Thirty-Six members of Congress will lead teams in the annual ACLI Capital Challenge, a three mile road race.  The race takes place on Wednesday, April 28 at 8:00 a.m. in Washington, D.C.'s East Potomac Park.   (Senator Jeff Bingaman, (D-NM) who chairs the committee that oversees national parks, will be among those leading a team.)  For a brief period, competitors will run away from toxic assets, foreclosures and tea parties.

Participants from both parties and the media on 125 teams have been cautioned to assemble without jostling each other at the start.  "This field is too big to flail," warns race director Jeff Darman.

Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) will compete for the 29th straight year, never having missed a race.  Joining him will be 2012 presidential hopefuls, congressional committee chairs; agency heads; including Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood; plus many on-air correspondents; federal Judges; and print journalists. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), long-time female Senate champ, will be seeking to repeat previous victories, while Senator John Thune (R-SD) will try to keep his Senate title.  He will face a challenge from newcomer Senator Scott Brown (R-MA), and the 2008 title holder, John Ensign (R-NV).  Representative Jean Schmidt (R-OH) will also seek to retain her title and will be challenged by several female members of Congress.  Reigning fastest man in Congress, Rep. Bart Gordon, will not be running due to an injury.

On hand as official whistleblower will be Chief Running Officer of Runner's World, Bart Yasso.  Bart, a present day running legend, is known to many as the "Mayor of Running."   He has run over 1000 races on all seven continents, from the Antarctic to the Mt. Kilimanjaro Marathon.  He has completed Ironman five times and the Badwater Ultra (135 miles) through Death Valley. 

Team captains in this event are not honorary positions.  Each must finish the three-mile course for their team to score.  This event shows that even the busiest people can take time out to stay physically fit.  "The ACLI Capital Challenge belies the notion that there's no cooperation in Washington.  Since 1981, the Capital Challenge has brought people together for a great cause," said ACLI President and CEO Frank Keating.  "I'm extremely honored that ACLI can again showcase this event that attracts such a high caliber of participants."

All entry fees go to D.C. Special Olympics, as does an additional donation from the title sponsor ACLI (American Council of Life Insurers) and from other sponsors AEGON USA, ING, John Hancock, MetLife, New York Life, Northwestern Mutual, Prudential, RGA, Swiss Re, Western and Southern Financial Group, Roll Call and Winstead Attorneys.

Competition for the prestigious Best and James B. Kenin Worst Team Name honors remains intense.

Some noteworthy entrants: 

TEAMS	CAPTAINS
Kay Through 12	Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)
Hagan's Heroes	Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC)
You're Our Only Hope, Obi John Cornogi	Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
Holy Schmidt	Representative Jean Schmidt (R-OH)
Front Running and Insider Training	Douglas Scheidt, (SEC, Chief Counsel)
Jihad Janes	Representative Jane Harman (D-CA)
Transmission Impossible	John Norris (Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
Lamborn (bourne) Supremacy	Representative Doug Lamborn (R-CO)
Victorious Secret	Sara Lipka (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
Arne's Dunkin Donuts	Libby Sander (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
It's Only a Paper, Moon	David Sands (Washington Times)
iplods	Brian Naylor (NPR)
There's an AP for That	Lila Meredith (AP Broadcast)

The riverfront course is out and back in East Potomac Park.  After the race, runners will enjoy a catered Continental Breakfast (TARP, Tired Athletes Refreshments Program) along with pure spring water compliments of Northwestern Mutual.

Editor's Note: For media information, call Jeff Darman at 610.925.1976 (until April 24), 703.875.8717 (April 24-28) or 610.299.4436 (cell).  The ACLI Capital Challenge starts at 8:00 a.m. in East Potomac Park near the corner of Buckeye and Ohio Drives on the river side.  Directions to the site may be downloaded from www.capitalchallenge.com.  Entries are closed.