Capital Challenge 2004
Below is last year's winner Philip Huspeth of Representative Peter DeFazio's (D-OR) staff, (15:28)

Senators and Congressmen from both red and blue states will take part in the traditional battle between the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches in Washington, D.C.'s Anacostia Park on Wednesday, May 11th. The ACLI Capital Challenge, a bi-partisan three-mile road race, has become one of the Capital's most enduring sports traditions attracting hundreds of competitors for the invitational team event.

The event attracts over 700 runners. In the past teams have been captained by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Senate Finance Committee Chair Charles Grassley, Foreign Relations Chair Dick Lugar, then Vice President Al Gore, and numerous Cabinet secretaries. In addition, many additional members of Congress, political appointees, Federal Judges, and noted print and electronic team captains take part. Competition is limited to teams led by Senators, Representatives, and Cabinet or Sub-Cabinet appointees, Agency Heads, Federal Judges, or TV, radio and print journalists. (Team captains must actually complete the course for their team to count.)

In past years, according to private accounts, one of the attractions of this event is the social security of running with a team. Our motto is " no congressman left behind, " said race Director Jeff Darman.

The race, which benefits the District of Columbia Special Olympics, has as title sponsor ACLI (the American Council of Life Insurers). ACLI is 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 event is designed to highlight the fitness of many of the Capital's busiest leaders and tries to answer the question which branch of government is the fittest. Major supporting sponsors are Northwestern Mutual, Swiss Re, Roll Call and Running Times. Fannie Mae is the sponsor of the post race breakfast. All entry fees, along with an additional contribution from the sponsors, go to D.C. Special Olympics.

The ACLI Capital Challenge not only recognize the swiftest participants with awards for the fastest Senator, Representative, Independent Agency Head, Sub-Cabinet Appointee, Federal Judge and journalist in male and female categories, but also rewards teams with the Best and Worst Names (James B. Kenin Award) and Best Spirit. There are also team awards in Senate, House, Executive Branch, Judicial and Media categories (both electronic and print).

Qualified teams may obtain entry forms and information from Jeff Darman, Director ACLI Capital Challenge, 110 East State Street, Suite 15, Kennett Square, PA 19348, (610)925-1976. Entries are also available at Capital Challenge. Entries close April 25th.