Celebrating NYRR's First Race

On June 4, 1958, New York Road Runners was founded as the Road Runners Club–New York Association (RRC–NYA) with 40-odd members who met at Macombs Dam Park in the Bronx and paid dues of $3 a year. Ted Corbitt, the first African American to compete in the Olympic Marathon (Helsinki, 1952) was elected as the club’s first president. (He's pictured above leading a race, probably in the late 1950s.) Membership was open to all races, genders, and running abilities.

The RRC–NYA’s mission was to offer local racing opportunities to its members. Its first newsletter stated that “it should be possible to put on at least 35 races a year in the metropolitan area.” In its first year there were seven cross-country and road races, all of them in the Bronx. The first, a six-mile cross-country race, was held on September 28, 1958 in Van Cortlandt Park.

This year, as we come through incredibly challenging times, we are grateful to NYRR’s founders, and to all those who have helped lead and guide the organization throughout our 62-year history and allowed us to get where we are today.

The RRC–NYA continued to put on races throughout its first year, including the Cherry Tree Marathon, staged on February 22, 1959 in the Bronx. Ted Corbitt won the race in a time of 2:38:57. This race was the precursor of the New York City Marathon, which first took place 50 years ago, on September 13, 1970.

In celebration of our heritage, runners who register for the NYRR Virtual Run for Thanks 5K can access the newly launched NYRR Racing app, which features a 5K course in Van Cortlandt Park over parts of the same course that NYRR's founders ran. Through the app, an audio-guided experience will inspire and motivate you all the way to the finish of the Virtual Run for Thanks 5K. To access to the NYRR Racing app, select the Premium race type when you register for the NYRR Virtual Run for Thanks 5K. You can run your 5K anytime and anywhere from November 21 through 29 and even run at the same time as friends and family to all be on the same "course" together!

Honor and celebrate Ted Corbitt, “the father of long distance running,” by signing up for the Virtual NYRR Ted Corbitt 15K and running anytime, anywhere November 30 to December 6. Stay tuned for more fun and fascinating dives into NYRR's amazing history, including the amazing life and legacy of Ted Corbitt, coming soon.