knockers -- the athletic heirachy and tall poppy slashers who tried to represent him as a spent force whose methods were old hat and outmoded. The rest of the world, of course, knew better.

A wonderful, loyal, friendly man who gave unstinting support to anyone who sought it, Arthur, I believe, chose his going and, as usual, achieved total success. He leaves a gap that can never be filled but I hope our books together, the millions who believe in him and have benefitted from his counsel and guidance and his biography will keep him alive for generations to come.

I know that, if I had not fallen under his spell, I would now be dead. For him and because of him, I gave up too much drinking, a lack of exercise and too many cigarettes -- 80 a day when I met him in 1959 -- and allowed him to turn my life around . I will be forever thankful that

Arthur Lydiard happened to me.

We must keep in touch. As Richard Mayer suggests, there is more to be done to maintain Arthur's name and philosophy in front of the world.

My warmest regards

Garth"

Again thanks to Wejo et al. for their excellent and appropriately large tribute. Arthur is a huge hero and legand among runners in New Zealand, but comparing the letsrun homepage to Atheletics New Zealand (http://www.athletics.org.nz/) demonstrates how astonishingly under appreciated Arthur remains among those who govern running in my country. While the Brahmins continue to by and large ignore him, he lives on in the hearts of those of us he inspired to love our sport. And on every long run, we carry a part of him with us. RIP

Thank you, Arthur. And thank you, Nobby, for giving him a great last few months of his life.

Arthur Lydiard was and will continue to be the truly international distance coach. Wherever there are runners there are Lydiard disciples. Can there be a distance coach that has a more widespead and successful following? Will there ever be?

His life continues on as the motivating force behind countless runners throughout the globe. Every second of every day there is someone on the move because of AL.

Dead? Not hardly.

A classic case of putting thing off...I must admit that I am new convert to Lydiard's philosophies. I have used bits and pieces, but never the entire package. I had an opportunity to hear him speak, but I thought "I am going to hear Peter Snell in Atlantic City, that would be good enough." Not that Peter Snell won't be good, but I would have like to hear straight from the horses mouth.

OE

Lydiard showed the way, back in the fifties. Amazing, really. More wonderful, was the generosity with which he shared and gave of his advanced knowledge. Amazing.

If it were not for Lydiard's long training, I never would have been the #1 runner on my hs and collegiate teams. His influence is a key reason I experienced any success in the running way. I have nothing else to say.

Santiago

My feelings mirror all those expressed throughout this thread. I've been a fan of Authur's for over 40 years. So it was a real thrill for me to attend 2 of his seminars and finally met him in Nov. I even videoed one of them. That tape is even more special to me now since this giant world legend has left our midst.

I learned of Authur's death Sun. afternoon, which incidently was the 13th anniversary of my oldest son's death. Sunday was indeed a sad day.

He was the greatest distance coach. RIP Arthur Lydiard.

I am blown away by Nobby's forwarded message from author, Garth Gilmore. Especially this:

"Arthur has always been noted for his uncanny ability to predict events and he told me several times last year that 2004 would be his last year and that, given the choice, he wold prefer to die in the United States, among people who valued him most."

This truly says it all.

According to Arthur, Garth knew him better than he knew himself.

While he was here, he twice said "he wouldn't be around much longer". When I would object, he would answer with certainty "no, no I won't". Add to that Mr. Gilmore's comments above and you get a picture of a man consciously completing his journey in exactly the manner he preferred. A very successful tour of the US showed him that he will never be forgotten and his work will live on. Who could ask for more?

I was at College Park, MD, too. I now feel so fortunate to have gotten his autograph. I was running a marathon the very next day and mentioned it to Mr. Lydiard. He went right into coaching mode and gave me a few tips that helped me the next day, too!

I've rededicated myself from that day to returning to my own Lydiard roots (dating from the 1960s) and I'll dedicate my 10-miler today in cold and windy Washington, DC, to him.

Joe