New marathon follows Kiwi legend’s footsteps
18 Sep 2008
International athletes will literally follow in the footsteps of New Zealand’s legendary runner and coach Arthur Lydiard when they race in a new marathon that covers his old Auckland training ground.
Known as The Legend, the race will cover the fabled Waiatarua route through Auckland’s Waitakari Ranges where Arthur Lydiard and his Olympic champion squad trained.
NZ’s toughest & richest marathon
Runners have pounded the route for half a century and this year the 35km Legend event has been extended to cover a full marathon making it New Zealand’s toughest road marathon and the richest in prize money. A total of $NZ24,000 will be up for grabs. Both The Legend marathon and Arthur’s half marathon will be held on Saturday September 20.
Arthur Lydiard used the now famous route to train prodigies including elite New Zealand Olympians Peter Snell and Sir Murray Halberg. The punishing course through the Auckland region’s notoriously wet and lush forested western ranges is a series of steep hills and valleys. Race organisers say there has been keen international interest in the event with athletes wanting to experience the gruelling challenge and "run where the great men ran".
Invented jogging
Known as the guru of distance running worldwide, Arthur Lydiard was more famous overseas than in his own country. He invented jogging - the method of building up physical fitness by gradually increasing stamina is a simple one, now used by millions of men and women worldwide as part of their everyday health and fitness regime. It was used to train New Zealand’s greatest track athletes, and helped propel New Zealand to the top of world middle-distance running.
Lydiard was still spreading the running for exercise message at the time of his death in 2004. He was 87.
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