Fifty-two-year-old retired BDF soldier Anthony Flores says he thinks this weekend’s marathon in conjunction with the annual BDF Sports Day may be his last.

The BDF Day was originally scheduled for Saturday, October 20, but was postponed due to the rains and will now be held this Saturday, November 3, according to Flores.

Flores, who visited the sports desk last Thursday, said he has been participating in long distance races for over twenty-five years, and had an ongoing rivalry with fellow Masters runner, William Bailey, who passed away a few days after running in the Father’s Day race in June of this year. Bailey had placed 2nd among the Masters in that race, and Flores was 3rd. “I was looking forward to meet him again in the BDF race,” said Flores, who may have lost some of his appetite for the event with the passing of his perennial rival.

Anthony has one son, Joseph, who is also a runner, placing 3rd in the 2012 New Year’s Day 13-mile race. With his plans to soon take up employment as a security officer, Flores thinks he will not be able to maintain adequate training for competition.

The BDF marathon race (actually it is a half-marathon – 13 miles) will start from Belizean Beach at Mile 4 on the George Price (Western) Highway, pass through Belize City, and then on to the Philip Goldson (Northern) Highway, to end at Price Barracks in Ladyville.