Sid Howard's 60th Birthday

Sid Howard

The World Record

Photo 1: On the day of his 60th birthday, Sid Howard attempted to break the world age-group record for the 800m at the MAC Masters Championships held at the Armory Track & Field Center in New York City. Here at the starting line, Sid is focusing on the race that is about to begin. His teammate Frank Handelman is on the left. The person in the white Montana singlet is Richard Green, who is in a younger age group and would win the race while running the perfect pace for Sid.
Photo 3: This is the moment of glory, as Sid Howard crosses the finish line in a world age-group indoor 800m record of 2:14.75.
Photo 4: Afterwards, it was pandemonium as Sid is mobbed by family, teammates and friends.
Photo 5: Here is Sid with the younger members of his family contingent.
Photo 6: Another picture with family and friend.

The Birthday Party

Photo 11: Here are two of the birthday party organizers, Jim Aneshansley and Mary V. Rosado, looking at the vegetarian carrot cake.
Photo 12: A close-up of the birthday cake. The carrot-made letters read, "Sid, go for it! Keep the jog alive ...!"
Photo 13: Why are these 50 people gathered in hushed silence in an overheated room with lights out? It's the surprise birthday party!
Photo 14: This is the happiest man in the world tonight, reading the letters on the birthday cake.
Photo 15: Sid said that this was the second happiest day that he can remember, next to his son's birth. He said that he could not have accomplished what he did tonight, without running those Tuesdays and Thursdays with the club for the past 21 years. Yes, keep that jog alive!
Photo 16: Here is Sid's family portrait.

NEAR-REAL-TIME REPORTING ***********************************************

Sid's daughter in Bermuda called him early Saturday morning to say that she found our website report of the world record at 12:17am, just a few hours after the race.

INTERCONTINENTAL CONGRATULATORY NOTE ****************************

From: Marco <marco@denise.shiny.it> (Italy)
Date: Saturday, February 27, 1999 2:54 PM

Well done, Sid - from the brand new SID LERICI FAN CLUB - we're looking out for your next event - we wish u all the best. Bye from SLFC to the whole club.

Luca Trovato sent in the following explanation: "The people who sent the message to Sid are my brother Andrea, whom Sid met in December of 1997, and his friends Marco and Chiara. They live in Lerici, which is a little town 40 minutes north of Pisa , right by the sea on the Italian Riviera, not far from Portofino. Not a bad place at all, especially in the summer. My friend Stefano Mei, winner of the European championships in 1986 in the 10000 meters with the time of 27:47, lives just 10 minutes away. Maybe I should try to sign him up for the Central Park Track Club?"

NEW YORK TIMES (Tuesday, March 2, 1999 Sports Section) by Frank Litsky **************

A SENIOR RECORD IN THE 800 METERS

When Sid Howard turned 60 last Friday, he gave himself the best birthday present in the world he could think of, a world indoor record for the 800 meters for men 60 and older.

In the Metropolitan Atheletics Congress indoor championships at the Armory Track and Field Center in northern Manhattan, Howard won the 800 in 2 minutes 14.75 seconds. That broke the 1991 mark of 2:16.65 by Earl Fee of Canada. Howard's next goals, he said yesterday, are two more age-group world records --- for 1,500 meters on March 14 in the Eastern masters regionals at the Armory and for the mile on March 27 in the national masters championships in Boston.

Howard lives in Plainfield, N.J., and owns and operates a Manhattan messenger and light-trucking business. He said he first ran in high school.

"But I dropped out in 12th grade," he said, "because I flunked math and wood shop. So you know I was a wise guy because nobody flunks wood shop. I didn't run again until I was 39. My son said there an old men's mile at a high school track, so I trained three weeks and ran 5:05. Three months later, I ran the New York City Marathon and finished in 3 hours 2 minutes. Now I'm running the old men's races again."

DAILY NEWS (Tuesday, March 2, 1999) by Eddie Coyle ************************

SID'S RECORD ROCKS WORLD

Sid Howard, 60, a familiar figure on local roads for two decades, now has further recognition. He's a world record holder.

Howard celebrated his 60th birthday at the 168th Street Armory Friday night in the MAC masters championships by setting a 60-and-over world record of 2:14:73. He shattered the 2:16.64 Earl See of Canada set in '91.

Sid said, "It was the most even race I've ever run, out in 67, back in 67, and the second biggest thrill of my life. The first was when my first son was born 39 years ago seven days before my 39th birthday.

"The spirit of my wife, Sandra, who died two years ago, was with me all the way and all of the Armory was on my side. I got so much support I thought I was in a dream," Sid said. He was the meet for much of the crowd that left after his event, sixth on the card.

He was the only 60-year-old in the race. The rest were 50-plus --- and he was second overall! The crowd yelled: "Sid, Sid," and sang "Happy Birthday" during his victory lap.

VICTORY LAP (Tuesday, March 2, 1999) at The Armory *******************************

At the Central Park Track Club regular workout at the Armory on the ensuing Tuesday, there was a victory lap celebration among all those present, which includes members from local running clubs such as A.U.R.A. International, Central Park Track Club, Front Runners New York, Millrose, and Warren Street.

Photo 21: Here Sid Howard was brought out by CPTC track coach Brian Denman.
Photo 22: Here is the victory lap celebration with Sid leading all the runners down the backstraight.
Photo 23: Here is the large group coming down the home stretch. Everybody, and above all Sid, enjoyed the experience.
Photo 24: Sid was interviewed by Ian Brooks over the public address system.
Photo 25: Sid received congratulations from Ed Small, the track director of the Armory Track & Field Center.
Photo 26: Sid with Ian Brooks and Ed Small.