Tom McGrath (runner)


Tom McGrath is an Irish-American ultra-runner. He has run over 200,000 miles to raise money for charities.

Early life

He was born in Ederney, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, McGrath played in two under-21 All-Ireland Finals in Gaelic football in 1970 and 1971. His team came second both times.

Career

In 1977, McGrath broke the world record for fastest crossing of the United States on foot – in 53 days and seven minutes. His record lasted for three years. For five consecutive years, he ran 1,000 miles around New York’s Central Park for charity. In May 1991, McGrath received the Jefferson award sponsored by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis for representing New York State for Charity Services.
Since the 1990s, McGrath has owned and run The Black Sheep, a bar in midtown Manhattan.
In September 2016, McGrath published a memoir with author, Jared Beasley, titled The Black Sheep: The Fittest / Unfittest Bar Owner in New York.

Selected runs

Below is a select list of the numerous charity and non-charity runs McGrath has completed.
DateRunTime / Result
December 2017Miles for Miracles - Boston to New York Run225 Miles, 7 Days
January 2013Charity Cancer Run for Shane Hoey, at Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx, New York5 Hours
December 2012Charity Cancer Run for baby Oscar Knox, at Juniper Pk, Maspeth, Queens, New York5 Hours
July 2012250 Mile Solo Run for the John Barry Memorial at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD8 Days
May 2012500km Charity Run for Croi, West of Ireland10 Days
October 2011Six Counties 300 Miles Charity Run, Northern Ireland10 Days
June 199910 Hour Charity Run, Bronx, New York10 Hours
Summer 1996Carried Olympic Torch through New York City for Atlanta OlympicsN/A
October 1994500 Miles - Raised $100,000 to rebuild Central Park TrackN/A
October 19921,000 Mile Solo Run for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Dept. of Pediatrics15 Days, 15.75 Hours
October 19911,000 Mile Solo Run for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Dept. of Pediatrics15 Days, 4.5 Hours
October 19901,000 Mile Solo Run for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Dept. of Pediatrics15 Days, 22 Hours
June 19891,000 Mile Solo Run for Project Children16 Days, 21 Hours
June 19881,000 Mile IAU World Championship for UNICEF3rd Place - 15 Days, 18 Hours
November 1987New York - 5 Day Race3rd Place - 357 Miles
November 1986New York - 5 Day Race4th Place - 291 Miles
January 1985Pennsylvania - 48 Hour Race224 Miles
November 1984New York - 24 Hour Race3rd Place - 130 Miles
July 1984New York - 6 Day Race326 Miles
July 1984USA 100 Mile Championship3rd Place - 14 Hours, 52 Minutes
June 1984Kelly Games - 10 Hours76 Miles
May 1984Ireland - 24 Hour Race1st Place - 126 Miles
March 1984New York - 12 Hour Race2nd Place - 76 Miles
December 1983Great Irish Run for Mentally Handicapped, Solo630 Miles, 7.5 Days
July 1981New York Run for Charity75 Miles
January 1978Ireland Run for Charity50 Miles
August 1977New York to San Francisco - Guinness Book of Records for Fastest Time Cross Country3,046 Miles - 53 Days, 7 Minutes - 57.1 Miles per day