Lame, limping, in pain. Happy, smiling, proud. Last Sunday New York was taken over by an army of honest, anonymous athletes who came from all over the world to run the marathon. They suffered, some more, others less, in the morning, as their legs accumulated miles. But, in the afternoon, with the work already done, they were seen satisfied in all corners of the city. Now at the pace of the calm walk. They were no longer fit for trots. They walked proudly with the golden medals that accredited their feat hanging around their necks. Women and men who knew how to be worthy of admiration for what they had just done hours before. Especially by those of us who have not run in our lives, not even to catch a bus.
The finish line of the New York marathon
It was nice to see them so satisfied, so oblivious to the rest of the world. In an Italian restaurant on Seventh Avenue, a couple of them came to dinner, coming from the north of France. The two wore the yellow metal that consecrated them as heroes of the day. We congratulate you. And since the tables were literally on top of each other, conversation became inevitable. They were completely unaware that in 48 hours the Americans were going to decide the name of their new president. They knew there were elections, yes. But they didn’t know when. They were also not clear which candidate was the Republican and which the Democrat. They found it strange that someone had traveled so far to follow election day closely.
A bitter world on television and another, joyful and real, in the streets. Luckily not everything is politics
As we left the restaurant, a large illuminated Nike advertisement blinded our vision to remind us that the city that never sleeps would do so that day like a child due to the tiredness of the runners. At that moment we noticed that New York was dressed more like a marathon than an election. In reality, we were the strange ones, those of us who believe that life passes through the White House rather than through the sidewalks of any avenue. The next day, Monday, more marathoners everywhere immortalizing their feat in the most iconic places in the city with the medal in tow. The proof of the objective achieved.
A friend, a dedicated runner, explained to me a long time ago that people who run marathons enjoy the moments of extreme agony of their bodies. That suffering provides them with a vital connection that makes them feel the full force of being alive. Seeing them so proud on the streets of New York after the extreme effort, it became inevitable to think that it is mandatory to take lessons from these people. Back at the hotel, FOX, CNN, CBS and other channels showed another reality. The next day, Trump would be elected president-elect and we would explain it. But the trip had already been saved by the runners. A bitter world on television and another, joyful and real, in the streets. Luckily not everything is politics.
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#Electoral #marathon #York #Josep #Martí #Blanch
