Dozens gathered outside the Marble Hill Houses as the sign for Ted Corbitt Way was unveiled on 228th street and Broadway. The co-naming, made possible through legislation passed by Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, drew friends and family of the late Ted Corbitt, known as the "Father of long distance running." Guests of honor told anecdotes about the illustrious career of Mr. Corbitt and the many ways he touched peoples lives both inside and outside of the world of running.
Mr. Corbitt, who passed away in 2007, was a resident of the Marble Hill Houses for much of his life. His career in distance running was one that will rarely be duplicated, if ever. Aside from competing in the Olympics for the marathon, Mr. Corbitt was a major figure in the world of Ultramarathons, a term he coined meaning a race double the length of the standard marathon. Following his professional running career, Mr. Corbitt worked as a physical therapist at NYU, helping people to recover range of motion and movement after serious injuries. Friends relayed stories of how Mr. Corbitt helped them regain the ability to run again after they were incapacitated by injuries. Others told how he ran to work 20 miles each day and then ran home the same distance each evening.
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