Chilean Miner Edison Pena
Among the over 40,000 runners in this year’s New York City Marathon were some familiar faces. The Today Show’s Meredith Vieira and Al Roker, Robin Quivers from the Howard Stern Show, Iron Chef Bobby Flay, and even Subway spokesman, Jared Fogle, all lined up to run the famous 26.2 mile race through New York’s five boroughs. Though maybe not as recognizable, recently rescued Chilean miner, Edison Pena was also competing. Pena was invited to participate in the world’s largest marathon after it was revealed that he ran regularly in the mine’s tunnels while he was trapped underground.
So how did these personalities fare? While none came close to the finish times of the winners (the men’s winner finished in 2:08:14 and the fastest woman’s time was 2:28:20), all of the celebrity runners completed the race. Vieira came in after running for just under six hours while it took Al Roker a little more than seven hours (it was dark when he crossed the finish line). The morning after the race Vieira and Roker each received a foot massage on the air to help ease their aching feet. Chef Flay posted a time of four hours and although he walked part way and hobbled across the finish line, miner Pena finished in a respectable 5 hours and 40 minutes. After the race Pena told reporters, “Running makes you free. You’re looking at a free man.”
Marathons have become popular places to spot celebrities in recent years. Last year Alanis Morrisette and actor Edward Norton ran in New York and Lance Armstrong, Ryan Reynolds and Sean “P Diddy” Combs have also finished this race. Will Ferrell, Oprah Winfrey, and even former president George W. Bush have all completed marathons.
Sources: ING NY Marathon, 13WHAM, Today Show, CBS Sports
