H.I.T.

A new book, Healthy Intelligent Training (aka H.I.T.), by New Zealander Keith Livingstone, attemps to more coherently convey the training methods of the late Arthur Lydiard. Livingstone, in an interview found here, says that "long work CANNOT be compromised." He goes on to say:

"Too many personal trainers and 'sports scientists' with ponytails and compression tights have been assiduously chipping away at the edges of Lydiardism, peddling their compromised versions, till all we get is meaningless articles in popular running mags for the masses warning people of the dangers of good old-fashioned, decent mileage. What a load of cobblers!"

"I’ve seen plenty of people who couldn’t run out of sight on a dark night just get stuck into mileage and totally embarrass more highly talented people cautiously and carefully coached by people with ponytails. One guy coached by Magee or Dick Quax ended up with a sub-30 10k track title and a 2:15 marathon, and at full speed he resembled a Clydesdale towing a full harness and plough. Forgotten his name at present, but he did the job, didn’t he? That’s all that counts in the end."

I don't intend to buy or read this book, because I thought that Arthur Lydiard's "Running with Lydiard" made plenty of sense.

Interesting stuff, though.