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Posted on 06/22/2002 1:53:10 PM PDT by pittsburgh gop guy
Bush Sets Fast Pace at Fitness Race
Sat Jun 22,12:42 PM ET
By LAWRENCE L. KNUTSON, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - He didn't finish first, second or even in the top 20, but President Bush ( news - web sites) tried to lead by example Saturday in a three-mile run with hundreds of White House workers.
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Bush came in near the top of the 400-runner field, finishing 26th.
The 55-year-old president, running in blue shorts and a white T-shirt with "Healthier U.S. Government" on his back and a No. 1 tag on his chest, was clocked at 20 minutes, 27 seconds. The White House said, however, that the official time was 20:29, as recorded by a chip in Bush's running shoe. The first two laps were well under a 7-minute-mile pace at 6:30 and 6:49. The 20:29 was better than Bush's usual 20:30 for three miles.
"It felt great. It was less than 20:30," Bush said at the finish line at the Army's Fort McNair in Southwest Washington. After the two laps-plus around the parade ground in the early morning sun he was soaked with sweat. Philip Mattson, 26, of the White House correspondence office, came in first at 17:12.
First Lady Laura Bush ( news, bio, voting record) led a large group of walkers over a 1-mile course and completed it in 22:58.
The entry fee for the executive mansion employees to run the race was a pledge to devote several hours of time to volunteer work. Bush told the staff he was serious about collecting it.
"It's important for those of us in the White House to live how we talk," Bush said. "If we're going to say we're going to live a healthy life, let's do it. If we say we care about a neighbor in need, if we want to love a neighbor like we'd like to be loved ourselves, let's show it through our actions."
"I hope you understand that at least that's how the boss thinks," he said.
To Americans generally, he said: "I know you're a better worker if you exercise on a daily basis. I know you'll help keep the health care costs down in America if you exercise on a daily basis. I know your life will be more complete if you exercise and serve a neighbor in need."
Bush's own routine includes a run on Sundays when he clocks his 20-minute three miles. On Thursdays, he routinely runs about four miles, again averaging about a mile in seven minutes.
Bush underscored the fitness theme in his weekly radio address Saturday, saying every participant in the Fort McNair race "took important steps on the road to better health."
"And the good news is this: When it comes to your health, even little steps can make a big difference," Bush said. "If just 10 percent of adults began walking regularly, Americans could save $5.6 billion in costs related to heart disease. And research suggests we can reduce cancer deaths by one-third simply by changing our diets and getting more exercise."
Just before he left Fort McNair, the president watched as SFC Mark Fortinberry, 32, based at Fort Knox, Ky., stormed a 35-foot climbing wall and reached the top in seconds.
Asked if he had been tempted to stop for a breath the sergeant replied, "If it's the commander in chief watching, you can't stop."
Personally, I am starting walking, as my father died from heart disease brought on by diabetes.
It's just exercise!
JFK had everybody doing a fifty mile hike for fitness. This fitness thing of W's is rather tame by comparison but still target rich for his detractors.
Hubba, hubba!
Leni
Clinton jogs further and comes to the Jefferson Memorial. He stops and says, 'Tom, what should I do?' Several minutes later, Tom says, 'Scrap your welfare program and start over.'
Not long after that, Clinton has jogged over to the Lincoln Memorial. He says, 'Abe, what should I do?' After a long pause, Abe says, 'why don't you take the night off and go to the theater.'
I don't know where the press got their info from, but I can guess, and it wasn't a stopwatch.
It's not the nanny state, it's just encouragement to be healthy.
Remember when JFK had everyone killing themselves walking 50 miles? Of course, he couldn't walk 50 feet because of the back thingee.
Obesity and couch potato lifestyles ARE a health problem in this country and I see nothing wrong with the President encouraging exercise.
I see it as a reminder that the individual should be self-reliant. Being phyiscally fit is one part of self-reliance. Laziness in any area allows the government to creep into our lives and try to "fix" us.
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