Chilean hits goldmine in New York

NEW YORK CITY — The ING New York Marathon fever is in the air, or should I say, on the streets! Arriving barely a week prior to the big race day, it is impossible to overlook the posh Manhattan streets of 5th and Madison Avenues have been overtaken by hooded-fleece-clad, sweater-and-compression-pants sprinters.

Am I in Manhattan? Because, as Carrie Bradshaw once said, “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore!”

People are so festive and celebratory. At Immigration, the officers ask if we’re here for the marathon and when we nod in jest, they can’t help but cheer us, exuberant for a good performance. A lot of people on the streets still mind their own business, it’s true; it’s still busy Manhattan, after all. But this time, they have their iPods as an excuse.

Has one of the world’s most fashionable couture capitals of the world been overtaken by Asics, Nike, Adidas, Mizuno, and Lulu Lemon? Where are all the usual fashionphiles — obviously suffering in their five-inch exotic leather boots and thick fur jackets, sashaying on these posh city streets during fall?

Watching too many Gossip Girl and Sex and the City episodes has totally brainwashed my beloved New York stereotype! 

A sea of humanity charges along like ants craving a bite of the Big Apple during the 2010 ING New York Marathon.

Well, it’s not fashion week after all.

It’s that time of the year where almost 45,000 local and international runners trek to the Big Apple for the ING New York Marathon, one of the most prestigious races in the world, next to the elite Boston Marathon. Participants come from over 50 states and over 100 countries, with truckloads of families and friends cheering their every stride.

So instead of the usual celebrity spotting for the Brad Pitts and Angelina Jolies of this world, my peeps and I are struggling to get a glimpse of the legendary kings of the road, the Kenyan and Ethiopian speedsters.

Okay, fine, maybe spotting a few celebs wouldn’t be so bad! After all, one too many stars have run this course, including Katie Holmes with Tom Cruise and Suri waiting by the finish line, Edward Norton who ran to raise funds for the Maasai’s tribal homeland same with Grammy-award-winning singer Alanis Morissette, actors Meredith Baxter and William Baldwin, The Today Show’s Natalie Morales, ER’s Anthony Edwards, Sean “P.Diddy” Combs, and legendary athlete Lance Armstrong among others.

 But the one to watch this year was #7-127, the unquestionable star of the 2010 New York Marathon.

 Who is #7-127? Edison Peña! Edison who?

 The 12th to be saved among the 33 Chilean miners trapped underground for 69 days, the charismatic Peña definitely hit gold in the Big Apple, and captured the hearts of millions. He was invited by the running association a day after the rescue when they heard that running under the mine in his rubber boots and singing Elvis Presley songs kept his spirits high until the miraculous rescue. Peña eagerly accepted. Now, that’s what I call light at the end of the tunnel!

The bustling streets of New York are clear for one day for the hundreds of thousands of runners and spectators at the 2010 ING New York Marathon. Photos by GINGGAY JOVEN-DELA MERCED (Other photos courtesy of the ING New York Marathon official website)

 Peña is born to be a star. He’s a showman, thoroughly entertaining in spite of his inability to speak English outside of the Elvis tracks he so loves. It is an understatement to say the Chilean stole the limelight from virtually every celebrity running  this year, such as model turned actress Veronica Webb, The Today Show’s Alan Rocker, The Bachelor’s Andy Baldwin, TV chef star Bobby Flay, Subway’s Jared Fogle, The Howard Stern Show’s Robin Quivers, and actor Kirk Acevedo.

 In his David Letterman appearance, the amusing Chilean rocked and rolled, leaving even Letterman bowled over by the survivor. So as it turns out, Peña was mining gold in the wrong place after all. He was hoping to finish the marathon in six hours. He finished in 5:40:51. Not too shabby for someone who ran in boots to Elvis tunes while trapped underground! What an inspiration!

Where there is good news, there is also not-so-good news. At least not for Olympic running icon Ethiopina Haile Gebreselassie.

 Reckoned to be the real star of the ING New York Marathon, and a 27-time and current world-record holder, Gebreselassie had high hopes for his New York run. After all, he did accomplish the Berlin Marathon in world record time 2:03:59 last 2008. Well, experts say that’s impossible in New York because unlike Berlin, the course here has more inclines. New York Marathon’s record time 2:07:43 belongs to Ethiopian runner Tesfaye Jifar in 2001

 This is the 37-year-old’s first New York Marathon. And tragically, his last. He pulled out of the marathon pass Queensboro Bridge after running 16 miles in 1:19:40 because of a right knee injury, tendonitis. Gebreselassie fans were devastated when he announced his retirement immediately after tapping out of the race.

Last year’s winner, American Meb Keflezighi who finished in 2:09:15 in 2009 — the first American since Alberto Salazar in 1982 — failed to replicate his triumph. That glory was for 26-year-old Ethiopian Gebre Gebremariam to enjoy who finished in 2:08:14, effortlessly running the last two miles alone. He is the first runner to win a marathon debut (This is his FIRST marathon) since Rod Dixon in 1983, and the first to win a New York debut since Tegla Loroupe in 1994. Gebremariam was an ardent fan of Gebreselassie, and studied the icon’s running style thoroughly.

 This is the 41st New York Marathon, founded by Fred Lebow, and was first held on Sept. 30, 1970 with 127 participants of which only 55 actually finished. Over the years, more and more have desperately wanted to get in, so much so that the governing body has had to devise a lottery system to control the number of runners. With 45,000 participants, that’s a far cry from the original 127 runners, 40 years ago!

The ultimate star of the 2010 ING New York Marathon, Chilean miner Edison Peña, finishes almost 20 minutes below his target. The survivor hits gold and was catapulted to stardom overnight.

 Two days before the race, we trek to the Jacob Jacovits Center on 11th Ave. for my husband to get his coveted bib. In droves, people exit the expo with the same marathon survival kit: maps, water, a whole lot of discount coupons, and bags of chips. Potato chips! Mmmm….

 This is my better half’s second marathon this year, and about his 30th race since he started running less than two years ago (most of which were 21k runs). Just last month, he did the CamSur marathon under the scorching Philippine heat, as I perpetually joke… he barely survived. He hates the heat; absolutely loves the cold!

 As he and his running friends do short runs around Central Park days leading to the big day, everyone’s freezing as temperature ranges from three to five degree Celsius. They spoke serious technical stuff all the time — mileage, pacing, technique — it’s coming out of my ears! And all we ate? Carbs, carbs, and more carbs!

 But we traveled 19 hours to get here and he trained almost three months specifically for this race. This is an experience of a lifetime, and I want to make sure my “Seabiscuit” is all set for his NY debut.

 This year, more so than ever before, so many Filipinos ran the New York streets — literally over 100! My eyes were on Rio dela Cruz, a famed Filipino runner, coach, and race director who made the Pinoys proud finishing at 2:59:45! Two nights before the run, I spoke to him, and he admitted, “I’m still jet-lagging!” Wow!

 Last year’s fastest Filipino Michael Mesina, who finished just over three hours, ran again, giving much-needed advice to the first timers. Other Filipino running fanatics are here, too, like Cinderella siblings Richie Santos and Marielle Santos-Po, businessmen siblings Raymond and Jose Moreno with wife Tin and sister Tanya to cheer them on, husband-and-wife tandem Tonichi and Ina Colayco-Bautista, Sky Cable’s Carlo Katigbak, businessman Nori Poblador, Ebay.com’s Patrick Moran, PAL’s Joaquin Garchitorena, publicist Leah Caringal, newspaper editor Artemio Engracia, former editor Celine Novenario, supermodel Lucia Santiago, businessman Charlie Chua, Cebu’s Jane Ong, Knowledge Channel’s Rina Lopez, Bullrunner’s Jaymie Pizarro, and more. 

 Nov. 7, finally! DST comes to an end as the marathon commences. Extremely enthused, we both awoke 4:30 a.m., which was actually 3:30 a.m., with our alarms not automatically adjusting to the change of time. He gears up, eats a banana, gulps a lot of water, and leaves the hotel at 5 a.m. to catch his 6 a.m. bus shuttle, which will lead them to Staten Island via ferry where the race’s starting point. The pick-up point is two blocks from our place. And he needs an hour to get there!

 The fastest ones take the track first. The men are in sleeved shirts and running shorts, and the women barely had anything on but what I can only assume are compression outfits. And as the waves gun off one after the other, it’s funny how the clothes of the runners get thicker and thicker. Even former Giants star Amani Toomer who ran for Team for Kids Charity, had a beanie on to warm his head and ears.

 The marathon route begins at the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge — the first of five bridges runners will pass to get to Brooklyn — then briefly passing through Queens, and into Manhattan down 1st Avenue. They then hit the Bronx before reaching Central Park by 59th St. where they do a turn to finish at the west side of the park, closing the 26.2-mile run.

 I track everyone I know online while watching the live coverage. As their wave passed by, the aerial shots make the sea of humanity appear like ants packed in staple wire. It was virtually impossible to even get a glimpse.

 I ran — no, I mean, I strutted — down 5th Ave. to get to 59th on time. It was marathon mania! People screaming and cheering, babies clapping and crying, and the most hilarious placards and banners. Short as I am, I managed to squeeze myself in and saw so many runners. I cheered for anyone and everyone. It didn’t really matter. It was just so infectiously fun. 

 And as my husband and our friends cross the finish line, double (some even triple) Gebremariam’s time, it didn’t matter. We were all in high spirits. This ain’t no ordinary marathon — this is the ING New York Marathon!

 As the sun set, I stood out in the extreme cold by Madison Ave., watching people limping, knees wrapped in ice, and a whole lot of human crutches. I wish I’d had a video cam. Sorry, I don’t run so I can’t relate to how painful it is. I’m sure it hurts, but they were so many, I couldn’t help but be giddy and amused.

 I was shivering. It was freezing cold. But it was okay. I was wearing my fur coat. Hey, this is still Manhattan after all! And I was cheering them on, fur better or fur worst.