Senator Lugar an Accidental Grand Marshal of 'Chug-and-Run'

By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers

Like a lot of busy Washingtonians, Republican Sen. Dick Lugar of Indiana likes to get out on Saturdays for a little exercise. His choice: some quiet speed-walking around a McLean, Va., high school track. But last weekend's solitude was broken when a gang of triathletes and their wives showed up for their second annual Running of the Bull, where they run four laps while drinking beer and eating a spicy Oscar Mayer hot dog.

Lugar, in his red running shorts and a T-shirt, appeared game, asking one of the organizers, Bethesda lawyer Lou Aronson, what was up. "He said, 'What are you guys doing?' " said Aronson, the winner of the four-lap race at 8:38. Aronson said that when told of the ceremonial race to end a season of summer races and marathons, Lugar smiled and said, "Wow, that's crazy. If I'm in the way, I'll get out of the way."

At that point, the racers paused and asked if the senator would like to act as the race's first-ever grand marshal. According to Aronson, Lugar said: "Sounds like fun. What do I have to do? I don't have to drink a beer, do I?"

"It was an 'Only in D.C.' moment," said Aronson. The group of athletes came up with the idea last year as a season-ending blowout, Aronson explained. The rules are simple: Chug one beer before each of the four laps, and eat a hot dog between laps two and three. "The idea is to do something relatively short, relatively painless, and increase the likelihood that somebody would throw up," said Aronson.

Lugar described the racers as "very high-spirited."

Read the whole account and see additional pictures here.

Left to right: Len Forkas, Lou Aronson, Sen Richard Lugar, Scott Stewart, Lance Matthiesen, Mark Welch and George Galloway at the second annual Running of the Bull.

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