was a member of Ireland's four-man squad along with Marcus O'Sullivan, Frank O'Mara and Ray Flynn, which set a world record time of 15:49.08 in the 4 x mile relay, in a charity fund-raising race in Dublin. In total, Coghlan ran 83 sub-4-minute miles, indoor and out. Life after retirement In 1994, on the Harvard University indoor track, Eamonn became the first man over age 40 to run a sub-four-minute mile. He was 41 at the time. Coghlan ran the sub-four-minute mile as a "Special Attraction" during the middle of the Massachusetts State High School Championship meet. Athletes surrounded the banked track clapping and pounding out the rhythm of :59 sec. splits on the fast Harvard track. Coghlan works as director of fundraising (North America) for the Children's Medical & Research Foundation, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Dublin and is a regular panellist on Ireland's television station RTÉ for athletics programmes. He coaches a number of Irish international runners including David Campbell, David Fitzmaurice and his son John. In 2002, he appeared in part two of the original Mrs Browns Boys series. In 2008, he served as Grand Marshal for Dublin's St Patrick's Day parade. Coghlan's book Chairman of the Boards, Master of the Mile was released in 2008. Political career In May 2011, he was appointed as a Senator by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny. He sat as an independent until 7 February 2012, when he joined the Fine Gael party. He ran as the Fine Gael candidate in the 2014 Dublin West by-election. During an election debate on Tonight with Vincent Browne, he baffled viewers and panel members by telling a bizarre anecdote, including an impersonation, about a constituent he had met during his canvass. His campaign largely "fell flat on its face" according to a Fine Gael minister, despite the party putting significant resources into the constituency He polled 3,788 first preference votes, placing fifth in the contest and being eliminated on the fourth count. This was a 1.9% drop in the Fine Gael vote, compared to the previous by-election result in the same constituency. He unsuccessfully ran for election to the Administrative Panel of the Seanad in 2016, getting 3% of first preference votes, and was not re-nominated to the Seanad. Personal bests Source References External links ATHLETE PROFILE Eamonn COGHLAN All-Athletics Article in Euro Legends series from European Athletics Millrose Games website The Extra Mile 1952 births