Death of a sporting legend

Arthur Lydiard. Picture / Paul Estcourt

It would not have been exactly how he might have planned it, but legendary New Zealand athletics coach Arthur Lydiard died in Texas yesterday doing what he loved best - talking about the sport he revolutionised.

At his hotel after attending a huge race where he had been guest of honour and had taken the chance to talk to runners and give advice, Lydiard, 87, feeling tired, put his feet up and was watching television when he appeared to have a heart attack.

US race promoter Greg McMillan, who had been with Lydiard for the past week as he continued a planned six- to eight-week speaking engagement, told Lydiard's wife, Joelyne, last night that he had called paramedics who tried, in vain, to resuscitate him.

McMillan, obviously saddened, said he had been honoured to have spent time with Lydiard.

Lydiard's death closes one of the most colourful and successful chapters in New Zealand sport.

Auckland born and bred, Lydiard went away from the accepted norm of middle- to long-distance coaching when, in 1949, he embarked on a seven-days-a-week marathon-type training regime.

He was the guinea pig, testing himself by running longer distances to ascertain just what the body could handle.

Lydiard built up his training to the fabled 100 miles a week and was good enough to run into 12th place for New Zealand in the marathon at the 1950 Empire Games on roads not far from where he attended Edendale Primary, Kowhai Intermediate and Mt Albert Grammar. His time of 2h 54m 51s was nothing startling, but he had at least proved a point.

In 1953 and 1955 he won the national marathon title, which was also won by Lydiard pupils Ray Puckett, Barry Magee and Jeff Julian 11 times between 1958 and 1970. The only misses were in 1966-67 when wiry West Coaster Dave McKenzie, who won the fabled Boston Marathon on the back of a Lydiard programme, took the honours.

The 1960 Rome Olympics catapulted Lydiard on to the world stage.

New Zealand won two gold medals barely an hour apart as unheralded Peter Snell captured the 800m title and then Murray Halberg, Lydiard's first serious disciple, stunned the world with his catch-me-if-you-can 5000m triumph.

Lydiard, not considered good enough to be part of the official New Zealand team in Rome, became a somewhat reluctant hero.

He brought his ideas back to New Zealand. Shunned in many quarters, he worked outside the system but was soon in demand in Mexico and Finland and elsewhere as he spread the word.

His famed Waiatarua training circuit through the Waitakere Ranges became, like him, legendary.

From his humble Mt Roskill house - from which he had headed out on a daily milk run - Lydiard later moved to Titirangi, not far from the well-beaten roads his runners pounded relentlessly.

While at times considered abrasive - he did not tolerate fools - he had a burning passion for his sport.

Frustrated by bureaucracy, Lydiard did it his way. That it took until November last year to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award and life membership from the national body was considered a disgrace.

Lydiard, who was married three times, had three sons, Roy, Gary and Bruce, and a daughter, Fay, who ran with varying degrees of success.

Olympian Dick Quax said Lydiard was a great New Zealander.

"He was without doubt the greatest coach that this country has ever produced."

Quax, although not coached by Lydiard personally, said he was a great motivator.

"After you'd spoken to Arthur, you could run through brick walls."

He said Lydiard's greatest contribution was his system of training, based on long, steady running rather than the interval training favoured by European and American coaches.

"Within a fairly short time of introducing runners to the system, he was developing New Zealand champions and then Olympic champions and world champions and world-record holders.

"He was a man many, many years ahead of his time."

Quax was coached by John Davies, a Lydiard protege.

"That's the legacy of Arthur being carried on through succeeding generations."

John Walker, Olympic 1500m champion in 1976, said Lydiard was a pioneer of fitness regimes and a "coach of coaches" in his later years.

"His influence will live forever."

Walker said Lydiard, who wasn't his coach, was a vibrant personality and his methods were indispensable to athletes worldwide.

Walker said Lydiard died doing what he loved best, "preaching the gospel of Lydiard".

The Boulder Running website reported on one of Lydiard's last speaking engagements in Boulder.

"Just because you're a good runner doesn't mean you have to end up like me," Lydiard told 400 people on December 1. "As you can see, I've had a few strokes, and can't talk quite like I have before, but no worries, we'll get by."

Reflecting on his progression towards coaching, Lydiard conceded: "It wasn't that I was a great coach; I was simply running more than anyone else around."

The Lydiard family last night were expecting a phone call from the United States within the next 24 hours, after which more details, including funeral arrangements, will be known.

ARTHUR LYDIARD - 1917-2004

Distinguished career

Born: Auckland, July 6, 1917
National titles: New Zealand Marathon 1953,1955
Games representation: Empire Games 1950
Best marathon time: 2h 39m 05s
Coached: Peter Snell, Sir Murray Halberg, John Davies and Dick Tayler to their greatest victories.

New Zealand Olympic Coach 1964, a Commonwealth Games coach in 1974

Made an OBE in 1962

Awarded NZ's highest royal honour, membership of the Order of New Zealand 1990

Inducted into New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, 1990

Made life member of Athletics NZ, 2003