Upper West sider Angelica Aguirre, 36, is one of more than 100 Elvises who are taking to the road for the Las Vegas marathon on Sunday.

Don't step on their blue suede running shoes.

A troupe of 180 Elvises - including some white-spandexed New Yorkers - are hoping to leave Sunday's Las Vegas marathon all shook up.

The runners are trying to break the record for the most Elvises in a race - and blisters and dehydration aren't their biggest concern.

"My fear is I'm going to lose the huge wig and fabulous sunglasses in the first couple of miles," said Angelica Aguirre, 36, of the upper West Side of Manhattan. "But it's such a Vegas thing to do. All of us are running together. It's going to be an amazing party."

"I'm not even an Elvis fan," said hedge fund manager Jeffrey Leblanc, 31, who lives in Hell's Kitchen. "But I was running Vegas anyway and thought this would make it a great time."

The Vegas run is Aguirre's sixth, and last, marathon this year. She challenged herself to complete the races to raise cash for the charity Tower of Hope, which uses animals to improve the lives of the disabled, ill and traumatized.

She has already raised more than $10,000. But this is her first fund-raiser in costume.

She and Leblanc replied to an appeal by race organizers to attempt to break the record, currently held by a New Zealand marathon last year that had 147 Elvises.

"It's such a great way to run the last one," said Aguirre, who's aiming for a five-hour finish time. "Vegas is where everyone considers Elvis such a big icon, and my birthday is Jan. 8, which was also his."

The running Kings will witness the renewal of some wedding vows as they pass through a wedding chapel at mile five.

And they will prepare for the race tonight in true Fat Elvis fashion - by gorging on a carb-rich feast.

source:  Adam Nichols  -  Daily News Staff writer 

Posted:  4th. December 2007