'A lot of people do not like the formal structures so much.

He said athletics like many traditional sports was losing its popularity as there were simply more things to do. Or you can go running with friends at an agreed time.'' You can go out for a run at four in the morning or at midnight and nothing can stop you. Plus it's a mix of individual and a team thing. He said running had the advantage of people being able to take control of their own health. But now everyone is doing it, including women.'' No good at football so did running - all a bit strange. 'When we were running to start with we were seen as eccentric guys.

They would not regard themselves as serious runners but they love it. We went down to the park run here at the Gardens on Saturday and there was something like 250 people there. 'But it is a huge participation sport, you go around and meet all these nice people. It was a much bigger spectator sport back then but team sports have taken over now,'' he said. it is completely different now but it is still the same.

He still loves running and all of athletics, starting from when he saw Czechoslovakian runner Emil Zatopek win Olympic gold in London in 1948. Robinson has just finished his sixth book on running, and has written nearly two dozen books on various topics over the years. Robinson, along with his wife, trailblazing marathon runner Kathrine Switzer, were in Dunedin yesterday visiting family. Robinson (79) is a runner, scholar and author but not necessarily in that order. Roger Robinson is showing no sign of slowing down - even though he needs two knees named Mark and Russell to help him out. Roger Robinson and wife Kathrine Switzer in Dunedin yesterday.

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