Chilean Miner to Run NYC Marathon

The New York City marathon gets a ton of people running it every year. Celebrities are commonplace. But one of this year's media darlings was unsung until a date with subterranean destiny forced him to stay deep underground and use his running to help keep his sanity.

Edison Pena, one of the 33 miners rescued after a few months in the depths of the earth after a cave-in underneath Chile, will be toeing the line this coming weekend, determined to run the entire 26.2 miles, even if it takes him 6 hours to do so.

Pena was one of the miners who was the most active while trapped underground. He ran repeatedly, to keep fit and stay sane. He ran as much as 6 or 7 miles a day, in his electrician's boots, which he had cut down to ankle-high. He was determined to outrun a bad fate and make his fitness work for him. When his rescuers finally lifted him and his fellow miners to the surface, he felt fit and ready for anything.

Turns out he was.

The Marathon folks have rolled out the red carpet, including current world-record holder Haile Gebrselassie greeting Pena at the airport. Pena had his own press contingent for awhile, and he didn't disappoint, breaking into song by his beloved Elvis, whose music helped keep the miner focused on staying alive.

Turns out he's a regular runner, this Pena guy. Just last weekend, he ran 6.5 miles as part of a relay team at a triathlon. How he'll go in the longer distance remains to be seen. Still, his wife will be with him, cheering him on, as will 150 Chilean professional and amateur runners who had already signed up for the race. They joined in the cheers for the suddenly famous miner, even forming a parade to escort him off the plane.

You can follow him here.