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Milestone #24
On November 3-4, 1973, Ted Corbitt set an American Record for running 24 Hours on the track. His distance was 134.7 miles at age 54.
History Themes:
*The race was held at Walton-on-Thames in England.
*Ted Corbitt finished 3rd in this race. The race was won by Ron Bentley in a world record distance of 161.3 miles.
*The previous American Record was held by Jared R. Beads who ran a solo 121.25 miles in 22 hours, 27 minutes at Westport, Maryland in October 1969.
Milestone #23
On October 25 – 26, 1969, Ted Corbitt set an American Record for running 100 miles on the track. His time was 13:33:06 at age 50.
History Themes:
*The race was held at Walton-on-Thames in England.
*This race was 4 weeks after his 2nd place London-to-Brighton 52.5 mile effort
*Ted Corbitt finished 3rd in this race. The winner John Tarrant set a World Record 12:31:10.
*The previous American Record held by an amateur was James Saunders February 21, 1882 at the American Institute Ring, New York indoors. His time was 17:36:14.
Milestone #22
On October 25, 1970, Ted Corbitt set an American age group (50-54) record that still stands today 42 years later.
History Themes:
*The race was the National A.A.U. U.S. 50 Mile road championship in Rocklin, California.
*At the time and perhaps to this day it was the greatest 50 mile race in the United States.
*Bob Deines set an American Record 5:15:19 with a 3 second win over Skip Houk. Darryl Beardall was third in 5:18:55.
*Ted Corbitt finshed 6th in 5:34:01 at age 51 setting the still standing record.
*50 Mile split times during Ted Corbitt’s London-to-Brighton (52.5 mile) road races are unavailable.
*Below are Ted Corbitt’s estimated 50 mile times during his five London-to-Brighton appearances. In his fastest effort he averages 6:26 per mile, and was 12 minutes faster than the Rocklin race.
1962 5:36:48 Age 43
1964 5:24:30 Age 45
1965 5:28:13 Age 46
1966 5:36:08 Age 47
1969 5:22:06 Age 50
Milestone 21
Ted Corbitt was ranked #2 in the world for Ultra-Marathons throughout the 1960’s. This is based on his five appearances at the famed London-to-Brighton 52.5 mile road race.
History Themes:
* London-to-Brighton road race served as the de facto world championship for ultra-marathons in the 1960’s.
*His fastest performance was set in 1969 at age 50.
*On three occasions (1962, 1964, 1969) he set American Road Records at this distance.
*Ted Corbitt at London to Brighton:
1962 4th Place 5:53:37
1964 2nd Place 5:40:42
1965 2nd Place 5:44:35
1966 5th Place 5:52:07
1969 2nd Place 5:38:11
*Bernard Gomersall was the dominant Ultra Marathoner of this era with four London-to-Brighton wins and one Comrades Marathon win.
Milestone #20
Ted Corbitt’s lifetime total marathons and ultra-marathon completed were 221.
History Themes:
*Ted Corbitt finished 199 marathons and ultra-marathons from 1951 to 1981.
*In addition he walked the New York City Marathon nine times from age 70 to age 80.
*On two occasions (1990 & 1991) he broke 6 hours (5:52 & 5:56) walking the New York Marathon.
*Starting in 1993 at age 74 until age 84, he walked and finished in thirteen ultra-marathon events ranging 6 hour races to two 6 day events.
Milestone #9
At age 82, walked 303 miles in 6 days. Ted Corbitt set a new age group world record for a 6 day running event.
History Themes:
*The race was held April 29 – May 5, 2001 on the Ward’s Island a one mile loop in New York City.
*The race was conducted by the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team.
Milestone #1
Most Training Miles Run in 7 Days
312.5 Miles (44.6 miles per day average)
September 1 – 7, 1966
On three occasions Ted Corbitt completed 300 mile training weeks. The other instances were in September 1965 (310 miles) and August/September 1969 (302 miles).
History Themes:
*The runners of this era were true amateur athletes with full-time jobs and families.
*This record training was done on a four day work week taking advantage of the three day Labor Day weekend.
*Ted’s Manhattan Island (31 mile) runs became legendary. On Labor Day weekend he would run twice around Manhattan totaling 62 miles on three consecutive days.
*Based on my research this is the highest weekly training mileage ever documented in long distance running.
Tags: Ted Corbitt, USA
Tags: Ted Corbitt, USA
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