Al Roker, the weatherman on NBC's 'Today Show', finished the New York City Marathon on Sunday (7th November 2010) in just over seven hours, after training for the event since March. 56-year-old Roker's official time was seven hours, nine minutes, and forty-four seconds, reports The Long Island Press.
A number of other 'celebrities' tested their endurance and fitness in the 26.5-mile race, including the rescued Chilean miner EDISON PENA, who finished in just five hours and forty minutes. Pena, who has become somewhat of a cult hero in recent weeks, is nicknamed 'The Runner', and says he could have finished quicker if it hadn't been for his injured knee. Roker's 'Today Show' colleague Meredith Vieira also competed alongside the 20,000 plus runners, and managed to finish with a time of five hours and fifty nine minutes, about an hour and ten minutes faster than the weatherman.
Yesterday, Roker and Vieira were welcomed back to the 'Today Show' studio and treated to foot massages by co-hosts Matt Lauer and Ann Curry. Vieira joked, "So is this not a good time to tell them we took the subway?"