After so much work and organization, we've arrived at the day of leaving, 28 October.
Tonino was prepared by training and running from Sant'Agata to Accadia, to Consolazione (near Deliceto), in Foggia and in Lucera.
I attended to the paperwork and contacts necessary for Tonino to be included in New York Marathon runners.

I knew Tonino when we were children and I've seen him running so many times, but now everything was different.

Recently while training for the New York Marathon, he had a new emotion, as if his legs were trembling, like a kid on his first day at school and he told me: “Gino, I have to run in America, achieving the best result possible for you, for all people from Sant'Agata who believed in me and for my sponsors. For you I don't want to look foolish. I will run with the pride of being a Santagatese and I will knuckle down, because maybe it will be my last competition”.

So... Tickets are ready: October 28 - November 3. November 1^st the Marathon, will be showed live in Sant'Agata, in the Square, and all the images will be edited by Nardino Capano, our tireless operator, always in the front line for keeping track of events in Sant'Agata di Puglia.

Thanks to the sponsors we've made tracksuits and posters, that immortalize Tonino between the houses of Sant'Agata and the Brooklyn Bridge and that are papering the walls of the town.

We've sent a letter to our friends who live in New York area. There are 53 families and we invited them to join us in the hotel where we stay.

We've made a photoshoot with Dino Rinaldi, thanks to his great professionalism.

The local tv show 'Pianeta Dilettanti', on Teleblu, invited Tonino October 21 to speak about his next experience. So, in these days we were busy with final preparations, interviews and suitcases to fill.

It was not easy.

We needed ESTA passport and various permissions to enter in the U.S.A. after the September 11.

Do you want to know one of the many issues? Electricity for example! Yes, because in America the voltage is 110 and not 220 as in Italy. Then we are equipped with gearboxes and current transformers because we need to recharge digital camera, camcorder, mobile phones and everything we need to get in touch with Italy and people in Sant'Agata.

So I greet you everybody and see you soon. We'll come back to Italy November 5. That day Santagatesi will meet and pick up us at the Madonnina with their cars. Then Tonino will be celebrated in the Square, even if there will be snow or rain or cold, including champagne and fireworks.

The emotion is big, not only for Tonino Lanzellotti but for me, for us and maybe for everyone of those who still believe that the passion and strength of will can lead to make dreams come true.

A big thanks to the City of Sant'Agata di Puglia, the 30 sponsors who have supported us, Dino Rinaldi, Samantha Berardino, the Global Print of Massimo for beautiful prints and Nardino Capano for his precious collaboration. Thank you very much!

Written by Gino Magnisio

Translated by Samantha Berardino