The 75-year-old honoured after 75th half marathon

In a running career that spans more than five decades, Harry McNulty has completed 75 and half marathons and more than 60 full marathons

When Harry McNulty crossed the Waterside Half Marathon’s finish line on Sunday it was a milestone moment for the 75-year-old as it marked him completing his 75th half marathon.

In a running career that spans more than five decades, the Londonderry native also has more than 60 full marathons under his belt.

Harry said putting on his running trainers and taking part in the races gives him a “feel good factor" and is "a real social thing" for him.

Now, following his milestone half marathon, his commitment and “remarkable lifetime of distance running participation” has been recognised with a special award.

Derry and Strabane Mayor Lillian Seenoi-Barr and the Sheerin family presented the award to Harry on Sunday

At Sunday’s finish line in Derry, Harry was presented with the Danny Sheerin Memorial Award for 2024.

Mr Sheerin, who died in 2022, was a renowned local runner and had taken part in every half marathon in Derry since its inception in 1981.

Harry told BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme that he was honoured to have been given the prestigious award.

“I was shocked because I was totally unaware of it,” Harry said.

“To be honoured in the name of Danny Sheerin, I thought was unreal, he that gave so much to mass participation and to the enjoyment of participation,” he said.

Danny, Harry said, was “such a nice man”, who embodied the “joy of participation".

Harry started running in 1981, competing in his first Waterside Half marathon two years later.

“I ran with my sister-in-law, it was the old course, an out and back course, we ran straight down the road for 6.5 miles and back again,” he said.

Much has changed in the years since, Harry added, and not only in terms of the course lay out.

He is delighted running’s popularity continues to grow – helped by park runs and shorter relay style half marathon races.

'Running can be for everyone'

“Whenever I first done the half [marathon], because of the distance it would have been restricted to runners," he said.

"My daughter ran the relay [on Sunday] and that has been a great plus for people capable of running four or five miles, and that sort of mass participation, I absolutely love that."

He added: “The whole atmosphere, the way the start and finish are organised as absolutely super compared to years ago. Running can be for everyone.”

Presenting Harry with his award, Derry’s mayor Lilian Seenoi Barr said Harry is “a legend of local running" and said he was a deserving recipient.

“The award recognises members of the local running fraternity who display the spirit of participation and encouragement that Danny Sheerin was so well known for - and no one embodies that more than Harry,” she said.

His radiant smile and enthusiasm for running has been a feature of local athletics events for decades and he has been taking part in the Waterside Half Marathon since it’s inception in the early 80s.”