ann.trason

Ted Corbitt. The person I want to be when I grow up.

I mean that.

Ted was one of my mentors back in the day. And all these years later, he is still mentoring me.

Most people in our sport know what Ted accomplished. The first Black American to run the Olympic marathon, a pioneer of ultrarunning, a founder of the New York Road Runners, and the man who helped establish accurate course measurement. He ran extraordinary distances, including 303 miles in a six-day race in his eighties.

But those aren’t the things I think about most when I think of Ted.

I think about his humility. His kindness. His curiosity. His willingness to give so much of himself to a sport he loved, without needing recognition for any of it.

Ted understood something that I think can get lost in our sport. Running isn’t just about how fast or how far you go. It’s also about what you give back, how you treat people, and what you leave behind for the next generation.

I remember running a 100-mile race in New York in 1991. Ted showed up, and just meeting him gave me a lift. I went on to set a world record.

And Ted, being Ted, had another surprise. He brought a wedding anniversary cake for Carl and me. Candles and all! It was our first year wedding anniversary.

Imagine that. One of the greatest pioneers our sport has ever known, taking the time to celebrate someone else’s special day.

When I get home, I’m going to dig out that photograph. It still makes me smile.

Ted passed away in 2007, but his influence certainly didn’t end there.

As I get older, I find myself thinking less about the records and more about the people who helped shape my life. Ted is right near the top of that list.

I want to keep learning. Keep moving. Keep being curious. Keep finding ways to encourage others. And maybe, just maybe, grow into a little of the grace and generosity Ted carried so naturally.

Still working on it, Ted.

And still learning from you. ❤️