Runner to retrace history

The Arthur Lydiard legacy will live on with a planned race over his old stamping ground.

Days before he left for the United States on what was to be his last lecture tour, Lydiard had given his permission for The Legend - Arthur Lydiard 34km, a race for serious runners next September.

Lydiard died days before his scheduled return home and days after enjoying dinner with his star pupil, triple Olympic gold medallist Peter Snell.

The new race, devised after organiser Ian Winson had watched a television documentary that included clips of a young athlete running on the Waiatarua course used by Lydiard and his runners in the Waitakere Ranges, will follow much of the route used by distance runners in the heyday of the sport in New Zealand.

"There will need to be changes to meet the requirements of the traffic management plan," said Winson, who will work with Total Sports to promote the 34km race.

"We had gone back to Arthur to make sure he was happy and he replied with a letter agreeing to the modifications."

In the first year the race will be restricted to a field of 250, who must have proven their capability to run a two-hour half-marathon.

It is hoped to increase the field to 500 in future years.

The race is scheduled to start at 6.30am on September 4 at Shadbolt Park in Green Bay and take in parts of West Coast Rd and Scenic Drive before returning to the start.

To comply with expected traffic requirements, it is planned to have cut-off times at the halfway and three-quarter marks.

"We are hoping to have sponsorship and other funding in place," Winson said.

Since the death of Lydiard, the race promises to gain even more significance and be a fitting memorial to the coach.