Jack Foster's training

Always a big fan of the late, great Jack.

A few years ago I stopped "training" and just ran. Often I would just go out the door, run the trails until I was tired and have no idea how far, fast or even for how long I had been running. I started to race really well so got motivated to train "properly" and soon found myself out for months with injury.

So now I just run when and how I feel, if I don't feel like running I might head out in the forest on the bike or just go hiking in the hills. No schedule, just relying on 3 decades of experience.

Eveyone seems to be fascinated with the "Canova/lactate threshold" thread when the secret to training is right here on this thread.

I came across a Honolulu Marathon photo of Jack winning in 1975. The blurb under the photo doesn't give the weather conditions, but I'm assuming hot and humid. Anyone know about that race? 2:17 seems pretty difficult.

Kim,

Let's float this a bit farther. What do you reckon Jack would make of some of the modern guys who haven't gotten shoe contracts or other forms of support who say they can't really compete because they have to support themselves, or who complain of living in poverty because they're putting all of their time into training? I don't think he was ever one for glorifying the past unnesessarily. Yet it would be interesting to know what a guy with his background would have made of the modern scene.

bump

They are fascinated because the "Canova/lactate threshold" approach has created runners that would make... well you know the rest.

Not only Jack, Jim Peters, Buddy Edelen,(countless others you can probably better name than I) also made it work at an international level despite full time jobs and no shoe deals. I dare say those two would be competitive today.Is today so much different all things being relative?

Hard to say on this one. I know there is a feeling in this country that some of our young athletes have their hands out for a "freebie" before they earn it.

In some ways I think Jack would say fine, If sponsorhip is there take it. But on the other I feel he would say No ! you need to have something outside running.

The only help he got was really only shoes and the odd track suit.

I maybe wrong here and I never discussed it with him but I believe he was offered a job at Nike in the late 70's early 80's. He even travelled over to the US and looked at it.

It was a good deal and all the time in the world to run. But he came home and said it was not for him. He returned to his little office job here in Rotorua and stayed there until he retired.

I believe things are relative as well. The running boom of the 70's/ 80's changed the face of everything for ever.

Especially the variety of equipment available.

I know I have never paid full price for a pair of running shoes since I graduated from College in 77. I either know someone in the trade or am put onto good deals before the public.

However, getting back to earning your way. I distinctly remember John Walker selling his car and cashing in everything in order to try and make a name for himself in Europe in 1973. He managed to get into meets with the help of Dick Quax and ended that European season with a 1:46.3 800 and a 3:38 1500.

He returned home to his ordinary Quarry job. There were no hand outs. He then managed to pick up a sales job with a Radio station 4 months later. But that still involved working.

That was a standard lifestyle for an athlete in New Zealand at that time.

Jack was no different.

But I also believe that having to earn your way adds a little "Hardness" to the athlete.

Does any of this make sense !!

Sure it makes sense. I'd certainly have taken a sponsorship had one been offered. And I do recall Jack's very brief career with Nike.

I think the thing that so many of us find appealing about Jack and his running was that it truly seemed to be something he did because he liked it. He trained like he did because he found it enjoyalbe. He didn't do more because it would have been less enjoyable. You got the sense that he'd have done the same sessions (well, slower maybe) if he'd been a 3:11 guy rather a 2:11 guy.

That's what I wish today's young guys would figure out. If you can fit a couple of 10 milers around your day's work, and want to do so, you should. If not, make it one 10 miler, or a 3 miler, or don't even bother. But don't go on as if you've been done an injustice because no one will pay you for your running.

I too, always thought that Walker's quarry job contributed to his "hardness" and success.

Maybe it's just me, but does anyone else see the similarity in approaches between Jack and Ed Whitlock? Certainly their training is different but it seems their attitude towards running is very similar. I wonder how Jack would run compared to Ed if he were still around and running seriously.

I've thought that the attitudes are similar. The training, as you mention is a bit different. There was also a lot of similarity between Jack's approach and that of Derek Turnbull. Derek always just did whatever was enjoyable and once said that he thought Arthur Lydiard was a great coach, but he didn't want to use his training because he just didn't want to have to a kind of run he wouldn't like doing, i.e., intervals, just because his schedule calls for it. Derek certainly did ok with a "run for fun" approach.

That may be it. Just get out there and run and what happens, happens.

USA USA USA wrote:

That may be it. Just get out there and run and what happens, happens.

Jack ran many of his Marathons in the Onitsuka Obori's.

Great to see this up and running again !!!.

Bump

I came across this thread after watching a short documentary (http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/on-the-run-1979) with Jack in it. He is flying down a slope at the very end of the film and it has got to be the most inspirational piece of running footage that I have ever seen.

Great information... would be nice to see this thread brought back to life with more insight on the man.

Several examples of Jack Foster running (and the type of terrain he might have run over)

http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/on-the-run-1979

1:53-2:03

7:11-10:50

18:13-19:40

Check this out especially Jack foster descending the hill at the end:

http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/on-the-run-1979

Jack is the greatest masters marathoner of all. Also one of the lowest mileage marathoners: 75-85 for 2:11?? When the WR was 2:08? That is nuts.

Extraordinary talent connected with a special landscape gives brilliance.