In 3 weeks from today I will run a marathon again, although this one has two particular characteristics: it will be the last one and the setting is New York, in the company of about 40,000 others who, like me, have been waiting for this opportunity for years and months.

I’ll be in the back in corral #55 in wave #3 in orange. Something more like cattle or slaughterhouse? The cold will be around 5 to 7 degrees and the ferry to Staten Island will be at 7:50 AM. My number will be 55642 and while I’ll be trying to lower my personal record of 4:19–I’m slow, yes, but I get there…–I’m also clear that this is not the ideal marathon to try.

My running group, DSQ, split up this year in several competitions and to date there are no shortage of personal bests achieved. The training has been very hard and early in the morning, although it is clearly paying off with some very good times. And although I’m a natural optimist, I don’t think New York is going to allow me my PR. Anyway, optimist or not, ideal or not, I’m still going to try, although my priority is divided in two, the first one to finish and the second one to enjoy it.

So marathon is coming for this friend of yours, and a mark to beat in the midst of more adversity. Interesting personal challenge, because no one cares more than you, and for this, as in life, is simply a matter of self-improvement.

Later on, there will be more about marathons here.