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World Runners Association

I’m now walking around the world!

February 19th, 2018

I’m now walking around the world! Please see my Tony Mangan Facebook page and also press ‘like ‘ to myworldwalk Facebook community page. Below is a recent blog posted on my world walk website:  www.myworldwalk.com

Thank you, New Zealand!

New Zealand has been walked! Despite heavy rain, my spirits were not dampened on the final day of my walk across the land of the long white cloud.

I was delighted when my fabulous host’s Alan Knox, a retired editor for the National Radio station and Sue, his wife, an IT software trainer specialist came out to accompany me for my last 18 kilometres in the country. Our route was from Papatoetoe to Mechanics Bay. In the end, Alan did the driving and Sue the walking with me. It’s always such a joy when people can walk with me. Alan wondered if he would finish his book: War and Peace before I finished walking across New Zealand.

There was also a double-delight when two Irishmen who both live here and who had separately been communicating with me also came out to brazen the elements. Bizarrely,  both men had recent accidents and were bandaged up, as was Alan.
Belfast man John Mcalister picked up a painful rib and neck injury after a freak fall and Dubliner, Sean Nolan a wrist injury when he slipped while out for a run.
John who works for a gas contractor walked the first half hour with us. We laughed when he told us that like many Kiwi companies, his job doesn’t expect their workers to work in the rain.  In Ireland, because of our constant downpours, not much work would be done! He would have liked to walk the entire distance but had to be careful not to aggravate his injury. Unfortunately, his Kiwi wife took him home. We made an arrangement to meet in his house for tea on Monday morning.
I walked along with Sue and we dodged puddles and splashes from passing vehicles. Luckily, it was a warm rain, 23 degrees Celsius according to my smartphone but it sure didn’t feel that warm.
As we walked we had an interesting conversation about the amazing properties of the inside of banana skins! Next time you run out of shoe polish just rub the inside of a skin on a shoe and then buff it with a white cloth. Teeth whitener: After you eat your next banana rub the inside of the skin on your teeth to whiten them. Apparently, the magnesium and potassium help whiten the enamel of your teeth. Wart Cure: It only takes 1-2 weeks to remove a wart with a banana peel. Other uses include cures for acne, dry skin, itching, insect bites and many other uses.
I had planned for us to walk on the back roads which led through housing estates and ran parallel to the highway, called the Great South Road. Due to the rain wetting my phone when I checked my phone map I decided it was easier to stay on the highway which thankfully had decent footpaths. We walked down Broadway, Parnell Road and eventually down Gladstone Road. At that point, Sue and I were joined by Sean who had been delayed by a business appointment arrived in time to walk the last kilometre. Thrilled to bits, I walked right up to the ocean, Mechanics Bay. The same spot where I began the Kiwi leg of my world run five years ago. For my reward, Sean presented me with two products that so many Irish abroad salivate for; a box of Barry’s tea and a couple of packets of our much-loved Tayto crisps.

Alan who has a bandaged up face from a recent melanoma operation parked his car also walked that final kilometre. I have also picked up a foot injury. So, that day it was a case of the four walking wounded males!
Naturally, Sean and I wanted to chat and we were grateful when my hosts invited him back to their house for tea, Barry’s tea of course!
We laughed at the weird introduction we got! A year and a half ago I had a strange request for my friend Avril Conroy who works in Moscow. She is a go-getter who gets things done. I was walking in central Russia and marching towards what I expected to be a cold Mongolia and China. I got a strange notion to equip myself with a pair of (waterproof) neoprene socks as I expected a lot of snow and dampness. Where to get them. I asked Avril and to cut a long story short she emailed Sean who was in Canada at the time. He went to an outdoors store, picked them up along with a compass and even made Facebook friends with the store owner for me! As he was on the way to Ireland he just got them to Avril’s husband who just happened to be in Ireland on a business trip. Next day he returned to Avril in Moscow who posted them on to me!
Sean is a high achieving entrepreneur who fills a gap in the shortage of New Zealand’s social housing market. He sources high-quality prefab houses from a factory near Moscow. They are then shipped to New Zealand. He also does this business in several countries which involves a lot of travel.
Thank you, New Zealand for such a wonderful time. It was pure joy, hospitality, friendship and beautiful scenery all the way from Slope Point to Auckland. I will never be able to repay your great kindness and humanity.
My immediate plans are to fly back to Australia soon. After a short break, I want to continue walking from where I left my Australian route almost three months ago: That is in Toowoomba City  (near Brisbane) I will walk to Mt Isa and then continue on to Darwin. Depending on my exact route it will be in the region of 3,600 kilometres. See last map below for rough route plans. This is all extra walking on the Oceanic continent. Before that, I will take a short rest break and use that time to catch up on some other commitments.
After Darwin, I will return to East Asia for more extra walking (I have also walked Asia.) That’s a long, long way ahead for someone who likes to live in the moment. All I know is it will be shortly before my six-month Australian visa expires on August 14th. Another reason I’m taking this short break as it’s still hot in Queensland and besides I have so much time on the Aussie visa. I will wait a bit before rushing back to my route.

New Zealand stats: 1,603 kilometres walked in 60 road days. Please see my last two maps which Benjamin, my map man in Berlin kindly provided.
Total: 20,088 kilometres in 558 road days.

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Please help me fund my cancer awareness world walk.

September 17th, 2016

On Saturday, February 27th, 2016 I began a walk around the world with a cancer awareness message ” Life is precious, early cancer screening saves lives.”
As I start this Go Fund Me campaign I am more than half-way across Russia and on my way to Mongolia, China, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the USA and finally back to Southern Europe from where I will continue my walk home to Ireland. I have already walked 7,300 kilometres, over 4,500 miles.
Walking provides me with a greater opportunity to speak to people as I journey across their lands. My trip is expected to take a little more than 3 years, depending on conditions and my route.
Your donations will in part allow me to buy equipment, food, and shoes etc. as I go, with an occasional hotel room with a shower ( and hopefully hot water ) and laundry, before continuing on the next day! Along the way, I’ll be stopping and speaking to schools and communities as I go, and as I’m welcomed!
Please follow me on www.facebook.com/tony.mangan.14 or www.myworldwalk.com

Thank you in advance for your donations to fund my walk to personally speak to people in rural remote areas of the world about cancer awareness. If it saves one life it will have been worth the effort .

Remember no donation is too small, and every donation gets me through another day!

Please press HERE to donate to my Go Fund Me account or press the Paypal link on this page. You don’t need any special accounts, just a bank card!

Thank You and Have a Great Day!
Tony Mangan.
Help spread the word!

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An early review from the editor of my book.

September 17th, 2016

An advance review from my editor, Dr. Bob Rich for ” The Irishman who ran around the world: Part One. The start and all of the Americas.
Btw, If anyone is looking for a highly professional and polished editor look no further than Dr. Bob Rich! His sharp eye for detail, spotting my many mistakes and wise suggestions have been an enormous help to me.
I learned a lot, had fun and yes I did manage to get a discount, without even asking! A true professional who is also very reasonably priced!


Dr. Bobs review:
” I’ve had the honour of editing this book for Tony. In my youth, I was a distance runner myself, though nowhere near his league, so I can appreciate the courage, determination and commitment he needed to invest in his world run, and earlier achievements like his two 48-hour run world records. Few people have the physical and mental capability to achieve what he has. It is an inspiration.
However, he inspires me in another way, one that he will probably find surprising. Most people habitually “pull” certain reactions from others. I know a young man who finds that, wherever he goes, males react to him with aggression, even men who are otherwise peaceful and gentle. A lady is always mothered, helped, supported by everyone, although she is highly competent and rarely needs mothering. She was the baby of her family and the only girl…

Well, as you’ll find when you read his amazing story, Tony “pulls” generosity, decency, acts of kindness and compassion.

He actually asked me if readers might see him as something of a conman for getting discounts and free handouts everywhere, and should he tone that down in his account. I told him, no, feature it, because if everyone got others to behave the way he manages to, we would have a better world.

Early on in the story, Tony explains that he likes slow travel like walking, cycling or running because you get to meet the locals, and it’s people that make the world. You can also meet the locals with him, share his amazing journey, without needing to put runners on yourself.

Dr. Bob Rich

http://bobswriting.com

Bobbing Around http://wp.me/P3Xihq-1
MY BEST BOOK: http://bobswriting.com/ascending.html
Commit random acts of kindness
Live simply so you may simply live.

https://bobrich18.wordpress.com

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Thanks to Benjamin Kniebe for his help with my book cover (and the maps too.)

September 17th, 2016

Thanks to Benjamin Kniebe for his great help with the book cover for “The Irishman who ran around the world: Part one. The start and all of the Americas.” Covered in this book are the countries and the map route as listed in heavy print.

 

The lighter text ( route map and countries listed)  will be the subject for part two. “The Irishman who ran around the world: Part two. Oceania, Asia, Europe, the lap of Ireland and the finish.” Part two is already written

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I am now walking around the world!

August 21st, 2016

Just to let my old readers know that I am currently walking around the world! Today, August 21st, 2016 I am now in Kemerovo, Russian Siberia and on my way to Mongolia. From there to China, South-East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, USA, southern Europe to France, England, Wales and then to finish it all off with a lap of Ireland :)

I have walked over 6,400 kilometres/ 4,000 miles since leaving Ireland on February 27th, 2016

Please see my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/tony.mangan.14 or my website www.myworldwalk.com Please press blog link to follow me, well online anyway :)

If you would like to sponsor a hotel night, meal etc please click on the PayPal link on this website or on my world walk website. Thank you for your support!

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I have decided to walk around the world!

February 23rd, 2016

Hi everyone!! Sorry for the long lack of updates as I had a technical issue with this website which has now been resolved.
This Saturday, Feb 27th I will begin a walk around the world! Starting from Run Logic running store in Dublin’s Temple Bar, we meet at two pm and leave a three pm. Please see my new website for the walk www.myworldwalk.com or follow on my Facebook page! Hope you can join me!
Below please read a Facebook update.
After I first got the idea to run around the world I didn’t see how I could do it without a support vehicle. As running is more problematic than walking I decided instead of running the world that I would walk it! In 1998, I was living in Lake City, Colorado. A techno friend designed my logo which I dreamt up during hundreds of hours running on the trails there. Before leaving Lake City to return to Ireland I had a crazy going away party! Sandy Hines do you remember that night with Aidan and the locals down in Mammy’s Whisky Bar!
Well, I returned to Ireland and with just four days away from starting my world walk I changed my mind! I decided that one day I would find a way to live my ultimate dream, to run around the world ( As many of you know I achieved that in Oct 2014) So for the world walk literally had the tee- shirt but I never did it! As it was pre-internet you will notice there is no mention of a website on my logo. That same logo was modified for my eventual world run, the black lettering with centre white lines signify the roads of the world.
So, this world walk is my other long cherished dream :)
Last Monday I was welcomed by The Lord Mayor of Dublin, this is becoming a habit! Thank you Lord Mayor Criona Ni Dhalaigh for my latest Magic Letter! I will be walking the world with a cancer awareness message; life is precious, early checking saves lives.

Also
The key to my world run was meticulous preparation, preparation, preparation! I also believed in keeping things simple. This walk will be more leisurely and as best as I can my stopwatch will be thrown out! However, I do realise and appreciate that when people are trying to help me their first question is almost always “exactly when tony!”
Proposed world walk route… Subject to change!
Dublin, to Liverpool to Hull to Rotterdam to Berlin to Lithuania to Latvia to Moscow to Chelyabinsk to Irkutsk to Mongolia to China. All visas have been secured (thanks to visafirst.ie)
From China I have not decided on my route to Australia Nobody has ever gone on foot (only with a small gap) from Europe to Singapore; I have not decided if I will. Another possibility is China to the Philippines to Indonesia to Australia.

Australia: Denham (the spike north of Perth) to Sydney. Then New Zealand North and South
From there my original plan was to fly to la Peru and walk into Brazil to Venezuela and from there thru the Caribbean to Cuba to Florida to Nova Scotia, ie: along the east coast. However, lately, I have been thinking of New Zealand to San Diego to Portland Oregon to Key West Florida. Whichever way I decide to go in the USA I will be returning to Europe starting in Gibraltar to Madrid to France to Ireland!
Depending on my route my estimated distance will be 30-34,000km.
As on my world run I will be exceeding the minimum requirements of the WRA the world runners association, the governing body for world runners and walkers. Since last summer I have successfully lobbied the WRA for higher standards. The reason for returning to Europe by way of Gibraltar is that for a ” circumnavigation of the world ” (which is a higher standard for a lap of the world) there is an added requirement of needing to go through two ” antipodals” which are exact opposites locations on the other side of the world. This is not so easy to get, as most of the world’s landmass is an ocean or inaccessible territory in places like Russia or the Amazon. My Antipodals are going to be in Aukland and Madrid.
This walk will be very low budget, mostly camping and cooking my own food! Sponsors are required!
I hope you can join me either on Facebook or on my new blog www.myworldwalk.com

Please click on the blog link.
Thank you!

 

 

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Runners World – 6 Page Article On My World Run!

July 14th, 2015

 

Runners World 6 page interview on my world run!

I started and finished running around the world as the 48 hour indoor track world record holder 426.178 km since 2007. I have also held the world 48 hour  treadmill record 405.22 km since 2008.

Author Sam Murphy. Please click on the links below. Main Photos: Ramsey Cardy

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

Page 6

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Open World Magazine Podcast Interview

June 3rd, 2015

This podcast interview seems to have gotten a lot of  interest around the world. I went into huge detail Press HERE to listen

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More Than Pushing A Stroller!

May 1st, 2015

Thanks to Claire Nana for this article :) Press HERE to read.

 

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Just a few photos from my world run.

April 27th, 2015

 

 

Just a few photos from my world run. I finished this run still holding my world record for 48 hours indoor track which I have held since March 2008. 426 kilometres/ 265 miles

Thanks to everyone for their help :)

I am making steady progress on my book!

So much to tell, so little space

 

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since Tony began his World Run on 25th October 2010

Please sponsor a world walk hotel night or a meal etc!You do not need a Paypal account, just a bank card! Press Paypal link below. Thank You :)

Donate to Aware

Text WORLDJOG to 50300 to donate €4.

100% of text cost goes to Aware across most network providers. Some providers apply VAT which means a minimum of €3.26 will go to Aware. Service Provider: LIKECHARITY. Helpline: 01 4433890.

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About Tony

I have always considered myself to be an average runner. In school, I was even bullied for I was a sports wimp. Through hard work, dedication, perseverance, self-belief and a strong mind I succeeded in not only running around the world but breaking four ultra running world records during my competitive career. Having previously cycled around the world I didn't start running until I was almost 30. Then I had a dream of running around the world. For many reasons, I waited for over 20 years. One reason was to establish my pedigree as an endurance athlete. I started and finished my world run as the current World Record-Holder for 48 Hours Indoor Track 426 kilometres (265 miles), a record I have held since 2007. I also broke and still hold the World Record for 48 hours on a Treadmill 405 kilometres (251 miles) in 2008. When I retired from competition, more pleasing than any of my world, European or Irish records I had the respect of my fellow athletes from all over the world - in my opinion, sports greatest reward - an achievement I am most proud of. Then I finally put myself out to pasture, to live my ultimate dream to run around the world! This blog was written on the road while I struggled to find places to sleep and to recover from running an average of 43.3 kilometres or 27 miles per day for 1,165 road days. There were many nights I typed this blog on a smart phone, so fatigued my eyes closed. Many journalists and endurance athletes have referred to my world run as the most difficult endurance challenge ever attempted. During my expedition I rarely had any support vehicles, running mostly with a backpack. In the more desolate areas I pushed my gear, food and water in a cart which I called Nirvana, then I sent her on ahead to run with my backpack once again over altitudes of almost 5,000 metres in the Andes. I stayed in remote villages where many people had never seen a white person before. I literally met the most wonderful people of this world in their own backyard and share many of those amazing experiences in this blog. My run around the world took 4 years. There were no short cuts, I ran every single metre on the road while seeking out the most comprehensive route across 41 countries, 5 continents, I used 50 pair of running shoes and my final footstep of the run was exactly 50,000 kilometres, (almost 31,000 miles) I eventually finished this tongue in cheek named world jog where I started, at the finish line of my city marathon. I started my global run with the Dublin Marathon on October 25th 2010 and finished with the Dublin Marathon on October 27th 2014 at 3 05pm! Thank you for your support, I hope you can share my unique way of seeing the world, the ultimate endurance challenge! Read more...

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