Jack Foster a legend amongst marathon runners in New Zealand and a pioneer in the Masters grades was tragically killed in a motor accident, while out on his other passion, cycling, in his home town of Rotorua on Saturday June 5. Foster is best remembered for his silver medal performance in the marathon at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch where at the age of 41 he set a world masters record of 2h 11m 18s.

Born in Liverpool England, Foster first came to New Zealand as a 24 year old, then he returned to Britain, married Isabella and emigrated again five years later. Cycling was his life in Britain, but in Rotorua the cycling was limited to riding to and from work. One day at the age of 32 he had the bright idea that he would go for a run. It was for only seven minutes, but this was the start of an outstanding career and record.

Foster didn't like the term training, for him running was an enjoyment and he just went for a run each day. He didn't like running on the roads, preferring to run over very hilly country, where the very nature of the terrain gave him all the work out he needed. He was not a big mileage person either, rarely going over 80 miles a week. For Foster running was a pleasure and the success he achieved was almost accidental, and not planned. He ran hard, bloody hard and times meant more to him than wins. He would prefer to run a personal best in a race and be third or fourth than win in a mediocre time. Anything other than full out effort was negative running. From his local club runs in Rotorua to the international events Foster always raced full out. His philosophy was 'a fit person has a higher quality of life'.

Foster's first marathon of any importance was second in the Rotorua marathon in 1966 in 2h 27m 50s. His first major overseas race was the Canadian International marathon in 1969, where he finished third in 2h 19m 2s. He first represented New Zealand at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh where he was a creditable fourth in 2h 14m 44s. Also in 1970 he returned to the Canadian International event in Toronto which he won in 2h 16m 23s. Later in 1970 he ran the Fukuoka Marathon in a New Zealand best time of 2h 12m 17s, finishing fourth. In 1971 he ran the International Classic Marathon in Athens and the Fukuoka event again, claiming third in both. On August 15 1971, Foster circled Porritt Stadium Hamilton to set a world record for 20 miles and also set New Zealand records for 15 miles, 25,000m and 30,000m. As he wrote in his daily running diary, '80 bloody laps, must be stupid, three New Zealand records and a world best, not bad for an old bugger'.

Foster won the 1970 Rotorua marathon and won a further three titles around the Lake. Following his 1972 Rotorua victory he went on to represent New Zealand at the Munich Olympic Games where he finished a fine eighth in 2h 16m 51s. A year later Foster won the Kyoto Marathon in 2h 14m 53s and in 1973 ran second in the New Zealand championship in Christchurch, which doubled as the Commonwealth Games trial. Foster ran his most memorable and best marathon at home in the Christchurch Commonwealth Games. He was beaten by a better man, on the day, in Ian Thompson of Great Britain, but he had achieved his goal of running five minute miles over a marathon distance. His silver medal was presented to him by the Queen a moment he always treasured. Six months later in Los Angeles he won the USA title in 2h 18m 24s. He won the 1975 Honolulu marathon in record time. In 1976 Foster won his only New Zealand marathon title, in Auckland, in 2h 16m 27s, and competed at the Montreal Olympic Games where he finished 17th. On his return he won his only other New Zealand title, the 1976 road title.

Cross country running was his other love. He was part of the team that won the World Teams title in 1975, where he finished 36th. In 1977 he was 33rd and he also competed in the 1979 World Championship. In 1973 he was awarded the Lonsdale Cup by the New Zealand Olympic Committee for the most outstanding performance in an Olympic sport in that year. One of his most amazing runs in New Zealand was in August 1973 in the annual Onehunga to Auckland 6.9 mile road race. Raced across the isthmus Foster cut out the distance in 31m 34s to carve 57 seconds off Jeff Julian's record. His fourth mile was in 4m 24s, the next in 4m 33s and the downhill mile to the Parnell Rose Gardens in 4m 19s. He was flying on that day. Foster was justified in later saying that it was his fastest ever road race, as his time at the six mile point in the race was 27m 19s, 3.8s under Rex Maddaford's New Zealand track record, at the time.

Described by his son Jackson as 'like a white Kenyan' and 'an oxygen processing unit on legs', Foster was an economical runner who virtually floated over the ground. His fastest marathon times each year from 38 invariably ended up world age group records. One of his disappointments came in 1977 in the famous short course Auckland marathon. In great form and in perfect conditions Foster was set to record the fastest marathon in the world for a 45 year old. He finished fifth in 2h 4m 53s, and immediately expressed how annoyed he was that it was not the correct distance. The course was one and a half miles short and taking into account this extra distance his adjusted time would have been 2h 12m 39s. In June 1981 he returned to the scene of his greatest moment and the Christchurch marathon and at the age of 49 finished fifth in 2h 22m 48s. A year later in the Auckland marathon Foster set a world 50-54 age group record of 2h 20m 28s, finishing tenth. Foster was on record after this effort saying that the world records didn't worry him, the challenge that day was to become the first 50 year old in the world to break 2h 20m.

Throughout his career Foster remained extremely modest over his achievements. He felt uncomfortable in a crowd of people and as a result declined invitations to attend special functions and anniversaries, where his efforts would have been acknowledged. For him, out cycling or running and being at one with the elements gave him the greatest satisfaction. Foster summed up his career by saying, 'what I've achieved as a runner may have inspired other 35-year-plus men to get up and have a go. I'd like to think so'.