The man dubbed the German Forrest Gump ran his way into Mérida yesterday.
His arrival in the city also marked the one-year anniversary of his leaving his hometown of Stuttgart to embark on his journey.
“Today as I enter Mérida it’s been exactly 365 days since I left home and I can’t think of a better place to celebrate this accomplishment,” said Jonas Deichmann.
Through his journey, the 34-year-old German national has run across mountains, swam across rivers, and endured harsh climatic conditions.
Even before he began his adventure, Deichmann was already an accomplished ultra-marathon runner and triathlete who had competed in events all over the globe.
Earlier: New season of Gastro Destino México to star 8 Yucatecan Chefs
The athlete ran his way across much of Europe and Asia before boarding a flight to Tijuana where his journey on Mexican soil began.
Just like the real Forrest Gump, a character from a movie of the same name played by Tom Hanks, Deichmann has attracted a fan base of runners who have accompanied him during part of his odyssey.
But unlike the real Forrest Gump Deichmann’s incredible journey comes with a humanitarian purpose. Through donations and sponsorships, he has been able to raise over 15 USD for a charity called World Bicycle Relief, which purchases bikes for children in Africa who need a way to get to school.
After his brief stay in Mérida and a hearty breakfast, Deichman made his way to Umán and from there continued on towards Cancún.
