Happy Anniversary, New York Road Runners

On June 4, 1958, New York Road Runners was founded as the Road Runners Club–New York Association, or RRC–NYA, with 40-odd members who met in Macombs Dam Park in the Bronx and paid dues of just $3 a year. Robert Wagner was the mayor of NYC, and subway fare was 15 cents.

Ted Corbitt, an African American and 1952 Olympian, became the first president and opened membership to all races, genders, and running speeds. The club’s mission was simple—to work together to promote long distance running and increase the number of racing opportunities in the New York area.

The RCA–NYA organized seven events in its first year—cross-country and road races, all in the Bronx. The first, a six-mile cross-country race, was held on September 28, 1958 in Van Cortlandt Park. On February 22, 1959, RCA–NYA hosted the Cherry Tree Marathon, the predecessor to the New York City Marathon; Ted Corbitt was crowned champion.

Small, But Determined

In the 1960s, the RCA–NYA faced many challenges, from precarious finances to inaccurately measured courses to squabbles with the Amateur Athletic Association (AAU), the national governing body of track and field. Membership remained low and at times the RRC–NYA struggled to survive. One newsletter includes a heartfelt thanks to “the generous, extra support given to the RRC in the form of financial contributions and plain work of its members.”

Despite the difficulties, the club continued to put on a variety of road and cross-country races each year. These events were held without road closures, course signage, or refreshments, but the fact that they existed at all meant that local runners no longer had to drive hours to compete. The start of one of these races, near Yankee Stadium, is pictured below.

The RRC–NYA also sent runners to prestigious international competitions, including the London-to-Brighton Road Race, an ultramarathon of 52½ miles. The Fall 1964 issue of the RRC–NYA newsletter featured a report on that year’s event, in which Corbitt placed second, later presidents Nat Cirulnick and Aldo Scandurra were 14th and 24th, respectively, and the future champion of the first New York City Marathon, Gary Muhrcke, was 34th. The newsletter attributes these successes to its two-year series of ultramarathon races ranging from 30 miles to 40½ miles.

Information and Inspiration

The newsletters also featured advice about training (“no one should attempt this event without running slowly at least 2 runs above 45 miles”) and nutrition (“of the numerous concoctions that are put together one can easily drink something that will cause the gut to rebel”) and inspirational quotes (“The pupil who is never required to do what he cannot do never does what he can do.” –J. S. Mill).

The newsletter took on the issue of gender equity in a guest opinion piece from Dr. Charles Robbins in 1962: “I would like to see the Road Runners Clubs get behind the women in their fight for recognition in long distance running. After all, they are back where we were 40 or 50 years ago with exactly the same prejudices against them.” By 1970, women's membership neared 30, and 72 women took part in the inaugural Crazylegs Mini Marathon, a women-only race founded in 1972 and known today as the Mastercard New York Mini 10K.

A Higher Standard of Racing

Corbitt spearheaded efforts to accurately measure and certify race courses. In 1964 he published “Measuring Road Running Courses,” a 40-page booklet providing standards and guidelines. Previously, races were often measured using a car’s odometer, often leading to short courses. Corbitt later collaborated on the development of the Jones Counter, a measuring device that attaches to the front wheel of a bicycle.

Thanks to Corbitt's efforts, NYRR was a leader in the movement toward accurate courses. As he wrote in 1964: “Thus one of our immediate goals in the New York Association of the RRC is to get all courses checked and measured and certified by a national committee … We can set the pattern for other RRC Associations in the USA.”

Central Park as a New Place to Run

In 1966, New York City Mayor John Lindsay closed Central Park Drive to traffic on summer weekends, giving runners six miles of recreational space. In 1967 the city implemented the weekend closings year-round, and in the years that followed, the park became a prime spot for RRC–NYA events, including the New York City Marathon.

Fred Lebow, a Romanian immigrant who worked in the garment district, began running in Central Park in 1968 to improve his tennis game. He eventually joined NYRR and in 1970 he and NYRR president Vince Chiappetta co-founded the New York City Marathon. Fueled by the 1970s running boom, the event and the organization grew exponentially and became increasingly diverse and inclusive, in the spirit of the organization founded on those principles back in 1958 and celebrated to this day.