Arthur Lydiard, & how his legacy has shaped the sport today

Lydiard's pioneering influence on long-distance running received accolades from Runners World, where he was acclaimed as the ultimate running coach of all time.

Today, the majority of accomplished sports coaches and athletes, whether knowingly or unknowingly, adopt Lydiard's training system, focusing on building a solid endurance foundation and incorporating periodization for optimal performance. Although the precise degree of Lydiard's impact on East African athletes remains a topic of discussion, it is undeniable that Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes engage in substantial endurance training and apply periodization techniques.

Arthur Lydiard, a native of New Zealand, born in 1917, initially harbored a strong passion for rugby during his school years. It was a close friend of his, Jack Dolan, who served as the president of a local athletics club, that managed to convince Lydiard to accompany him on a 5-mile run. Despite considering himself a fit young man, Lydiard found himself breathless and utterly fatigued. This experience led him to reevaluate his definition of being 'fit.' If he struggled after a 5-mile run at the age of 27, he wondered how he would fare at 47.

Lydiard began his training journey by following the methods of his time, which left him somewhat perplexed. Consequently, he decided to experiment with his own training regimen. Although not a fast runner, Lydiard possessed remarkable tenacity and dedication. He initiated a daily routine of running 12 miles, seven days a week, a practice that was extraordinary for that era. He commenced his racing career at the age of 28 but was frequently outperformed by runners who covered considerably less mileage. This frustration stemmed from the fact that he was fitter and faster but struggled to peak at the right time. To address this, he introduced a variety of daily distances and effort levels into his training, with some days being short and easy, and others being long and strenuous.

Other runners soon joined Lydiard's training program, with Lydiard himself serving as the primary test subject. His marathon times improved, as did his performance on the track. This set him apart from other coaches and runners who were unable to unravel the core principles of conditioning. Lydiard's training experiments would later serve as the foundation for the system he would use to develop champions like Halberg, Snell, and others.

Lydiard finalized his approach to running in the mid-1950s. By then, he had mastered the art of combining various training elements, such as long-distance running, hill workouts, speed training, sprint training, and peaking, to ensure that his runners reached their prime at the right moment.

From 1954 to 1958, Murray Halberg became an international sensation, running 3.57 miles and 3.38 in the 1500 meters, and winning the 3 miles event at the Empire Games in Cardiff. Peter Snell, another of Lydiard's proteges, achieved worldwide recognition by winning the Olympic Gold in the 800 meters in 1960, defeating Roger Moens. In the 5000 meters final, Murray Halberg secured the Gold by breaking away half a mile from the finish line. Barry McGee claimed the marathon bronze medal, finishing behind the North Africans, Bikila, and Rhadi.

In the 1964 Olympics, Snell continued his winning streak, taking home Gold in both the 800 and 1500 meters, while John Davies, another of Lydiard's trainees, clinched the 1500-meter bronze medal.

The world grew eager to learn more about the training methods employed by this group of teammates from Auckland. Lydiard was anything but reserved when it came to sharing his ideas, and he went to great lengths to publish and discuss them.

Lydiard made his training methods available to anyone interested, and this system extended its applications to various sports like rugby, rowing, cycling, kayaking, squash, triathlon, and football. Through conversations with experts in physiology and sports medicine, we can now scientifically explain the reasons behind the effectiveness of his methods. Lydiard has been a source of inspiration for coaches and athletes, encouraging them to reach their full potential.

Arthur’s legacy is the reason I am a running coach today. I am passionate about bringing Lydiard's proven principles to both top athletes and recreational runners. 

If you are interested in achieving your running potential or if you would like to learn more about my coaching service. Get in touch @ coach.run2thetop@gmail.com  or complete the contact form.