Ted Corbitt

Ted Corbitt (January 31, 1919 – December 12, 2007)[1][2][3] was an American long-distance runner and an official of running organizations. Corbitt is often called "the father of long distance running." He was an ultramarathon pioneer, helping to revive interest in the sport in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. New York Times columnist Robert Lipsyte called Corbitt a "spiritual elder of the modern running clan". In a Runner's World feature honoring lifetime achievement, writer Gail Kislevitz called Corbitt a "symbol of durability and longevity".[1]

Corbitt also developed standards to accurately measure courses and certify races. The technique involved the use of a calibrated bicycle and has been adopted worldwide.

Personal and professional life

The grandson of slaves, Corbitt was born on a cotton farm near Dunbarton, South Carolina. He ran track in high school and at the University of Cincinnati. Due to the racial discrimination common at the time, he was sometimes banned from track meets when white athletes refused to compete against him. After army service in World War II, Corbitt earned a graduate degree in physical therapy from New York University, where he later lectured. He was a physiotherapist for more than 40 years.[4]

Racing and training

Corbitt joined the nation's first integrated running organization, the New York Pioneer Club, in 1947.[5] He competed in the Marathon at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. In January 1954, he won the Philadelphia Marathon, the first of his four wins there. In May 1954, he won the Yonkers Marathon, becoming the U.S. National Marathon Champion. At various times, Corbitt held the U.S. track records for distances of 25 miles, the marathon, 40 miles, 50 miles and 100 miles. He remained a nationally competitive runner well into his fifties.

For many years, Corbitt ran more than 20 miles a day from his home in Yonkers, a New York City suburb, to his office in downtown Manhattan. On some days, he also ran home. At his peak, Corbitt ran up to 200 miles a week, far more than almost any other distance runner. Corbitt ran most of his miles at a fast pace. One workout he often ran involved 17 miles on the track, followed by 13 miles on roads. One week in 1962, Corbitt ran 300 miles. He then traveled to England and competed in the 54 mile London to Brighton road race, finishing fourth. In his final ultra-distance race he completed 68 miles in a 24-hour race in Flushing Meadow Park in 2003.

Other contributions to running

Corbitt served as an unpaid official of many running organizations, including the Amateur Athletic Union. He was the founder and first president of the Road Runners Club of America and the founding president of the New York Road Runners Club. He helped plan the New York City Marathon course.[6] Corbitt served on various boards and committees for over 50 years. He helped create the masters division for runners over 40.

In the early 1960s, Corbitt led efforts to accurately measure and certify long distance road race courses in the United States. The technique, based on the work of John Jewell of Great Britain,[7] used a calibrated bicycle wheel in conjunction with a revolution counter. This method is still used today.

In 1998, Corbitt was among the first five runners to be inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame. Corbitt was also inducted into the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame, on its inauguration in April 2006.

In 2003, at 84, Corbitt completed a 24-hour race by walking 68 miles, finishing 17th in a field of 35. Some runners were awed by his presence; others had no idea who he was. At 87, he was still volunteering at ultramarathon races in New York and sometimes even competing. He continued to treat physiotherapy patients. At the time of his death, Corbitt had embarked on a project to walk all the streets of Manhattan.

Corbitt never smoked and his only drink was a single can of beer while in the army. He practiced self-massage, carefully chewed every mouthful of food, and drank lots of water. He was a soft-spoken and gentle man who rarely spoke. He was an avid photographer and would attend many athletic events sporting a 35-mm camera until he died (in Houston, Texas).

USATF has named their annual "Men’s Road Ultra Runner of the Year" award in his honor.[8]

Books

References

  1. 1 2 "Heroes of Running", interview by Gail Kislevitz in Runner's World, December 2007, p. 70. Corbitt confirmed 1919 to the interviewer as his year of birth.
  2. ↑ Corbitt: The Story of Ted Corbitt, Long Distance Runner. John Chodes, Tafnews Press, 1974. The year of birth given in this book, 1920, and related age data, are erroneous per the preceding source (the athlete himself) and the cited obituaries.
  3. ↑ Distance running inspiration Ted Corbitt passes away at 88
  4. ↑ "Ted Corbitt, a Pioneer in American Distance Running, Dies at 88" (New York Times obituary by Frank Litsky) Retrieved 2007-12-13
  5. ↑ "Theodore Corbitt 1919–2007 An American Pioneer", Gary Corbitt. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  6. ↑ Corbitt, Ted (2003). "Ted Corbitt: A Willingness to Suffer". In Kislevitz, Gail Waesche. The Spirit of the Marathon: What to Expect in Your First Marathon and How to Run Them the Rest of Your Life. Halcottsville, New York: Breakaway Books. p. 234. ISBN 9781891369360.
  7. ↑ "John Jewell - the developer of modern course measurement in England"
  8. ↑ http://www.usatf.org/News/News-and-Notes---December-10,-2014.aspx

External links

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