He’s in it for long haul to save Reef
MOST WOULD STRUGGLE TO RUN ONE MARATHON, LET ALONE THREE, WRITES JORDAN GERRANS
COMPLETING one marathon is a momentous achievement for most people.
Cairns’ Rankin Salinas is taking it to the next level as he strives to raise money for the Great Barrier Reef.
While trekking through Myanmar recently, the James Cook University international postgraduate student decided to combine his two passions.
Salinas is training towards running the “3 Marathons in 3 Days” this July and has established a fundraiser for the Great Barrier Reef Foundation for people to support his athletic efforts.
“I really wanted to push my running career a little further and do something that I have never done before,” Salinas said.
“Doing something like this would be a benchmark in my running career and I really want to make an impact with something I am good at, which is running. Through my studies, the environment and the Great Barrier Reef is really important to me but I always struggled to practically and tangibly find ways to help there.
“I decided to combine running and fundraising.
“The goal is to run the three marathons in three days, raise the money, to combine two of my passions.”
Salinas, a native of San Francisco, California, is in the Far North studying his Masters in Zoology and Ecology.
To prepare he is training six times a week, sometimes twice a day, and is keep a strict diet to keep himself fit for the gruelling three-day effort in July.
Salinas has run several marathons before but never at this magnitude.
“I have a genuine love and passion for running because there are virtually no limits – I am obsessed with the question ‘What’s next?’,” he said.
“I was inspired to find my next challenge and set new running goals.
“More importantly, I was inspired to think outside the box and find a creative way to give back to the community.
“I have two passions going for me, my love for running, and my love for the natural world.
“That was when I had my epiphany: I will run multiple marathons and raise money to donate for a foundation dedicated to the protection and preservation of the natural wonders of Far North Queensland region of Australia.”
If you would like to sponsor Salinas’ efforts in the event, visit https://give.everydayhero. com/au/3-marathons-in-3days-for-the-great-barrierreef.