Tony Mangan, we salute you…
Everyone can remember that famous scene in Forrest Gump when the eponymous character decides to run across America for no reason whatsoever.
Prepare to be shocked but we have it on good authority that the events in this film are fictitious and that Forrest 1) didn’t teach Elvis how to dance, 2) never inspired the words to ‘Imagine’, or 3) actually went on that run.
There will be no such worries about number three with former Irish construction worker Tony Mangan, who is set to complete an amazing run which started in October 2010 and has seen him touch base in five continents, six deserts and 41 different countries.
50,000km across five continents? Wow.
On his travels the 57-year old Dubliner had to endure 50C temperatures, extreme dehydration, debilitating athlete’s foot and serious risks to his own safety due to dangerous drivers in India.
Tony is now back on Irish soil where he was greeted by about 50 family and friends at Dublin Port on Saturday. What was the first thing he did?
A jog to a nearby restaurant for a full Irish breakfast before hitting the road.
The runner also took the time to invite well wishers and fans to come out and cheer him on in the final leg of his incredible journey, a 45-day, 1,600km run around Ireland.
To put this epic achievement into context, his run is the equivalent of 1,185 marathons. That’s almost 300 marathons a year.
Tony was running to help support the work of Aware, a charity that helps remove the stigma associated with depression and mental health issues.
The Dubliner is planning to write a book about his travels and we think he might have a fair bit to write about having been only the third person in the world to run such an athletic adventure.
Here he is arriving back and meeting his friends and family. What a man.
Clip via – Gary Salmon
H.T – Newstalk
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