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Edison Peña, flanked by two assistant runners, finishes the New York City Marathon to rapturous applause. Seth Wenig/AP

Marathon man: Chilean miner finishes 42km New York Marathon

Edison Peña – who trained by running up and down the tunnels at the San Jose mine – finishes in 5 hrs 40 mins.

EDISON PEÑA didn’t train for the New York City marathon like most of its participants do, beginning with gentle jogs through the city’s sprawling suburbs and hoping to work up the stamina that will keep one going the whole way from Staten Island to Central Park.

Instead, Peña trained in the only way available to him: in kilometres of empty underground tunnels at the San Jose mine in Chile, where he and 32 other miners were trapped for seven weeks before being freed in one of the most dramatic escapes of all time.

Less than a month after being returned to freedom, having spent over two months keeping amused by running in the mine’s spiralling underground tunnels with only some sawn-off working boots to wear, Pena crossed the line to rapturous applause in a time of 5 hours, 40 minutes and 51 seconds.

He finished wearing heavy strapping on one knee, and with the aid of  two specially-appointed assistants who were encouraging him not to outdo himself (this was, after all, his first marathon) while trying to make sure that the race’s biggest celebrity attraction was not too crowded by well-wishers.

Race organisers, having heard of how he had occupied himself by running while underground, immediately invited Peña to visit this year’s running of the race, which took place on Sunday. Peña accepted, but on one condition: that he be allowed to participate.

Peña’s time defeated his goal, set before the race, of six hours – though he said he had run faster in the cave, and would have done so on the streets, if he had not succumbed to severe pain in one knee which required him to take a break with seven miles to go and seek some ice packs.

That pain, he said afterward, had almost forced him to withdraw from the race – “But I said to myself, I didn’t come this far, I didn’t travel so many thousands of kilometres, to drop out. So I kept going.”

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Play Against Par
    Favourite Play Against Par
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    Feb 13th 2015, 12:14 AM

    “Cheaping” out because my energy bills cost so much

    403
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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Feb 13th 2015, 12:44 AM

    Really looking forward to cooking up a nice romantic meal,serving it up on a candle lit table and afterwards watching an old classic movie in the comfort of our own home and just enjoying the evening in slippers and jammies.
    We enjoy going out for a romantic meal when we want to,not when we have to.

    341
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    Mute See My Vest
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    Feb 13th 2015, 1:37 PM

    Nothing romantic about Valentines in a restaurant. As many couples as possible squashed together and almost rushed through your meal. Did it once and we said never again. Been doing it your way for years and its always been good. Dinner, movie, relax.

    71
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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Feb 13th 2015, 1:51 PM

    Nothing nicer than just chilling out after a nice meal in front of the fire and watching a nice movie with the one you love.

    61
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    Mute Shannon Cassidy
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    Feb 13th 2015, 9:28 AM

    I’d go out for dinner with my boyfriend on any night of the year but valentines night. Nothing worse than being in a restaurant paying for a meal on the most overcrowded night of the year surrounded by other couples who also feel like they have to be there because it’s valentines day.

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    Mute Desmodromic
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    Feb 13th 2015, 3:38 AM

    Diesel flowers from a garage forecourt won’t do. That’s why they’re called diesel flowers because some lads think that dees-el-do-her. Then again better than forgetting altogether!

    188
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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Feb 13th 2015, 12:20 PM

    Oil be one of those

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    Mute Laura Purcell
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    Feb 13th 2015, 1:54 AM

    It’s a make up holiday anyway. Much prefer him showing me he loves me every day rather than buying some presents just bcos hallmark says so

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    Mute Shane Denham
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    Feb 13th 2015, 12:53 AM

    Its so commertialised

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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Feb 13th 2015, 1:35 AM

    Agreed – it is torrific

    103
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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Feb 13th 2015, 1:50 AM

    Totally agree Shane.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Feb 13th 2015, 5:36 AM

    Nothing says I love you like I’m broke…

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    Mute Dave O'Reilly
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    Feb 13th 2015, 9:00 AM

    Can you spell v-a-l-e-n-t-i-n-e?

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Feb 13th 2015, 3:54 PM

    Valium would be better, lol.

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    Mute Catherine Mayock
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    Feb 13th 2015, 4:14 PM

    Mike. Its a hallmark day.

    13
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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Feb 13th 2015, 4:21 PM

    Not in our house Catherine,it’s “our day” and just a bit of “Us” time.

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    Mute Catherine Mayock
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    Feb 13th 2015, 4:44 PM

    Not in our house either. Its just me and him against the world, We are retired so every day is a valentines day. I could do with a holiday though.

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    Mute Maggie
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    Feb 13th 2015, 10:03 AM

    By avoiding it altogether, wud that be a cheap option ?

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    Mute Laura Leslie
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    Feb 13th 2015, 8:35 PM

    Love an early dinner on date night gives the food a chance to digest before bedtime. Nothing worse than being too stuffed for a stuffing ;)

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    Mute Goggles McGlasses
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    Feb 14th 2015, 12:07 PM

    Haha Laura thats exactly what I thought!

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Feb 13th 2015, 5:34 AM

    Having a blow up doll?
    Saying your BO is a new masculine fragrance.
    Saying fish and chips are the new luxury in dinning?
    You use plastic flowers covered in fly spray to add that certain impulse zest to them?
    You try to wear smaller undies and jeans for that defined look but end up looking like a candle melted over the rim.
    You are that nervous you have sweat patches everywhere like you had a leak when you shouldn’t?

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    Mute dabuyincojen
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    Feb 13th 2015, 4:14 PM

    Or you could always invite Pam around. Cheap as chips!

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    Mute P O Leary.
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    Feb 14th 2015, 12:06 AM

    Two nights in the year I wouldn’t go out if you paid me, new years eve and Valentines night.
    Myself and the missus will cook a nice meal and have a bottle of wine,then watch a good movie.

    She even said we can push back dinner until the rugby is over. That’s true love there.

    We haven’t bothered with Valentine’s cards or presents in years. It’s funny that we both look forward to it more now than we did years ago when we would go to packed restaurants.

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    Mute dabuyincojen
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    Feb 13th 2015, 4:13 PM

    The cheapest way to a cheap valentines is too either not have a bure or break it off the day before and get back the next day!

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    Mute Kieran Doherty
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    Feb 13th 2015, 9:58 AM

    Ha ,Pat Bateman
    You ever listen to what Whitney Houston has to say about live in her lyrics?
    Don’t put the sorbet on the table!!!!!

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    Mute Kittieboom
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    Feb 13th 2015, 11:51 PM

    Money racket , if u love someone you should love them everyday, so it’s just a normal day to me

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    Mute dabuyincojen
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    Feb 13th 2015, 4:14 PM

    Or pretend to have amnesia!

    1
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