It's odd, I think in part because he might not have been quite at the top echelon of both of his careers, the actual importance of Foster can be missed. The Great North Run has been astounding for getting people to participate, even members of my own family, and that takes some doing. I imagine that many people now will have no memory of him running, or possibly no knowledge he did.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/40752586