A Bronx man who changed his lifestyle after a diabetes diagnosis will be among tens of thousands of TCS New York City Marathon runners this Sunday.

Jesus Colon says he already had a heart condition when he was diagnosed with type I diabetes six years ago.

After easing himself into running with the New York Road Runners group, he began training in earnest for the marathon two years ago, he says.

"I would wake up 5 in the morning, run 5, 6 miles," he says. "I promised my late grandmother that I was going to accomplish this. She was alive when I started the 9 plus 1 program. After she passed away I dedicated this run to her."

The program Colon is referring to is one of a handful of ways runners can qualify for the marathon. They either have to be fast enough, win a lottery, run for charity or run nine New York Road Runner races and volunteer for a 10th.

Cheering him on will be his 2-year-old daughter at the finish line.