Article repost

It's the day after the election and while Facebook and Twitter are filled with happiness and hate over the results, I found this article tweeted from Runner's World. If you're not a runner you may not care but I was pretty impressed at the pace of our former presidents! I am pushing it to run a 9 minute mile and Clinton could run that everyday! Maybe I need to eat more Big Macs???

Running Mates: Running With POTUS
From the November 2012 issue of Runner's World

In 2011, Secret Service agent Nick Trotta retired after 31 years in the Office of Protective Operations. During his tenure, Trotta ran with Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. Here, he shares stories of what it was like trying to run with–and protect–leaders of the free world.

 

GEORGE H.W. BUSH ' 'He liked to go to Memorial Park in Houston where everyone knew him as 'George.' The detail included a site agent, motorcade coordinator, visit coordinator, advance agent for the tactical team, drivers, the presidential doctor and ambulance, bomb-sniffing dogs, and up to 10 agents. We parked unmarked vehicles around the perimeter and had snipers pose as runners and walkers. We had over 50 people to cover the president during his half-hour run. One time, we came across a woman who was sprawled on the ground with a cut on her knee. President Bush said, 'Marshals! Get an ambulance to this runner!' He told her, 'No need to worry. I come with an ambulance.' He watched over her until he confirmed the injury was superficial, then finished his run.''

BILL CLINTON  ''We agents had a system where one of the valets would leak President Clinton's attire–running clothes or suit–to the nearest agent. That's how we knew he wanted to run. President Clinton ran around the Mall almost every day, four to five miles at eight to nine minutes per mile. At times, people ran past and said, 'Hey, Mr. President, do you need a running partner?' In his Arkansas drawl, he would say, 'Sure, come on.' By then, an undercover agent running ahead would have checked that person out and radioed a clearance to us. The conversations people had were usually about running. Even if someone was used to logging seven-minute miles, that person always said to the president, 'Boy, you keep a good pace.'''

GEORGE W. BUSH'' President Bush started the 100 Degree Club–he waited to run until it hit 100 degrees. He could average 7:00 to 7:10 minutes-per-mile for three miles. Heat runs were tough. Agents have to wear long shirts to cover our holster, firearm, handcuffs, and radio. We also wore a microphone hooked to our index finger that wouldn't interfere with grabbing the president or using our weapon. I ran a few steps behind President Bush. If I got too close, he'd say, 'Nicky, at least give me the illusion I am by myself.' A run is the only time the president can be alone. The last thing runners want is to be disrupted. The same is true for the president.''