As the original running boom gained heat, Runner’s World produced a sister publication, in newspaper format.
I managed to write a book review for the premiere edition of On The Run which appeared April 20, 1978. – JDW
RUNNING THE LYDIARD WAY
by Arthur Lydiard with Garth Gilmour, World Publications
If Arthur Lydiard had no other credentials than the performances of Peter Snell and Murray Halberg and the wisdom of the phrase, “train, don’t strain,” he would still be an exceptional running theorist. But Lydiard does indeed have additional credentials – vast experience as an athlete and as a coach, an extraordinary layman’s knowledge of sport physiology, intelligence and common sense, and dedication.
He’s a man secure in the knowledge that, while there may be no single correct training method, his theories are the best yet developed.
In Running, The Lydiard Way, the New Zealander describes the training schedules that garnered Olympic medals. He explains the physiological basis for his methodology, and he discusses virtually every facet of racing preparation. He covers everything from sprinting to the marathon, from young runners to masters, from world-class athletes to fitness joggers. This is a book which clarifies the thinking of Lydiard.
Running, The Lydiard Way provides explanations for the various training procedures and allows the reader to balance his schedule. A large portion of the book consists of suggested training schedules for all distances – they are merely suggestions, not to be followed slavishly, but to serve as guides for your own training program.
Lydiard, for instance, advises a 26.2-mile time trial four weeks before the actual marathon race. Theoretically, this might be a valuable practice, but this reviewer is one who would forego such an effort. Unless, of course, someone was distributing souvenir T-shirts at the time trial’s finish.
The famed Lydiard program is detailed precisely. The endurance base, hill training, speed work and actual competition are described, so that any runner can understand the necessity of each phase.
Lydiard advocates many miles of long, relatively fast, distance. Yet throughout, he is careful to counsel the athlete to run “according to how you feel. Go by your own reactions and adjust your training to suit them.”
The validity of this advice is indisputable.
Arthur Lydiard Knows What He’s Talking About.
To wit (always wanted to say that) –
Everyone knows the ingredients but few know the recipe.
They have a word in Finnish called sisu, which basically means guts. It’s the strongest word in the Finnish language. You tell a Finn he doesn’t have sisu, that’s like spitting in his face.
If you want to be a successful runner, you have to consider everything. It’s no good just thinking about endurance and not to develop fine speed.
No one will burn out doing aerobic running. It is too much anaerobic running, which the American scholastic system tends to put young athletes through, that burns them out.
It’s a lot of hard work for five, six or seven years. There’s no secret formula. There’s no shortcut to the top.
Well, no athlete respects a big, fat coach who’s going to stand there and rest the watch on his stomach.
I have a saying ‘train, don’t strain.’ The Americans have the saying ‘no pain, no gain’ and that’s why they have no distance running champions. They get down to the track with a stopwatch and flog their guts out thinking that it’ll make them a champion, but they’ll never make a champion that way.
They’re very tenacious. They’re dedicated. Once a woman decides she’s going to do something, she’ll probably stick to it. The only problem with women is if there’s anything wrong with them, they won’t tell you. They’ll get out there and run on one leg. They don’t moan and groan like a lot of men do.
The idea that you can’t lose contact with the leaders has cut more throats than it has saved.
Champions are everywhere, you just have to train them properly.
When aerobic running becomes a daily habit, strength and confidence follow.
It’s just a matter of understanding what’s necessary and discipline yourself to do it.
Just a matter of understanding what’s necessary and discipline yourself to do it.
And… damn… ain’t that the truth.
