Catoctin Mountain Park Run
| Catoctin Mountain Park Run | |
|---|---|
 Carter jogging in 1978 | |
| Location | Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland, U.S. |
| Date | September 15, 1979 |
| Competitors | 898 registered 750 starters 703 finishers[1] |
| Champions | |
| Men | Herb Lindsay (30:00.1) |
| Women | Marilyn Bevans (40:25.8) |
The Catoctin Mountain Park Run was a
Jimmy Carter administration in September 1979. The event was set up by the White House to give Carter a chance to run a competitive road race without the security risk of a third-party organizer. The Catoctin Mountain Park course was hilly, and due to over-exertion Carter collapsed after about four miles, leading to concerns about his health and questions about his re-election campaign.[2][3]
Professional runner
personal best over the distance. Marilyn Bevans won the women's race in 40 minutes 25.8 seconds.[1][2]
Background
Carter was a
cross country runner for the Navy Midshipmen team in the 1940s, but he only began jogging recreationally in the fall of 1978.[4][5]
Anheuser-Busch Natural Light, and Track Master sponsored the race, with Nike inviting some of their professionally sponsored runners like Lindsay to compete.[1][6] There were also a host of amateur runners invited, ranging from an 11-year old boy to a grandfather in his 70s.[7]
Carter's previous best time on the course in training was 50 minutes, and he was aiming for a 46-minute time (7 minutes 24 seconds per mile) on race day.[7] Lindsay thought the course was particularly challenging for a beginner, although the Washington Post wrote, "The weather was cool, and the race was not considered challenging for a runner in training".[6][2][4] Race day weather was officially recorded as 70 °F (21 °C) with nominal wind and clear skies.[1] The course included two hills that altogether rose more than 350 feet (110 m) in less than half a mile.[8]
The race
Carter started near the front of the pack, splitting his first mile in 8 minutes 25 seconds uphill. His second mile was even faster in 7:45, but he started to slow after that.[2]
The race was held on an out-and-back course, allowing the professional field to see Carter running down the hill as they ran back up it. Carter acknowledged Lindsay as he passed, calling out, "Give him room" to the other lead runners in the tight pack.[6]
Carter collapse
Approximately four miles into the race, Carter started to appear fatigued, with those around him commenting on his ashy face and drooping form. He had been running for about 52 minutes, and he was about 100 yards (91 m) away from the
intravenously through his arm.[10]
Hours after his treatment, Carter returned to the course to present awards in good health.[6]
Legacy
The incident was used by some to caution against running, citing risk of cardiac arrest or other marathon fatalities.[9]
The event was noted by some as an analogy for Carter's poor political polling ahead of his 1980 re-election campaign. Some suggested he should drop out of the presidential race just as he dropped out of the footrace in favor of Democratic primary challenger Ted Kennedy.[11]
One White House lieutenant said after the race, "I hope this will replace the rabbit stories".[7]
A second race was proposed for September 13, 1980 at the same location, but it was ultimately not continued.[1]
Results
Though 898 runners were registered, only 750 started the race.CIA, and Secret Service, which the FBI won. Carter blamed himself on the Secret Service's last-place team finish, saying that the agents had to follow his pace.[6][14]
About 47 runners did not finish the race, including Carter.[1][3]
|
|
| Pos. | Team |
|---|---|
 |
Federal Bureau of Investigation |
 |
Central Intelligence Agency |
 |
Secret Service |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "United States Department of the Interior letter "Dear Run Participant"" (PDF). fredericknewspost.com. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Robinson, Roger (December 29, 2024). "How President Jimmy Carter Brought Running to the White House". Runner's World. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
- ^ a b "Carter Continued from Page One". Sunday News. 16 Sep 1979. p. 3. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ a b Broder, David S.; Smith, J. P. (September 15, 1979). "Carter Drops Out of 6.2-Mile Race Near Its Midpoint". Retrieved December 31, 2024.
- ^ "On the road with Carter ROADRUNNER Continued from Page A1". The Boston Globe. 11 Nov 1979. p. 91. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Runner's Empathy for Carter". Newsday (Suffolk Edition). 19 Sep 1979. p. 99. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ a b c "A Tired President Fails To Complete Foot Race FROM PAGE 1A". The Miami Herald. September 16, 1979. p. 302. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
- ^ "Reporter who ran with Carter tells of how 'he quit the race'". The Toronto Star. 16 Sep 1979. p. 8. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Following Doctor's Orders Winded Carter Quits Distance Race / Hazards of Jogging Cited by Physicians". The Times-Tribune. 16 Sep 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ "Carter Continued From Page 1-A". The Atlanta Constitution. September 17, 1979. p. 6. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
- ^ "Presidential staying power". The Ithaca Journal. 18 Sep 1979. p. 14. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ "Memo to Ten-Milers: Don't forget Rincon". The Daily Advance. 18 Sep 1979. p. 16. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ "Jimmy Carter's First Road Race". Runner's World. December 1, 1979. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
- ^ Ayres Jr., B. Drummond (September 16, 1979). "Carter, Exhausted and Pale, Drops Out of 6‐Mile Race". The New York Times. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
