Bush Trots Out His Healthier Government

He didn’t finish first, second or even in the top 20, but President Bush tried to lead by example Saturday in a three-mile run with hundreds of White House workers.

His goal was to convince Americans to take to heart his message that regular exercise is essential to the good health of the person and the nation.

Bush, 55, came in near the top of the 400-runner field, finishing 26th under a hot morning sun.

The 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, posted an official time of 20 minutes, 29 seconds, as recorded by a chip in his running shoe.

A conventional race clock caught him at 20:27--with mile splits of 6:30, 6:49 and 7:08. Either way, he was just under his typical time of 20:30 for three miles.

“It felt great. It was less than 20:30,” a sweat-soaked Bush said after finishing the course, which was two laps-plus around the parade ground at the Army’s Ft. McNair in southwest Washington. Philip Mattson, 26, of the White House correspondence office, finished first at 17:12.

First Lady Laura Bush led a large group of walkers over a one-mile course, finishing 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 three miles. On Thursdays, he routinely runs about four miles, averaging about seven minutes per mile.

Bush underscored the fitness theme in his weekly radio address Saturday, saying every participant in the Ft. 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% 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 Ft. McNair, the president watched as Sgt. 1st Class Mark Fortinberry, 32, based at Ft. Knox, Ky., stormed a 35-foot climbing wall and reached the top in seconds.

A reporter asked Fortinberry if he had been tempted to stop to catch his breath.

“If it’s the commander in chief watching,” he said, “you can’t stop.”