Denis O’Donnell has once again embarked on a trip halfway around the world to take part in the Boston World Major Marathon.
He completed the gruelling marathon in a time of 4 hours 22 minutes, an impressive feat when you take into consideration how many hills are in the route.
It nows means the Arranmore man has completed five out of the six World Major marathons challenges after Boston, London, New York, Chicago and Tokyo.
Denis O’Donnell competing in the Boston Marathon 2019
O’Donnell, who has completed 11 marathons in total, now aims to take on his final World Major marathons challenge in Berlin in September.
Speaking to Donegal Daily at the time, O’Donnell said: “I’d like to do all six, that’s been the target since I started running.
“I wasn’t big into fitness as a child or adult, it’s been in the last seven years I have progressed from the treadmill at the local gym, to doing local 5k and 10ks. When I got into it I started thinking more about what I was eating and started tweaking things.”
Since he endeavours on America’s east coast, O’Donnell has returned to the Island to organise the Darkness into Light event for the fourth straight year.
Denis is the driving force behind Arranmore’s Darkness into Light walk, which raises vital funds for Pieta House.
This years event takes place on May 11th at 4.15am starting at the community centre, with a late ferry at 3am coming to the island for the event and returning afterwards.
“Running brings about other things, it can bring everyone together,” O’Donnell said.
“Darkness into Light became the whole community’s thing and everyone has a part to play in it. It brings everyone out at a crazy time in the morning and everyone gets a really good buzz from it.”
