Tom McGrath (born c. 1950 in Ederney, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.) is an Irish-American ultra-runner. He has run over 200,000 miles to raise money for charities. Due to his 1977 run across America (which he did in a then-record 53 days) and other accolades, he has been nicknamed The Irish Forrest Gump.
He played in two under-21 All-Ireland Finals in Gaelic football in 1970 and 1971; 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. He carried the Olympic Torch as part of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.
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. + McGrath's runsDateRunTime / ResultDecember 2017Miles for Miracles - Boston to New York Run225 Miles, 7 DaysJanuary 2013Charity Cancer Run for Shane Hoey, at Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx, New York5 HoursDecember 2012Charity Cancer Run for baby Oscar Knox, at Juniper Pk, Maspeth, Queens, New York5 HoursJuly 2012250 Mile Solo Run for the John Barry Memorial at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD8 DaysMay 2012500 km Charity Run for Croi, West of Ireland10 DaysOctober 2011Six Counties 300 Miles Charity Run, Northern Ireland10 DaysJune 199910 Hour Charity Run, Bronx, New York10 HoursSummer 1996Carried Olympic Torch through New York City for Atlanta OlympicsN/AOctober 1994500 Miles - Raised $100,000 to rebuild Central Park TrackN/AOctober 19921,000 Mile Solo Run for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Dept. of Pediatrics15 Days, 15.75 HoursOctober 19911,000 Mile Solo Run for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Dept. of Pediatrics15 Days, 4.5 HoursOctober 19901,000 Mile Solo Run for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Dept. of Pediatrics15 Days, 22 HoursJune 19891,000 Mile Solo Run for Project Children16 Days, 21 HoursJune 19881,000 Mile IAU World Championship for UNICEF3rd Place - 15 Days, 18 HoursNovember 1987New York - 5 Day Race3rd Place - 357 MilesNovember 1986New York - 5 Day Race4th Place - 291 MilesJanuary 1985Pennsylvania - 48 Hour Race224 MilesNovember 1984New York - 24 Hour Race3rd Place - 130 MilesJuly 1984New York - 6 Day Race326 MilesJuly 1984USA 100 Mile Championship3rd Place - 14 Hours, 52 MinutesJune 1984Kelly Games - 10 Hours76 MilesMay 1984Ireland - 24 Hour Race1st Place - 126 MilesMarch 1984New York - 12 Hour Race2nd Place - 76 MilesDecember 1983Great Irish Run for Mentally Handicapped, Solo630 Miles, 7.5 DaysJuly 1981New York Run for Charity75 MilesJanuary 1978Ireland Run for Charity50 MilesAugust 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
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