Getting our public leaders moving.Governor Mike Huckabee  This article or section contains information about one or more candidates in an upcoming or ongoing election.Content may change as the election approaches. is leading by example--again. Three years after the Governor started to exercise and change his eating habits, he contacted me to help coordinate a Fun Run & Walk on the opening day of this year's National Governor's Association winter meetings in Washington, D.C. The governor wanted to have a healthy activity kick off a series of sessions focused on his national campaign, Healthy America--a campaign with roots in Mike Huckabee's personal path of change. The governor hoped to have fellow governors, their spouses, staff members, and local school children join him for the run. So over the course of seven weeks, I met with the staff of the NGA Noun 1. NGA - a combat support agency that provides geographic intelligence in support of national security National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency to come up with a course and handle security issues. Once the details were arranged, the Healthy America 5K Fun Run & Walk was a "go." Then all we needed were some dedicated adults and children willing to get up early on a cool Saturday morning. We lured a school group from Springfield, VA, who had been using the American Running Association's 12-week "One-On-One, Walk & Run" program. In addition, some middle school students from Maryland and Virginia committed to run with their parents. On the governor's side, the commitments were a bit slow. Like any new event--especially one that shines a spotlight on politicians--there was probably some trepidation trepidation /trep·i·da·tion/ (trep?i-da´shun) 1. tremor. 2. nervous anxiety and fear.trep´idant trep·i·da·tion n. 1. An involuntary trembling or quivering. about putting physical fitness on full public display. When a notable runner agreed to participate, she added luster to the event. Thanks to support from Nike, 1984 Olympic Marathon Champion Joan Benoit Joan Benoit Samuelson (born May 16, 1957) is an American former marathon runner who won gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, the year that the women's marathon was introduced. As a result she was the first ever women's Olympic marathon champion. Samuelson flew down from snowy Maine to lead the Fun Run with Governor Huckabee. More importantly, Joanie agreed to speak in the opening plenary session Plenary session is a term often used in s to define the part of the conference when all members of all parties are in attendance. These sessions may contain a broad range of content from Keynotes to Panel Discussions and are not necessarily related to a specific style of delivery. of the NGA meetings that afternoon. Once the run was underway, Governor Huckabee, Joanie, a couple of teenage runners, and a handful of governors' staff members led the 100 participants around the East Potomac Park East Potomac Park is a park in Washington, D.C., located south of the Jefferson Memorial and the 14th Street Bridge. Located between the Washington Channel and the Potomac River, the park is home to the East Potomac Golf Course, a mini-golf course, and the East Potomac Tennis loop course. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When the lead pack approached the finish line, this race director "encouraged" the governor and Joanie to pick it up. Mike Huckabee picked up his stride and led the group across the Fun Run finish line. Paced by Arkansas First Lady Janet Huckabee, some of the other governors and first ladies finished soon after the lead pack. Next to cross the line: 25 elementary school elementary school: see school. kids, teachers, and parents. Everyone had fun--and, more importantly, they underscored Governor Huckabee's message that a Healthy America starts with personal commitment to daily physical activity. Dave Watt Executive Director, AMAA AMAA Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 AMAA American Medical Athletic Association AMAA American Maine-Anjou Association AMAA Afghan Medical Association of America AMAA Armenian Missionary Association of America, Inc. |
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