Arthur Lydiard wasn’t just a great coach — he was a quiet revolutionary who rewrote the logic of human endurance. In Part One of this episode, we explore Lydiard’s early life, his own running experiments, and the radical ideas that emerged from necessity rather than theory. Working outside universities, labs, and elite institutions, Lydiard built a system rooted in aerobic mastery, restraint, and respect for the body’s natural adaptation cycles.

Through long miles, careful progression, and his now-famous principle — “train, don’t strain” — Lydiard showed that sustainable greatness comes from patience, not punishment. His ideas challenged the prevailing culture of overtraining and brute effort, laying the foundation for modern endurance sports and influencing generations of Olympic champions. This episode traces the origins of a philosophy that proves enduring excellence is built slowly, intelligently, and with deep trust in the process.

Buy the books:

Arthur Lydiard, Master Coach by Garth Gilmour: https://amzn.to/3Z9EhJR

Running with Lydiard by Arthur Lydiard and Garth Gilmour: https://amzn.to/4qrfEEO