It started today at 7:30 AM -- or more like 7:34 AM. No gun, just a "diez, nueve, etc." chant from the front-runners who could see the clock. The estimated 4,000 runners hailed all over South America -- with Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and more Peru proudly displayed on many shirts & flags. I also noted flags and colorful outfits promoting Mexico, Sweden & South Africa. I know there were other estadounidenses among us, but none advertising our affiliation lest we get hit with anti-Bush leaflets. (Just a couple of days ago, "leaflet bombs" & vandals hit Citibank, BankBoston, Blockbuster and a Ford dealership to protest George W.'s visit to Argentina in November.) Fourteen barrios later, we crossed the finish line. For me, that was 4 hours and 6 minutes later. For Ian, it took just 3 hours and 13 minutes. It was actually fun enough to start planning for next year.