Life and Work
Sheehan was born in Brooklyn, the oldest of 14 children. He was a track star at Manhattan College, from which he graduated in 1940, and earned his medical degree in 1943 from the Long Island College of Medicine (now known as SUNY Downstate Medical Center). He renewed his interest in running at age 45 while living in Rumson, New Jersey. He began running in his back yard (26 loops to a mile) and then started running along the river road during his lunch break wearing long-johns and a ski mask. Five years later, he ran a 4:47 mile, which was the world's first sub-five-minute time by a 50-year-old.
Sheehan began writing a weekly column in the local newspaper and continued to write the column for twenty five years. Many of these years were served as the medical editor for Runner's World magazine. (He had been introduced to Joe Henderson by Hal Higdon during the 1968 Olympics. Henderson later recruited him as medical editor for Runner's World.) He continued to write for Runner's World after the magazine was purchased by Rodale Press. He wrote eight books and lectured around the world.
In 1958, Sheehan co-founded Christian Brothers Academy, an all-male school in Lincroft, New Jersey near his home in Rumson, which grew to become one of New Jersey's premier prep schools.
In 1986, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He continued to run until his legs could no longer carry him. During this period he continued to write about his experiences. This time it wasn't about running, it was about dying. Going the Distance was his last book, and was published shortly after his death. He died of prostate cancer at his home in the Ocean Grove section of Neptune Township, New Jersey.
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