Occurrence at Rock Creek Run

A Day of Surprises at D.C. Thanksgiving 5 K Marathon

President accelerates towards finish line in DC 5K run

Washington, DC --  Today was full of surprises for thousands gathered at Rock Creek Park for the start of the DC Thanksgiving 5K Run.   First, the crowd was pleasantly surprised when President Obama, together with his National Security staff and Secret Service entourage, arrived 15 minutes before the scheduled start.  Surprise turned to astonishment when an announcement was made that the President and staff were registering to run.  As the news spread, astonishment turned to hearty applause and cheers.
     The crowd's enthusiasm turned to puzzlement when they discovered that Mr. Obama intended to run in his usual business suit, shirt, tie, coat, and shoes.  There was some confusion when race organizers redesigned the course to use terrain more suitable for leather soles and rubber heels.  Maps of the revised course were distributed to all starters and Secret Service agents were posted along the new route, so few runners had trouble dealing with the last minute changes.  
    However surprised the crowd was by events surrounding the start of the race, nothing could have prepared them for the unexpected events at finish.
     The president and his entire national security staff were the first 25 across the finish line.  A few in the crowd refused to believe that, however fit, politicians in business attire could be competitive in a field of athletically shod world class runners.  But most accepted the official results without grumbling.  
     A White House press release, distributed hours after the race, notes that Mr Obama is the fourth president to compete in an officially sanctioned marathon, the others being George Bush, Al Gore, Michael Dukakis, and John Edwards. 
     An Executive Order designating 5K runs to be marathons will be signed later today.