More On Ted Corbitt

I was pleased to see that TIME magazine had seen fit to recognize Ted Corbitt's passing with a mention in their milestones section. I have to say that I was a bit surprised that two outstanding things Ted did were not mentioned, his making the 1952 Olympic Team, and his bringing accurate course measurememt to the USA. Here's the article:

Jews On Christmas

What do Jews do on Christmas? Well, shortly after college, I'd go skiing, but one year, Christmas was brutally warm and that was out of the question. So, the buddy I'd go skiing with and I started calling Jewish mutual friends and we got together. Thus was born an annual tradition that has persisted for about a quarter century. We used to go to a movie, then Chinese food, then play poker into the evening.

After marriages and kids, we often play DVD's for the kids. Eat together, though because one guy's family keeps kosher, we usually bring the food (at his house, we can have Chinese, as there's a kosher Chinese restaurant nearby). We still try to play poker (for some reason, "night baseball" is a popular variant).

This year, due to one participant's travel plans, we have, for the first time ever, we're not having the party on Christmas day.

In Memory of Ted Corbitt

Ted Corbitt as he departed for the 1962 London to Brighton Race. This was the cover photo of the October 1962 issue of the Long Distance Log.
One of the real giants of our sport, Ted Corbitt, has passed away. Ted was one of the founding fathers of the NY Road Runners and also of the Road Runners Club of America. He was on the 1952 Olympic Marathon Team and literally wrote the book on course measurement. Mr. Corbitt, who lived in New York City, was 87 years old.

Tennis Elbow

I got together with my family over the weekend. I've had a hurt arm for about 2 weeks now. I've been driving a limo for a while now, and this is a work related injury. My right arm hurts when I lift something heavy or when I move it certain ways or when I grip tightly.
My sister, a long-time tennis player promptly said, "tennis elbow." I'm inclined to think she knows. I keep trying to limit irritation. Most of my lifting is now done on the left. Maybe it'll force my body into better balance.
I got to the gym again this morning. I walked for 30 minutes at 4.6 mph (2.3 mi) and did some strength work.

Delightfully Misguided

I was trolling the NPR website and stumbled onto this story. It was clearly an act of ignorance, in a city known for its awareness of its Jewish culture. It's the extreme impropriety that makes the concept so shockingly, delightfully funny. Trust me, if you click this link, you'll laugh. (the link will let you listen to the story, which I've yet to hear)

His First Coach

I had the chance a while back to speak with Bill Squires, the legendary coach of the Greater Boston Track Club. Coach Squires told a story about his mother, who he claims was his first coach. This is both a historical and fitness lesson, Squires mother, practicing thrift, used to rent the cheaper houses.
In the days when Coach Squires was young, that meant the top of the hill, not the bottom, like today. Consider this, in the days when the streetcar and train were the normal transportation for the common man, once you left the streetcar, you had to hoof it. The result was that the higher up the hill you lived, the longer (and harder) your walk.
By living at the top of the hill, the Squires got more house for their money, and young Bill got a better workout. During his school's lunch break, the coach would often run home, setting a base for his fitness that would stand him in good stead when he began to compete. The man who was to become coach to so many played many sports, including football. Of course, football, in those days, was a very different sport, with players playing both offense AND defense.
Thus, when Coach Squires says his mother was his first coach, he's only half joking.