A 57-year-old Dublin man, who has been dubbed the Irish Forrest Gump, has arrived home after a 50,000km run around the world.
The former construction worker spent four years running through a variety of destinations and has now returned to Dublin still full of energy.
Tony Morgan was greeted by more than 50 friends and family at Dublin Port on his arrival on Saturday afternoon. The determined runner, who is now also a record-breaker, had a number of challenges to overcome over the four years including 50 degree temperatures, crippling Athlete’s Foot, and other injuries.
It was a tough and challenging battle for the Dublin man, who also saw his visa for China refused and his plan to run through Russia stopped due to the war with the Ukraine.
Tony Morgan pictured on his return to Ireland.
The trip is estimated to have cost him about €40,000, paid for by redundancy money and sponsorship from ultra-marathon race organizer Richard Donovan along with the generosity of strangers.
“I’ve had an incredible amount of luck on this run, incredible,” he said. “It’s like there’s an angel looking after me.
“I still do believe, even though it has been a tough slog, that running is the best way to see the world, running or walking, and I really do believe I was put on the planet to run around the world.”
Indeed, he is not ready to stop just yet, as he is now inviting people to join him on different parts of a 45-day 1,600km circuit he wishes to complete of Ireland.
“I’m a slow runner,” said Tony. “So anybody can run with me for as many days as they want, just come out and run – I didn’t want it to turn into a Forrest Gump session, but it could well do.”
This is not the first time Mangan has set off on an epic journey. In 1978, he did the exact same thing but that time he was on a bike and it took him 15 months.
Mangan also holds a number of world records including the world indoor record for distance over 48 hours, the record for running from Melbourne to Darwin and the world treadmill distance for 48 hours.
The runner arrives home after a 50,000km round the world trip.
His around-the-world running trip is the equivalent of 1,185 marathons. He is just one of three people to have completed this feat. Now though, it is Ireland that is calling.
“I only have another 1,600k to go, but then again, my ‘onlys’ are a little bit different than other people’s.”
For more on Tony’s journey, log on to his blog.
Video via YouTube/Gary Salmon
