"No one will burn out doing aerobic running. It is too much anaerobic running, which the American scholastic athletic system tends to put young athletes through, that burns them out"
- Arthur Lydiard
About this Quote
This quote by Arthur Lydiard is describing the physical and psychological pressure that young professional athletes are executed in the American scholastic athletic system. He is recommending that it is not aerobic running that is causing burnout, however rather anaerobic running. This type of running is more intense and needs more energy, which can be challenging for young professional athletes to sustain over a long period of time. Lydiard is recommending that the American scholastic athletic system ought to focus more on aerobic running, which is less intense and can be sustained for longer amount of times. This would assist to minimize the threat of burnout in young athletes. He is also recommending that the system ought to focus more on the physical and psychological health of the athletes, instead of simply the efficiency element. By doing this, young athletes would have the ability to carry out much better and stay healthier for longer.
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