18.06.2013
Ordinand to Spread Gospel Around Ireland This Summer in Epic Marathon Challenge
A Church of Ireland ordinand plans to spend this summer running 52 marathons in two months to spread the Gospel around Ireland. Alastair Donaldson is a native of Crossmaglen in South Armagh and has just finished his first year in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in Breamor Park, Dublin.
His 1,298 mile journey will take him on a lap of the island of Ireland. He sets off from his home in Crossmaglen on July 1 and his route will see him run through the Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough later that week. He has taken part in five marathons over the last seven years but his summer challenge will see him run an average of 26 miles a day, six days a week for eight and a half weeks. He will be supported by other runners at various stages on the route but he is aiming to complete the entire distance and is inviting runners to join him along the way.
Alastair states on his website www.run4christ.org that the “Run for Christ is an initiative seeking to expose many people on the Island of Ireland to the amazing Good News of Jesus Christ; His death, resurrection and ascension; and what it means for their own lives”. He came up with the idea in November 2010 and describes himself as an “enthusiastic and hopeful, if somewhat ordinary runner”.
In the run up to the challenge Alastair has been undergoing rigorous training but points out that the most important thing behind the Run for Christ is the Gospel and that they will be running with God’s strength. He says that people on the Island of Ireland are much in need of hearing the Gospel afresh. “We want to talk to people as we go. We want to meet people. Many of these people won’t agree with the message we’re bringing but we want to engage with them,” he says.
International mission agency, Crosslinks, are partnering the ordinand on his venture and hope to be able to link with a number of churches across Ireland.
A van will accompany the run with an ice bath facility and a team of physios to ensure Alastair is able to recharge his body after each day’s endeavour. Any parish or town wishing to support Alastair along the way can get in touch via his Run4Christ website. Alastair will leave Crossmaglen on Monday July 1 and will run towards Dublin via Dundalk, Drogheda and Ashbourne taking in Balbriggan on Wednesday July 3. He will arrive in Dublin city centre, via Portmarnock, on Thursday July 4. On Friday July 5 he will run from Dublin to Greystones. The following day he will run from Greystones to Arklow where he will have a rest day on Sunday before setting off for Ferns on Monday July 8. He will then circumnavigate the rest of the country arriving back in Crossmaglen on Thursday August 29.