NYC Marathon Winner: Olympic Medalist Shalane Flanagan Finishes Second

New York City Marathon Update: A 28 year old American woman, Shalane Flanagan, finished second in today's New York City Marathon. Shalane Flanagan almost won the NYC Marathon race; Flanagan, from Massachusetts, ran the race in 2:28:40. The winner, Edna Kiplagat of Kenya, ran the race in 2:28:20, just 20 seconds faster than Shalane's impressive run. Shalane Flanagan also won the U.S. Marathon championship.

Shalane Flanagan is not by any means a newcomer to marathon running. In 2008, American runner Flanagan won the Olympic bronze medal in Beijing, China. In the same year, Flanagan broke the American record in the 10,000m two times, and won three United States running titles.

Click the following link to read a great interview with NYC Marathon runner-up Shalane Flanagan: 

As featured in the Web Only issue of Running Times Magazine 

Shalane Flanagan: 'I Love the Marathon'

A solid half marathon debut for the Olympic medalist

By Duncan Larkin

Chilean Miner Will Run In NYC Marathon Today

New York City, USA: Chilean miner Ed Pena, one of the 33 Chilean miners rescued in the massive October Chile mine rescue, is planning on running in the NYC Marathon race today. Ed Pena is 34 years old and is an avid runner. Ed Pena practiced for the New York Marathon by running through tunnels for several miles a day while he was trapped in a Chile mine for over two months.

Marathon world-record holder Haile Gebrselassie met Edison Pena at the airport on Thursday morning. Pena said, speaking in English,  "It's incredible". Pena entertained more than 100 media members with his rendition of some lines from his American idol Elvis Presley's song "Return to Sender." Pena listened to Elvis Presley when he was trapped underground. Pena practiced for the NYC Marathon with his daily 6 to 7 mile run through the Chile mine's underground tunnels. I just saw a clip on NBC of Ed Pena singing Elvis' "Return to Sender," and I must add that his performance was quite charming. NBC is airing the New York City Marathon, which is in progress now.

Ed Pena told the media that he was thinking about beating destiny during those weeks when he was trapped underground in a Chilean mine:

"What I thought about as I ran in the mine was that I was going to beat destiny," Pena said through a translator at a packed news conference Thursday, hours after flying into New York. "I was going to turn the tables on destiny. I was saying to that mine, 'I can outrun you. I'm going to run until you're just tired and bored of me.'

 

"And I did it." 1 

The NYC Marathon officials wanted to invite Ed Pena as a guest of honor, but Ed Pena insisted on running the race himself. Chilean miner Ed Pena is currently suffering from a bad knee, and his goal is to complete the New York City Marathon race in 6 hours . The race is 26.2 miles long. 

 I am so happy that Chilean miner Ed Pena is strong enough to run the race in the NYC Marathon. The entire world, the United States of America and all of New York City salutes you, Edison Pena. You are a hero today.

1 Chilean Edison Pena in NY for Marathon

Chile Mine Rescue Update: 18 Chilean Miners Have Now Been Rescued

Breaking News Update: One more Chilean miner has now been rescued during the Chile Mine Rescue efforts on Wednesday. This brings the current total number of rescued Chilean miners to 18, with 15 Chilean miners still trapped underground. It has been reported that all of the 18 Chilean miners who have been rescued after having been trapped underground since August of 2010 are in good health.

Watch live coverage every minute at the guardian.co.uk News Blog.