Ted Corbitt,UPDATED.

I have had many requests asking for information about Ted Corbitt and I am happy to report that at age 81 (soon to be 82) he is doing well!

UPDATED.

Ted Corbitt will 82 years old on Jan 31, 2001.

If you wish to send him a happy birthday message, just e-mail them to me and I will forward them on to him. Send them to "4EVERUN@usa.net" and I will send them all to him on his birthday.

Ted Corbitt is affectionately known as "The Father of Long Distance Running".

Ted turns 82 years old on the 31 st. He was born in South Carolina on January 31, 1919. (His birth date is incorrectly listed as 1920 in most books.) He was the eldest son of John Henry and Alma Corbitt. His hard working parents instilled in young Ted the importance of doing the best at whatever he set his hand to. As a young boy he would listen to the stories of his grandfather, who in his youth had a noted ability in running and jumping.

The thrill of running was a joy to the young boy. At thirteen, after the family moved to Cincinnati, Ted got his first taste of competition. He entered a 60 yard dash and won.

In Junior High School he saw a film of the 1932 Olympics. In 1936 Ted saw a photo story of Tarzan Brown winning the Boston Marathon. Both made a lasting impression upon Ted and inspired him. He began to think about the marathon and a dream formed in his heart that he might someday run in a marathon. It would be 15 long years before he was able to attempt it. For the time being though, it was hard for him to imagine running that far.

During High school in his senior year he was the school's best half-miler. In college he ran a 50 second 440. Ted had speed.

Later, the second world war, marriage, holding down a job during the day and going to night school to earn his Masters Degree kept him fully occupied until the age of 30. There was no time to compete.

After earning his degree he finally had evenings free and was able to train.

The dream of running in a marathon surfaced again. Thus began a running career few will ever equal.

It wasn't just his extraordinary running ability, but his love and

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