Important Events

1918        Born in Brooklyn, NY to Dr. & Mrs. George A. Sheehan, Sr. He was the oldest of their14 children. 1933        Was locked in his locker at Brooklyn Prep by the upper classmen. First test of his theory, "there are no bad experiences." 1940        Graduates from Manhattan College. Metro indoor mile champion. Best time of 4:19 (record was 4:06). 1943        Graduates Long Island College of Medicine. 1944        Marries Mary Jane Fleming. 1944-46 Serves in World War II in the South Pacific. Doctor on the destroyer U.S.S. Daly. 1944        First born(s) arrive. Twins born on Christmas Eve. Receives the news while serving in the Pacific. 10 more children were to follow (totals: 7 boys, 5 girls). 1949        Establishes medical practice in Red Bank, NJ 1959        One of the founding fathers of a new boys high school, Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, NJ. This is where he would return to running after watching his oldest boys compete. At the age of 45 he made the J.V. squad. 1962        Opens a "theological" bookstore in Red Bank. Started to read the works of the great philosophers. 1963        Starts to run. 1964        Runs his first Boston Marathon. 1968        Begins his writing career covering the Mexico Olympics for the local paper, The Red Bank Register. 1969        Sets an age group world's record. Runs the first sub-five-minute mile by a 50-yr-old. (4:47)   1970        Write first column for Runner's World magazine. 1972        Wins first place for "Best General Interest Column," New Jersey Writers Association. 1972        Gives his first "talk" in the basement of the local YMCA. 1975        Dr. Sheehan on Running is published. 1978        Running&Being is released. Makes The New York Times bestseller list for 14 weeks in a row. 1978        Appears on The Johnny Carson Show (gets John Davidson as the guest host) along with Betty White, Jim Nabors, Kenny Norton and Stan Kann. 1978        Medical Advice for Runners is published. 1979        Runs his personal best for the marathon at the age of 60. 3:01 at the Marine Corp Marathon in Wash. D.C. 1980        This Running Life is published. 1981        Receives "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Presidential Council on Physical Fitness. 1983        How to Feel Great 24 Hours a Day is published. 1984        Runs 21st consecutive, and last, Boston Marathon. 1986        Diagnosed with inoperable prostate cancer. 1987        Personal Best is published. 1989       Competes in the World Veterans 800 meters in the over 70 group. A "peak experience." 1992        Running to Win is published. 1992        Runs in his last race, the Crim 10 mile. 1993        Honored in April by over 500 close friends at a dinner "roast." Toasted in a letter from President Clinton as the "philosopher king of running." 1993        Completes work on his final book, Going the Distance. 1993        Dies at home with his wife and family by his side. 1998        Inducted, posthumously, into the National Distance Runners Hall of Fame as the first recipient of the George Sheehan Media Award.

George, the student, at 17 Manhattan College X-Country Running in the backyard, 1967 The "Doc" with Bill Rodgers Receiving "Lifetime" award Sunday in Central Park George and Mary Jane