Running Against the clock Last year, as my 54th birthday was getting close, I realized that my physic condition would became worse day by day. I'm not pessimist, that is just the truth. So, I made a decision: I would run against the clock! I started going to the gym and walking daily for 60 minutes, and very soon I started to run. At the first weeks, I run for a hundred meters and walked for an equal distance, and some weeks after I could run for two hundred meters and walk for more 100 meters. As much I practiced more I could run and, in a couple of months after, I could run all the way long. My practices were always for sixty minutes. Since I began, my objective was to participate in an International street running: The São Silvestre. This running is very traditional in Brazil and takes place every December, 31st. Years ago, the running used to begin at 12PM, as a celebration of New Year's eve. Some years after, the running moved to a more reasonable time: about 4PM, but, as we are in the summer in south America in December, the weather used to be too hot, and some runners even faded along the way. Nowadays, this running takes place at 9AM and last year I took my place on it! During my training period, I found a friend very experienced in street running, Fiuza (he is 67 years old and have run The São Silvestre about nine times or more). He gave me all details about the event, and we traveled to São Paulo to run together. I mean, HE run by my side ALL THE WAY. I've never felt so bad! The temperature was about 30 degree Celsius( about 79 degrees Fahrenheit), and I was not prepared for that. I used to run very early in the morning, for about 60 minutes, and I used to run for 10-13 km. I thought it was enough to make a 15km running. Well, I did it. I took all the way, but it was not easy at all. I spent 130 minutes to complete the proof and, in some moments, I felt dizzy and disoriented because the weather was so hot, but I didn't give up, I didn't fall. After getting my medal, my friend Fiuza told me that in previous year, a runner dropped dead after completing the race. I understood his concern and all care about me, but thanks God, I was strong enough to survive. This year, I'll complete 55 years. My plan is to fill like I was 53, and I'll run a half-marathon in Rio, may help me God.