When I first heard about the Lydiard Certification course coming to Victoria, I got very excited. For those of you who don’t know, Arthur Lydiard was a New Zealand runner and athletics coach.
He was considered one of the best athletics coaches of all time and he has popularized the sport of running to make it commonplace across the world.
Lydiard is one of the key people that has shaped the history of running and training into what it has become today. In the 1960 Olympic Games, several of his athletes finished on the podium, which is remarkable.
The success that many of his athletes have had is proof that he is the best of the best and that his training methods work.
Even Runner’s World Magazine hailed him as “All Time Best Running Coach”.
I spent an entire weekend back in November learning his methods from the best of the best. It was an honour and a privilege to be able to take this course so that I can take my own running and coaching to the next level.
I’m thrilled that I have been able to learn his amazing elite training techniques which can help runners of ALL LEVELS significantly improve their times and ACHIEVE personal bests.
A few of my clients who have recently signed up for my running programs have had a first hand experience with this type of training and have seen amazing results.
For example, Jerry Hughes beat his previous PB in the half marathon by 5 minutes at the Victoria Hypothermic Half Marathon 2015, finishing it in 1:29:40. Not only that, but he also recovered faster, felt fresher for his race and has been able to run injury-free.
Arthur Lydiard emphasizes periodization, which allows runners to develop endurance, then strength and then speed in order to peak at the right time (the goal race). He emphasizes response-regulated training which allows for proper recovery and injury prevention because you really get in tune with your body.
It is not about running as far as you can as fast as you can during training; that’s a recipe for disaster.
Every workout has a purpose and it has to be timed properly in order to ensure peak performance at your target race.
The Lydiard method has changed the way I run and the way I coach. For that, I’m really glad.