Training opportunity of a lifetime...

Being a student is by far the best job to have for running, unless you're a professional runner of course. You're young still, develop the next 4 years in school and then go for it.

~mike

Go to New Zealand man. Odds are, you will never have the opportunity to do it again -- things change quick and different pressures emerge after college. The opportunity to see the world, train under a legendary coach, and live down under will change your pespective for the better.

I second ATL - go see the world, I certainly wish I had. Everyone should.

"Do you move down to New Zealand, self funded 100% and have the time of your life?

Or do you simply stay put in Canada to attend University and compete?"

Well . . . if you put it that way, then maybe we should all move down to New Zealand.

But what makes you think that you're going to have the time of your life if you go to New Zealand? Suppose you get injured as soon as you get there? (In fact, I thought you were the one with a badly injured achilles/ankle.) Suppose Lydiard gets sick, or dies, or retires, or just decides that he'd rather not work with you? Suppose you discover that, when you're not running, you're bored stiff living in New Zealand?

If you choose to make running the one big thing in your life, you're just one tiny inflamed tendon away from having a truly miserable time. And that very thought itself could make you positively neurotic the whole time you're down there.

Many of us have had the same dream that you have. Some have acted on it, with varying degrees of success. My vote, though, is in favor of the less drastic choice. As a student, you will probably have plenty of time to train, and -- at the very least -- should have plenty of opportunity to find out if you have the talent that might later warrant a much larger commitment to running.

If you go to NZ, go for the experience, not with running only in mind. I didn't spend a whole lot of time there when I went, but it's a beautiful country with lots of great things to do AND lots of great places to run. Don't become so obsessed w/ running or Lydiard that you forget you're in one of the coolest places on earth (IMHO).

ah, the canadian teenage running pianist. such a conflicted freak of two worlds.

- a canadian teenage running pianist

How old is Lydiard ? I have heard from some US coaches that were in touch with him 2 years ago that he had aged quite a bit and was not 100 % up to date anymore..

Fuck man, just come to guelph. You can go to school, have alot of fun, and be apart of a team that kicks ass where you will definetly see improvement.

Runna,

I went to McMaster, and one of my profs had done a study on one year of students. They asked the students a number of questions about their lives prior to and during university and found that the #1 indicator of whether or not a student would graduate was time off after high school. Those who took time off were much more likely to graduate.

I'd go to NZ if I were you. Even if you end up deciding that Lydiard isn't the coach you want, I'm sure there are other good coaches down there.

Greg

Spending time with grandpa isn't any fun, and there's no

free ride in Canada. Get a music scholarship in southern

California.

I had blast running in college. But college will be there in five ot ten years. Arthur may not. I'd go to NZ. But I'd also remember, as an earlier post mentioned, that your experience there can be broader than just running.

i'm graduating from college in the spring.....if you're not gonna go down to new zealand, i'll gladly take your place!!! there's been lots of advice both sides, i say go for it if you're interested. good luck w/ whatever you choose.

...then read Ron Daws self-made Olympian. That's pretty much Lydiard in a nutshell. No need to go to NZ. Go to college, get your degree, then go to NZ. If I could move anywhere it would either be NZ(great weather, mystique, countryside) or Ireland(mystique, countryside, family roots).

Alan

In most big decisions, Runna, there are way to many dynamics involved to adequately explain in a couple of paragraphs, not to mention that you alone have an idea of the degree of meaningfulness it would mean for you to train under Lydiard.

Sounds like a great deal for most people, and I wouldn't fault you for going.

Think on it & sleep on it... I'm sure you'll make a good decision.

Good luck!

that was me with the ankle injury. monday was the first day i tried running in over 6 weeks, 2 miles in 14:02 (7:22, 6:40- DEAD TIRED). but thanks for the concern+

Come on down!!!!!

We're waiting for ya!!!!!

For an athlete at your level NZ is a great place to live, work and train. Wellington and Auckland have the best middle distance communities and a number of established, highly regarded coaches.

I would seriously look into Lydiards recent coaching success and keep your options open for other alternatives.

I agree with some of the posts above about getting away for a break before College. Most other countries encourage their youth to explore other countries and cultures, unfortunately Canada and America don't seem to do that as much. Be different and learn about the world, while having fun and runnning.

Let us know what you do.

PS: I think we have pianos in NZ

Yeah I have the ankle injury also... I'm trying to run through it, trying to see a specialist, I still don't know exactly what is wrong with it...

And I would NOT go to new zealand unless I was 100% healthy, I agree going down injured would be a waste of time not to mention money...

Maybe this is a stupid idea, but have you checked into colleges in New Zealand? Best of both worlds?

Before you make your decision, I'd check into the quality and availability of healthcare services in NZ. I am not familiar with the country, but for example, you want to be sure there is not a 7 month long waiting list to get an MRI, as a recent poster in Canada mentioned.