Arthur Lydiard tributes

In the middle of all tributes to Arthur Lyndiard, the TVNZ news item at six p.m. contained a real gem. When athlete after athlete spoke highly of his innovative training regime and his motivational talents, one put it into perspective. In the night before the big race of the 1974 Commonwealth games, one spoke of how Arthur said to him that he was the best prepared. The only problem was that the setting was at the Bush Hotel and that the conversation was conducted over "three jugs of beer". Somehow getting sloshed the night before isn't quite what I had in mind as the best way to prepare for a race.