Ian Reginald Thompson is an English former long-distance runner, who gained success in marathon running. His Commonwealth Games marathon record set in 1974 remains unbeaten. He also appeared at the 1980 Summer Olympics. Ian Thompson (United Kingdom) set the men's marathon world record of 2:09:12 in Christchurch Commonwealth Games, New Zealand on January 31, 1974. It stood 4 years, until Shigeru So's 2:09:05.6 on February 5, 1978. Wiki link