Mike Aldrink won the Sarasota Marathon and hopes to qualify for the 2008 Olympics. Aldrink, 30, is a member of Bradenton (Fla.) Christian Reformed Church.
He said his T-shirt drew plenty of attention from spectators at the Sarasota event. Printed on the shirt is Philippians 4:13, the motto of national running club Team 413: “I can do all things through [Christ] who strengthens me” (NRSV).
“You would not believe all the support I heard during the race from fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I heard countless shouts of ‘Run Christian’ or ‘Run the race’ as I ran by,” said Aldrink, who has won 10 of the 30 marathons he has entered, including the Sarasota event.
Winning the Sarasota Marathon qualifies Aldrink to run the Boston Marathon, which he has run before, but he is concentrating instead on the Olympic trials in New York.
