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UPDATE!
Ted Corbitt has just turned 80 years old on Jan 31, 1999 and was honored recently. Check out the articles listed in the Feb. Ultramarathon World web site! You will also see an article I wrote about Ted featured there as well as another article called "Ted Corbitt at 80: Still a Humble Pioneer" written by the gifted editor and owner of the web site, David Blaikie. If I were you, I'd bookmark it! Any runner will enjoy this site! Runners that have completed marathons, as well as those who have never considered running a thon! Special thanks to Ted who graciously allowed me to interview him.
Ted Corbitt is affectionately known as "The Father of Long Distance Running". Ted, now 80 years old, 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
The copyright of the article The Amazing Corbitt! in Running is owned by Lynn Seely. Permission to republish The Amazing Corbitt! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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