FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. (Jan. 22, 2013) -- Capt. Ken Foster, Company A, 304th Military Intelligence Battalion, was selected to participate in the 2013 Cross Country Championships in St. Louis, Feb. 2.
Foster said that he started running when he was a sophomore in high school, just to get in shape. Throughout high school, his running improved and then he moved onto college. He attended Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pa., on a cross-country scholarship and while there he became involved with the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program, or ROTC. His strategic intelligence major and his ROTC experience led him to the military, and in 2008, Foster commissioned as an Army second lieutenant.
He has continued running throughout his military career, running eight to 10 miles after physical training in the mornings and then an additional five to seven miles after work in the evenings. On Sundays, he generally runs 12-18 miles. Foster said that he averages 110 miles a week.
"I don't really have a set schedule per se, but I haven't been under 100 miles in a week since I have been here at Fort Huachuca," he said.
In 2010, Foster was invited to Fort Carson, Colo., to participate in the Army World Class Athlete Program. He trained for one and a half years, but missed the trial cutoff by seconds, and was released from the program.
In Oct. 2012, Foster relocated to Fort Huachuca to attend the Military Intelligence Captain's Career Course. Since being here, he has completed his personal best time in the Army 10 Miler with a 49:11 run, and he placed second overall with a 2:22:39 run in the Marine Corps Marathon.
Last year, Foster competed against over 70 other runners in the Cross Country Championships. The course runs 12 kilometers (approx. 7.5 miles) with a mixture of flat and rolling terrain.
"My goal that I am setting during this race is to improve upon my time from last year of 38:58," he explained. "I think that I can get under 38 minutes if I have a really good race and the conditions are right. Also, I would like to improve upon my overall placing. I would love to get within the top 25 at least."
"The reason why I am doing this is to make sure and help the Army win the overall team competition against the Air Force, Navy and Marines," Foster said.
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