Ted Corbitt facts for kids

Ted Corbitt (born January 31, 1919 – died December 12, 2007) was a famous American long-distance runner. He was the first African-American to run in the marathon at the Summer Olympics. This happened at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland.

Ted Corbitt also helped start the New York Road Runners club. Because of his amazing contributions, many people call him "the father of American long distance running." He was also a pioneer in ultramarathon running. This means he helped make very long races popular again in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. A writer for Runner's World magazine called him a "symbol of durability and longevity." Ted Corbitt was one of the first runners to join the National Distance Running Hall of Fame. He was also the first person to be inducted into the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Career

Ted Corbitt was born on a cotton farm in Dunbarton, South Carolina. His grandparents had been slaves. When he was younger, he ran shorter races in high school and at the University of Cincinnati.

During his time as a runner, there was often unfair treatment based on race. Sometimes, Ted was not allowed to compete in races. This happened when white athletes refused to run against him. He also faced challenges finding places to stay when traveling for competitions, especially in the Southern United States during the 1950s.

After serving in the army during World War II, Ted went to New York University. He used a special program called the G.I. Bill to help pay for his education. He earned a degree in physical therapy. Later, he even taught at the university. Ted worked as a physical therapist for more than 40 years.

Ted Corbitt lived a very healthy life. He never smoked and only drank one can of beer while in the army. He took good care of his body, even practicing self-massage. He was a quiet and kind person. He loved taking pictures and often brought his camera to sports events. He continued to do this until he passed away in Houston, Texas.

Amazing Running Achievements

In 1947, Ted Corbitt joined the New York Pioneer Club. This was the first running group in the country that welcomed people of all races. In 1951, he ran his first of 22 Boston Marathons. He finished the race in 2 hours, 48 minutes, and 42 seconds.

He competed in the marathon at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. In January 1954, he won the Philadelphia Marathon. This was the first of his four wins in that city's race. In May 1954, he won the Yonkers Marathon. This made him the U.S. National Marathon Champion.

At different times, Ted Corbitt held U.S. records for many long distances. These included 25 miles, the marathon, 40 miles, 50 miles, and 100 miles. He was still a top runner even when he was in his fifties. On April 15, 1974, Ted ran his last Boston Marathon at age 55. His time was 2 hours, 49 minutes, and 16 seconds. This was only 34 seconds slower than his time in 1951! Throughout his long career, he completed 223 marathons.

Ted's Incredible Training

For many years, Ted Corbitt ran more than 20 miles every day. He ran from his home in The Bronx, New York City, to his office in downtown Manhattan. Some days, he even ran all the way back home!

When he was at his peak, Ted ran up to 200 miles a week. This was much more than almost any other long-distance runner at the time. He ran most of his training miles at a fast speed. One of his regular workouts was running 17 miles on a track. After that, he would run 13 miles on roads. In one week in 1962, Ted Corbitt ran an amazing 300 miles! After that, he traveled to England and competed in a 54-mile race called the London to Brighton road race. He finished in fourth place.

His final ultra-distance race was in 2003. He completed 68 miles in a 24-hour race. This race took place at Flushing Meadow Park in Queens, New York.

Helping the Sport of Running Grow

Ted Corbitt did a lot more than just run. He also volunteered his time to many running groups. He was a co-founder and the first president of the New York Road Runners. He also helped plan the route for the famous New York City Marathon. Ted served on different committees for over 50 years. He even helped create a special division for runners over 40 years old, called the masters division.

In the early 1960s, Ted Corbitt was very important in making sure road race courses in the United States were measured accurately. Before him, courses were often measured in a rough way. Officials might just drive a car along the course and look at the speedometer.

Ted's method was much more precise. He carefully set up a bicycle wheel. Then, he would ride the courses with it, counting how many times the wheel turned. This method was based on the work of John Jewell from Great Britain. This special way of measuring, called the Jones Counter method, is still used today!

In 2003, when he was 84 years old, Ted Corbitt completed a 24-hour race. He walked 68 miles and finished 17th out of 35 people. Some runners were amazed to see him there. Others had no idea who he was. Even at 87, he was still volunteering at ultramarathon races in New York. Sometimes, he even competed! He also continued to help patients as a physical therapist. When he passed away, Ted Corbitt was working on a project to walk every single street in Manhattan.

Awards and Recognition

In 1998, Ted Corbitt was one of the first five runners to be inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame when it first opened in April 2006.

The USATF (USA Track & Field) organization named their yearly "Men's Road Ultra Runner of the Year" award in his honor. In 2021, NYC Parks named a six-mile section of Central Park the "Ted Corbitt Loop."

Books About Ted Corbitt

• Corbitt: The Story of Ted Corbitt, Long Distance Runner by John Chodes, Ishi Press 2010 ISBN: 4-87187-315-3