From Mine to Marathon

Rescued Chilean miner Edison Pena speaks at a news conference in New York, Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010. Pena is aiming to finish the New York City Marathon this Sunday. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

One of the Chilean miners declared he will finish the New York City Marathon this Sunday – and he won’t let a bad knee get in his way.

Edison Peña, one of the 33 miners rescued last month, described during a news conference Thursday how he jogged through the tunnels while trapped underground to "beat destiny."

So he doesn't just want to attend the New York marathon as a guest, or simply start the race. It may take him 6 hours, bad knee and all, but he intends to complete the 26.2 miles.

The 34-year-old Pena looked quite comfortable surrounded by more than 100 media members at a news conference. He even sang a few lines from his beloved Elvis Presley, whose music helped him through those daily 6 or 7-mile runs in the mine.

Based on reporting by the Associated Press.