OLYMPIAN and founder of the Great North Run Brendan Foster has become a CBE.
Mr Foster, who will celebrate his 60th birthday on January 12, said the honour should reflect the backing of everyone involved in the Great North Run, which he established in 1981.
He said: "I am delighted at receiving the CBE, but I would very much like to share this award with the 900,000 runners of all abilities who, over the years, have made the Great North Run such a huge success.
"The roads between Newcastle and South Shields are annually packed, and some of the world's greatest athletes have produced some memorable victories. "But the most satisfying aspect is these household names have to share the same stretch of Tarmac with leisure runners, equally as determined to achieve their own particular goals. "Never in my imagination did I or my co-organisers realise that, after 12,500 finishers at the first event, what now seems a lifetime ago, it would become so immensely popular."
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