Running Administrative Milestones

Ted Corbitt was the first president of the club serving in this role in 1958 and 1959.

History Themes:

*John Sterner and Joe Kleinerman represented New York runners at the historic February 22, 1958 meeting organized by Browning Ross who became the first president of the Road Runners Club of America.
*Browning Ross led the effort to organize and grow the sport of long distance running in the United States.  He proposed following the model of the Road Runners Club of the United Kingdom founded in 1952.
*The Road Runners Club: New York Association initially had 29 members in 1958. The club now has 60,000 members and growing.
*There have been nine Presidents of New York Road Runners, four of these leaders represented the New York Pioneer Club.

History Themes:

*For the sport of long distance running to gain legitimacy a system was needed to verify performances, records, and ensure that courses were consistently measured in the correct manner.
*In 1965 Ted Corbitt accepted the chairmanship of a new national AAU Standards committee, and held this position for 18 years.
*Ted Corbitt “My initiating the accurate course measurement program in the USA is easily the most important thing that I did in the long distance running scene.”

History Themes:

*The RRCA was founded in 1958 by Browning Ross.  The Road Runners Club of America is the oldest and largest national association of running clubs, running events, and runners dedicated to promoting running as a competitive sport and as healthy exercise.  Currently there are over 1,000 member clubs and events representing over 200,000 running club members.
*With Ted Corbitt as President the executive committee consisted of Vice President – Joe Kleinerman and Secretary/Treasurer – John Sterner

History Themes:

*He served as editor from 1958 to 1978. The first issue was in 1959.
*The publication was called “Road Runners Club, New York Association Newsletter.”
*New York Road Runners annual dues were $3; the membership roster was 47.
*For many years the newsletter and race entry forms were printed on the Corbitt Family kitchen table with a mimeograph machine.
*The production and distribution of the newsletter was a family affair with son – Gary distributing at races and wife – Ruth mailing to members not at a recent race.

History Themes:

*The Newsletter was later called “RRC Footnotes” and is now known as “Club Running.”
*The early issues were printed on the Corbitt Family kitchen table with a mimeograph machine.
*The first issue was called “RRC of U.S. Bulletin.”
*Footnotes became regularly published during Gar Williams RRCA Presidency starting in 1973.

The idea of a five -borough New York City Marathon was first conceived by Ted Corbitt.  George Spitz took the concept to Fred Lebow.  The 1976 New York City Marathon became a reality because of the work of George Spitz and his influence with other local politicians particularly Percy Sutton.