Photo below shows last year's winner - Philip Huspeth of Eugene, OR finishing in 15:28

The annual ACLI Capital Challenge will return on Wednesday, May 11th at 8:00 a.m. in Washington, DC's Anacostia Park.

Perhaps better known for its irreverence and political humor than its athletic prowess, the race is attracting the usual VIP cast. In the 2004 ACLI Capital Challenge, over two dozen members of Congress led teams and completed the race, along with scores of political appointees, including members of the Cabinet, television correspondents, print reporters and other Washington VIP's.

Teams are captained by U.S. Senators, Representatives, Cabinet Members, Sub-Cabinet appointees, Federal Judges, On-Air personalities and professional print journalists. Each CAPTAIN has to finish for their team to count. This invitational team competition started in 1981 and continues to spotlight the fitness of many of the county's busiest leaders. Senate Foreign Relations Chair, Richard Lugar, has never missed one and will be leading his team for the 24th time.

The race is sponsored by ACLI (American Council of Life Insurers), a Washington D.C. based trade association. Its nearly 400 member companies offer life insurance, annuities, pensions, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, and other retirement and financial protection products. The ACLI Capital Challenge annually settles the question of what branch of the federal Government is the fittest. Or will the media end up on top?

Spirited competition is being waged in the battle for Best and Worst Named Team awards. Some early contenders and captains include:

Teams ************************************ Captains

Rhode Kill                    Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)
Death Tax Eliminators         Representative Kenny Hulshoff  (RMO)       
Rogue Runners Redux           Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR)
Running 'Til It Hearst        Jennifer Dloughy (Hearst Newspapers)
Women of Mass Distraction     Tara Copp (Scripps Howard News Service)
Swift Foot Veterans for Truth Steve Nearman (Washington Times)
Tenure Tracks                 Sara Lipka (Chronicle of Higher Education)
Anchors Away                  Bill Plante (CBS News)
Snails of Justice             Judge Paul Michel (US Court Of Appeal        
 			             For The Federal Circuit)

The riverfront course is out and back in Anacostia Park (just over the Souza Bridge - Pennsylvania Avenue). After the race, runners will have a catered continental breakfast, compliments of Fannie Mae. Sponsors in addition to ACLI include John Hancock Financial Services, Northwestern Mutual, Swiss Re, Fannie Mae, Chubb (results book), Roll Call and Running Times. Qualified teams may obtain information from Jeff Darman, Director ACLI Capital Challenge, 110 East State Street, Suite 15, Kennett Square, PA, 19348, 610-925-1976 or from the
Capital Challenge web site