2005 Govenor's Marathon Challenge
Governors Mike Huckabee of Arkansas and Tom Vilsack of Iowa competed in the Little Rock Marathon yesterday, bringing to three (3) the number of governors completing marathons so far in 2005. Huckabee finished his debut marathon in 4:38:31.
Vilsack, 54, accomplished his first marathon finish last fall on October 17th by finishing the Des Moines Marathon in 4:57:35. In lieu of official results from the event web site, KTHV-TV in Little Rock reported on its web site that Vilsack completed the hilly marathon in "about 5:25". On Tuesday, it was reported that Villsack finished in 5:27:24.
Texas Governor Rick Perry, also 54, last month made his marathon debut at the Freescale Austin Marathon finishing in 4:06:54.
Here is the Associated Press story from Sunday evening:
By CARYN ROUSSEAU Associated Press Writer
LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- Nearly two years after he embarked on a diet and fitness regimen that left him 110 pounds lighter and diabetes free, Gov. Mike Huckabee finished the Little Rock Marathon Sunday ahead of his new running mate -- Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa.
The crowd cheered as Huckabee turned the corner toward the finish line and started the last stretch of the 26.2 mile race. Huckabee finished in just over 4 1/2 hours and hugged his two sons and daughter.
"What do you say? Is that not cool?" the Republican governor said, holding up his medal afterward before heading over to the VIP tent for a massage and two Diet Pepsis.
Vilsack, a Democrat, had given an early concession speech the day before and finished about 40 minutes after Huckabee, who waited at the finish line and hugged his friend as he crossed, giving him his finisher's medal.
Huckabee said afterward that he watched the movie "Rocky" the night before the race to get pumped up.
"I never felt I was going to quit," he said. "I never hit a point where I thought I couldn't do it. I felt good all the way through the finish, and I was kicking it at the end."
Arkansas' first lady Janet Huckabee walked the entire 26 miles, while Iowa first lady Christie Vilsack walked the first seven miles of the marathon.
Huckabee has championed healthy living in public talks nationwide and media interviews after losing more than 100 pounds from eating right and exercise. He invited the Iowa governor to join him in the race a few weeks ago at a Washington, D.C., meeting.
Huckabee competed in his first race, according to the state's website, on Saturday, July 2, 2004 in Little Rock's Firecracker Fast 5K in 28:39.6. More information can be found on Arkansas' Healthy Arkansas program which Huckabee champions here.
Two (2) members of the Seven Hills Running Club, based in Huntsville, completed the Little Rock Marathon as well. 57-year-old Conroe native Hans Jaeger rolled in with a time of 4:34:20, beating both of the governors, while 51-year-old Tomball native Ray Alexander finished in 5:06:58.
Vilsack, 54, accomplished his first marathon finish last fall on October 17th by finishing the Des Moines Marathon in 4:57:35. In lieu of official results from the event web site, KTHV-TV in Little Rock reported on its web site that Vilsack completed the hilly marathon in "about 5:25". On Tuesday, it was reported that Villsack finished in 5:27:24.
Texas Governor Rick Perry, also 54, last month made his marathon debut at the Freescale Austin Marathon finishing in 4:06:54.
Here is the Associated Press story from Sunday evening:
By CARYN ROUSSEAU Associated Press Writer
LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- Nearly two years after he embarked on a diet and fitness regimen that left him 110 pounds lighter and diabetes free, Gov. Mike Huckabee finished the Little Rock Marathon Sunday ahead of his new running mate -- Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa.
The crowd cheered as Huckabee turned the corner toward the finish line and started the last stretch of the 26.2 mile race. Huckabee finished in just over 4 1/2 hours and hugged his two sons and daughter.
"What do you say? Is that not cool?" the Republican governor said, holding up his medal afterward before heading over to the VIP tent for a massage and two Diet Pepsis.
Vilsack, a Democrat, had given an early concession speech the day before and finished about 40 minutes after Huckabee, who waited at the finish line and hugged his friend as he crossed, giving him his finisher's medal.
Huckabee said afterward that he watched the movie "Rocky" the night before the race to get pumped up.
"I never felt I was going to quit," he said. "I never hit a point where I thought I couldn't do it. I felt good all the way through the finish, and I was kicking it at the end."
Arkansas' first lady Janet Huckabee walked the entire 26 miles, while Iowa first lady Christie Vilsack walked the first seven miles of the marathon.
Huckabee has championed healthy living in public talks nationwide and media interviews after losing more than 100 pounds from eating right and exercise. He invited the Iowa governor to join him in the race a few weeks ago at a Washington, D.C., meeting.
Huckabee competed in his first race, according to the state's website, on Saturday, July 2, 2004 in Little Rock's Firecracker Fast 5K in 28:39.6. More information can be found on Arkansas' Healthy Arkansas program which Huckabee champions here.
Two (2) members of the Seven Hills Running Club, based in Huntsville, completed the Little Rock Marathon as well. 57-year-old Conroe native Hans Jaeger rolled in with a time of 4:34:20, beating both of the governors, while 51-year-old Tomball native Ray Alexander finished in 5:06:58.
posted by WalkSports.com | 9:28 AM
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