Inspiration by Pete Stringer

You get inspiration where you find it. Joe Lugiano's recent post reminded me of how lucky I am to be still participating in the sport about 16 years later. I had actually discovered it many years before, but somehow didn't think I would "qualify" for the immense distances until I met the incredible Mr. Ted Corbitt at one of the Sri Chinmoy marathons held monthly on Randall's Island(early 90's), and he said, "To learn ultrarunning, just run your marathons back-to-back. The body will learn what the mind is willing to teach."
I brought that back with me on the long drive back to the Cape, and entered the Nifty Fifty in Coventry, R.I. the following Fall. It's been a wondrous journey ever since, and I owe it to that man.
May of 2007 I got to shake Mr. Corbitt's hand again at the 6-day race down at Corona Park. A half year later he was dead, in Houston. Next weekend the Broadway Ultra Society celebrates this most special man with their Ted Corbitt 24 hour run. I am sure a lot of his friends will be there. Of all the inspiring older folks I have met in our sport, from the Slammers like Helen Klein and Dick Opsahl to the course and AG record holders like Ephraim Rosenburg, Helen Klein, Lou Joline, Aaron Goldman, John Dewalt, Ed Demoney, Stuart Nelson, Hans-Dieter, and --- (just too many others to mention), I remember Ted Corbitt for his gentleness and sharing, his eagerness to encourage others.
This past Monday was our New England Plus 65 running club's annual luncheon at the Marriott in Peabody. Quite a lively and boistrous group, I assure you. Nothing counts on your resume until you reach age 65 -- a formidable goal! Ultra runners are few and far between, but Hall of Fame names like Carlton Mendel and Dick Fedion need no introduction to this List.
Then, two weeks ago, Cape Cod hosted the world series of older softball players, the Cape Cod Classic. There were four age divisions, but the eldest, 75 and older, was the most fun to watch, the most astonishing. Running speed and arm strength had perhaps diminished the most, the hand-eye coordination the least! These guys could REALLY still hit, and they could "pick it" with the glove with the casual aplomb of a Brooks Robinson. I watched the 87 year old shortstop from the California team pivot as the middle man of a double play, ricocheting the ball back to the first baseman in a bang-bang play that deserved the ESPN highlights film.
The lady in the stands I was chatting with between innings was the wife of one of these gents, and asked if I played?
"Only with my grandson, right now," I answered. "But I do some long hikes, and maybe if I get more active...heck, I've got eight more years to practice up," I admitted. (did she think I was ALREADY 75?)
"Oh, it'll all come back," she assured me. "Just don't give up."
That's probably what Ted Corbitt would say. Share the road, for it's really all we've got. Perhaps you can think of this gentle spirit, often called the founder of American ultrarunning, about ten o'clock next Saturday morning, October 4th.

Pete Stringer