Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
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Braving cold rain, Ma and Chang, who were linked together by a chain, ran side by side for 3km near the Dajia Riverside Park to finish the run that began from Hsichih, Taipei County, nearly four months ago.
Chang technically ran only 999km of the around-the-island marathon, intentionally leaving the final kilometer to the general public to finish in an attempt to allow "all the people" to take part.
Hundreds of Taipei residents, including many children, ran the final kilometer.
Ma, a devoted amateur runner, meanwhile, ran his last kilometer wearing a blindfold and guided by former Legislator Chi Cheng, an Olympic Games bronze medallist in the 80m hurdles, to experience the feeling of running blind.
`Forrest Gump'
Chang, who has been nicknamed "Taiwan's Forrest Gump" for his perseverance in running, began his run last October to commemorate renowned writer Liu Hsia -- a wheelchair-bound rights activist and a fighter for the rights of the physically and mentally-challenged -- who died on Feb. 8 last year.
Chang, who has run every weekend over the past 15 weeks, has covered all 23 cities and counties around the nation.
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