R.I.P. — Arthur Lydiard
Dec. 11, 2020 — In 1999, I organized the US lecture tour for Arthur Lydiard. That was something he personally asked me. I was working for Breathe Right Nasal Strip at the time so I helped him as an individual. In the spring of 2004, he asked me again. By then, I had founded Five Circles, a MN-based Non-Profit Organization to promote running. I had registered “Five Circles DBA (Doing Business As) Lydiard Foundation” and created “fund” to help him out. This time, I felt I’ve learnt a thing or two from 1999 so I thought I could do it better. Arthur was 87-years-old then and I really didn’t want him to tire himself too much by speaking for a couple of hours, which he always did. I put together PowerPoint presentation, which later became the Lydiard Coaching Certificate Course presentation. This way, each location’s organizer can use this for presentation and Arthur would just get on the stage for Q&A. I put together a DVD of “Hill Training — The Lydiard Way” (presented by Five Circles). He loved the idea and he insisted he would make sure to show this DVD at each clinic location. I located 20 cities; starting in CA, going around the US clockwise so as to avoid going back-and-forth, back in CA in 3 months later and head back to NZ for Christmas. I got him a business-class ticket (thanks to Bruce Johnson — the inventor of Breathe Right Nasal Strop — and C.I.D. for his generous donation to make that possible!!) to make this trip as easy on him as possible. “I don’t get tired,” Arthur insisted. But, after all, he was 87!!
I think I did much better job this time, compared to 1999 — not that it was not good in 1999; but I knew what to expect and I prepared much better for this 2004 lecture tour. I felt I had a better “grip” of what’s going on as well and we had 6 cities with more than 300 people came out!! Arthur always said that he loved American coaches and runners. “They are always eager to learn,” he said. I flew to Spokane, WA, where I went to school, to get together with him. It was one those “300+” cities. In Chicago, Mike Pritzy did an awesome job and had another mega-attendants. He arranged it so Arthur would stay at the late Joe Newton’s place. I also flew out and got together with Arthur in New York. Unfortunately, that was the only place that turned out to be a flop. The guy who requested his stop in NY turned out to be totally irresponsible. But that was the New York City Marathon weekend. Then race director, the late Allen Steinfeld, organized the spot for Arthur and myself at the finish of the marathon. We got him to attend New York Athletic Club annual banquet as well as Runner’s World party. So that stop turned out to be a “fun” stop. Except Wayne Baker came to rescue; he quickly organized a place and an ad to have a clinic at YMHA so at least we had a nice cozy clinic. Runner’s World party was like a reunion for Arthur. And many people stopped by and shook his hand, took a picture with him…. After all, he LOVED the attention and to be admired!! And they all loved him too! When I left New York, that was the last time I saw him.
In Colorado, he got together with Mark Wetmore on the stage. The article came out titled “The Night to Remember”. Another 300+ attendants. That, actually, was the one I would love to be at!! Then in early December, he headed down to Texas — that was another plan; as the weather got colder, he would go down south to avoid cold weather. In Houston, his stay was sponsored by SunMart. There was a ultra trail race that weekend, also sponsored by SunMart. At his talk the night before the race, they had some 600 people came out!! Next day he attended the race. One lady wrote to me, totally in awe and impressed that, here’s the world’s greatest athletic coach in history!! And he had her muddy shoe on his lap and showed her how to do the Lydiard lacing!! After the race, there was a lake behind the hut that was used as the race’s headquarter. Arthur sat by the lake, just looking at the view. “This looks just like the lake where my second wife was from (Eira from Finland)…”. I was told that he just sat there and enjoyed the view for quite some time (despite the local people’s warning: “Watch out for the crocs!!”). That evening, he died. Eira was the love of his life, many people close to him say. Perhaps he was preparing himself; talking to Eira who passed away in 1984, on the day I left New Zealand.
In Oregon earlier during the tour, he got together with Dr. Dick Brown. They didn’t have the official “clinic” but Dick organized a friendly “get-together” party. Kenny Moore, who finished 4th in the 1972 Munich Olympic marathon behind his teammate, Frank Shorter, was one of the attendants. About a month or so after Arthur had passed away, Kenny e-mailed me. “I hesitated whether or not share this with you,” he said. “I told him; ‘It’s not an easy task to go around 20 cities at the age of 87! I’m not sure if I want to do it at my age…’. He said; ‘I wanted this to be tough!! I feel very much welcome in America. If I go, surrounded with peolpe who still admire me, I’d be happy…’”. It was a bit disturbing after the fact; but that was confirmed, a year or so afterwards. Garth Gilmour told me that Arthur was more or less prepared to “go”. “‘If something happens to you in the US, you’ll leave a hell of a mess back home,’ I told Arthur,” Garth told me. “He just shrugged his shoulders and said; ‘Well, that’s their problem!!’ with a smirk. You know his devilish smirk, right?” Garth told me with a chuckle, reminiscing his old friend.
After the restless night, trying to contact “Arthur’s Boys” (incidentally, the first person I reached out in New Zealand was Dick Quax and he was the one who put together the Press Release for me), the first person who called me the next morning for condolence was Jeff Johnson, the first employee at Nike. He asked me what happened and how it happened. I told him that Arthur was in Houston and, the night before, he had 600 people came out to listen to him. “Man, I wish I could go like that!!” Jeff said. Perhaps it is a consolation for me that Arthur passed away feeling content. Before 1999 tour, he brought me some VHS videos. One of them was a short introductory clip of “Tribute to Arthur Lydiard.” Apparently they had some big banquet prior to the tour and this was the video clip they showed. Background Song, of course, was Frank Sinatra’s “My Way”. I don’t know of too many people whose life is so well “fitting” to this song that that of Arthur’s. He did it his way; and he kept on doing what he loved doing right up to the end of his life — literally! And I feel privileged that he picked me to set up the “final curtain” for him. It is now my life-long project to continue this great man’s legacy and convey his message to the next generations of runners and coaches. — Nobby Hashizume
