The NEW YORK MARATHON - Chilean Miner's Latest Amazing Feat

Ever since Edison Pena, one of the 33 miners who had been trapped underground in Chile for 69 days, arrived in New York on Thursday on his first trip abroad to run the New York Marathon he's been in a whirlwind of activity and media attention, according to the article below. . Today he took part in 26-mile event. Despite having to slow to a stroll towards the end and stop to ice his leg, Pena carried on to the finish line. What an accomplishment.
    . . . June

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Chilean miner's latest amazing feat ... the New York marathon
World news | The Guardian:

Edison Pena was greeted by cheers and a media whirlwind during first trip abroad to take part in 26-mile event

It is, quite simply, the classic plot of every fish-out-of-water film, hitting all of the cliches along the way with the enthusiasm of a 1980s comedy: the unlikely outsider arrives in New York, after some initial translation difficulties the city falls gleefully in love with this eccentric newcomer, he then accomplishes some incredible feat, the city cheers, cue end credits, over a rendition of – in this particular case – Elvis.

Ever since Edison Pena, one of the 33 miners who had been trapped underground in Chile for 69 days, arrived in New York on Thursday on his first trip abroad to run the New York Marathon – which he ran today – this Crocodile Dundee with a pickaxe has been on the kind of high-profile media tour that would make Paris Hilton envious.

He appeared on The David Letterman Show, did the breakfast TV rounds, gave newspaper interviews, hosted packed press conferences and – truly confirming that Chilean miners are this year's A-list celebrities – has been pursued through the city by that most tabloid of gossip websites, tmz.com, which more often devotes its time to ascertaining what that white blotch in Lindsay Lohan's nose might be as she leaves an LA nightclub than the antics of a cheerful 34-year-old miner.

Rather than shielding his face, or throwing coffee, as is the usual interaction between celebrities and tmz.com paps, Pena made a good-hearted giggle at the journalist's attempts to speak Spanish. Even tmz.com was charmed: "Chilean Miner – Blinded by Terrible Spanish", was the website's uncharacteristically good natured headline.

When Pena emerged from the mine on 13 October, the 12th man to be hauled up, there was a hint of future celebrity potential when he said that he had entertained his fellow miners by singing Elvis Presley songs.

After it transpired that Pena had also maintained his daily runs in the mine, Mary Wittenberg, CEO of New York Road Runners, the organisation behind the marathon, invited Pena to New York to watch the marathon. Already showing the diva quality of a future star, Pena retorted that simply wasn't good enough: he wanted to run in it.

In New York, he has proved the perfect celebrity storm, combining an extraordinary back story, endearing humility, infectious excitement and natural extroversion. (Just as he once entertained his fellow miners with Return to Sender and Suspicious Minds, so he has been entertaining the whole of New York with his spontaneous Presley homages, making them a tradition for every TV appearance and press conference.

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Will Chilean Miners Break PACT OF SILENCE For The Right Price?

 Apparently, some of the rescued Chilean miners are willing to tell their story for the right price, despite a promise made between all 33 of them that none would reveal details about the worst of their 69-day ordeal buried underground, according to the article below. There are also rumors that some of the miners have already reached deals to tell their story.  It would seems impossible for this kind of information to be kept secret anyway, considering that all of them have families who are now hearing all the details.
    . . .  June


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Chilean miners may break pact of silence, for the right price

BY Jaime Uribarri  Monday, October 18th 2010, 5:25 PM

"So much for a pact of silence.

Some of the rescued Chilean miners are apparently willing to tell their story for the right price, despite a promise made between all 33 of them that none would reveal details about the worst of their 69-day ordeal buried underground.

During a special Sunday mass held in honor of last week’s dramatic rescue, miner Jorge Galleguillos said that the pact was non-binding and hinted that he’s entertaining offers to spill the beans on exactly what happened.

'I have to think about myself,' he argued, without going into specifics about what information he’d be willing to share.

There are also rumors that some of the miners have already reached deals to tell their story. El Mercurio reported last week that Victor Segovia agreed to sell the contents of the journal he kept during his time in the mine for $50,000 to German newspaper Bild.

Mario Sepúlveda also recently spoke to Britian’s Mail, although he mainly used the interview to dispel rumors of homosexuality between the miners.

"Saying we had sex down there with each other is just plain wrong", he said. "There are some things I will never talk about. But they are things that would embarrass some of the kids (younger miners). Nothing sexual, more that they acted like kids."

Meanwhile, Yonni Barrios, whose love triangle with his mistress and estranged wife played out in front of the world, took to the airwaves to contradict the popularly held notion that foreman Luis Urzúa was the leader of the group.

"Mario Sepúlveda was the one was in charge (down in the mine), the one who controlled everything and made sure things didn’t get out of hand, "he told Chile’s TV National, adding that Urzúa "wasn’t capable"of overseeing things.


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Rescued CHILEAN MINERS Will Benefit Equally

The miners have already made the decision to stand together and all benefit equally from their ordeal, according to the article below. They have hired an accountant, with the idea that all paid interviews and money earned will go into one main account and then equally distributed between the men. That way no one gains more from their ordeal no matter where they are interviewed.  Good for them.
      . . . June


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Chilean Miners Stand Together
Liveshots:


In the bustling blue-collar town of Copiapo, the hospital is surrounded. People hold vigil this time not hoping for a miracle at the mine, but instead hoping for a sightline. Any glimpse of a miner/hero brings smiles to faces and cheers to the air. Men, women and children from this town rarely seen in the news across Chile, gather on wonderment as their men have become international heroes.


All around us are news crews. People staked out waiting for any news or comment. Right now three of the miners have been released and we are told 10 more could be out in the coming hours. Each time one emerges, the crush of media and people is astounding to me. This truly is still being watched by so many, with so many questions about the details of 69 days underground.

I have been told that the miners have already hired an accountant, with the idea that all paid interviews and money earned will go into one main account and then equally distributed between the men. That way no one gains more from their ordeal no matter where they are interviewed, or for how much they earn. Because of this, details about the ordeal are few and far between.

It has helped that I speak decent Spanish and because of that locals and the families seem relatively open to give us access for interviews. I am told that it breaks down barriers here when foreigners, especially from the north attempt to learn the customs and the language. At this point though, many of the families are now at their homes waiting for their fathers/brothers/sons/uncles, which means access to even talk with them is limited. I am also expecting some sort of celebration relatively soon in Santiago with the President, that is a 11 hour drive away.


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Book '33 Men, Buried Alive' In The Works Inspired By Chilean Miners

According to the article below, the rescue of the Chilean miners is truly an inspirational story. In fact, it's already spawned a book, according to the Hollywood Reporter, '33 Men, Buried Alive: The Inside Story of the Trapped Chilean Miners' in the UK in early 2011. Also, the miners have been fielding offers for beer commercials and TV interviews, the latter potentially earning the men as much as $20,000.
       . . . June


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Chilean miners inspire book, separate mining reality show on its way
The Marquee Blog - CNN.com Blogs:

The rescue of the Chilean miners is truly an inspirational story. In fact, it's already spawned a book, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Jonathan Franklin - a reporter covering the rescue saga for Britain's Guardian newspaper - is set to release the book '33 Men, Buried Alive: The Inside Story of the Trapped Chilean Miners' in the UK in early 2011. In addition, according to Broadcasting & Cable, the miners have been fielding offers for beer commercials and TV interviews, the latter potentially earning the men as much as $20,000.

One thing we know won't be happening, despite reports to the contrary: If there is a movie in the works about the rescue, as some speculate surely can't be far off, it won't be starring Javier Bardem. The actor's rep tells CNN, 'There is no truth to this rumor

And although a new Spike TV series won't feature Chilean miners, the network has announced that it's ordered up "Coal," a docu-series that chronicles the dangers of working in a West Virginia mine, according to a statement.

The show, which airs in April, will focus on Cobalt Mine co-owners Mike Crowder and Tom Roberts, as well as their fellow miners, and cover every aspect of their jobs, including planting explosives.

“Coal mining is an integral part of the American economy and the lifeblood of communities across the U.S. and the world,” said Sharon Levy, Spike TV's executive vice president of original series and animation, in a statement. “This series is going to shine a light on the brave men and women and their families who endure the rigors of this arduous profession.”

Execs at the network told THR that the show has been in development for nearly a year and that their timing is just a coincidence. “It didn’t take a tragedy, and then a miracle, to get us excited about this,” explains Sharon Levy, executive VP of original programming at Spike. “We’ve tapped into something that people are passionate about; this is a topic the world is interested in.”

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First Miner FLORENCIO AVALOS Reaches The Surface

 I watched, along with millions of people around the world as 31 year old Florencio Avalos was brought up to the surface for the first time in 68 days. He appeared to be in surprisingly good condition considering what he had been through. He hugged his family and several other people and was whisked off to a triage centre to be checked out. A joyful start to a long process has just begun.
    . . . June


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First of 33 trapped miners reaches surface
This Just In - CNN.com Blogs:

Rescuers clap and cheer as the first miner to be rescued, Florencio Avalos, 31, leaves the capsule and steps onto the surface for the first time in about 68 days. After hugging several people, he is put on a stretcher and wheeled into a nearby triage center.

The first of 33 miners who were trapped in the mine more than two months ago has been rescued.

The rescue capsule carrying Florencio Avalos reached the surface about 16 minutes after the ascent from the miners' refuge 2,300 feet below the surface began. Avalos is the first miner to be rescued.



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