Freed Chilean miner 'The Runner Pena' invited to NY Marathon

London, Oct 15 (ANI): Edison Pena, one of the 33 miners who earned the nickname "The Runner," from his fellow miners for running three to 6 miles a day in the mine tunnels, has reportedly been invited to participate in the 2010 ING New York City Marathon.

The New York Daily News quoted New York Road Runners chief exec Mary Wittenberg, as saying that they have invited Pena on the biggest weekend in running, as he seems to represent the very essence and "best of the runner spirit."

"He has taken the phrase 'runner for life' to a whole new level," he added.

Pena was the 12th of 33-trapped Chilean miners to surface in the rescue effort.

Reports of 34-year-old Peqa's running circulated as the rescue effort neared. He reportedly requested Elvis Presley tunes to be sent down to the mine for his running play list, the paper said.

On Tuesday, as the miners were brought out to the surface one-by-one, Wittenberg tweeted about Peqa, saying: "@nyrrmaryruns our kind of miner! ran 10k a day underground in the middle of the crisis?! unbelievable. huge supports and cheers from all of us in running."

The New York Road Runners were reportedly in communication with the Chilean consulate in New York and urged them to bring Pena for the November 7 event either as a guest or a runner. However, nothing has been decided so far, the paper added.

On Tuesday, US President Barack Obama said that the mining rescue effort "inspired the world," and added that Peqa presence at the marathon, would likely inspire the world's biggest ever collective runner's high.

About 43,000 runners would reportedly be present in the 2010 ING New York City Marathon. (ANI)