WASHINGTON, D.C. — Three-time Olympian and American marathon record holder Deena Kastor will serve as the official race starter of the ACLI Capital Challenge road race on May 15. With the deadline for entries 10 days away, Kastor urges Washington officials to get moving and sign up for the race.
“I would encourage all members of Congress and everyone else thinking about signing up for the race to train for and participate in the Capital Challenge,” said Kastor. “The act of running has positive effects on mental, physical and emotional health, making them more effective on their jobs and personal lives.”
Kastor will announce the start of the race, then join the expected field of 700 runners from the back of the pack. The three-mile event in Anacostia Park in Washington, D.C. features teams from Congress, the executive and judicial branches of the federal government, news media organizations and the U.S. military. Past participants included CBS Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy and four Democrats running for president in 2020: Jay Inslee, Beto O’Rourke, Tim Ryan and Eric Swalwell.
Kastor, who is participating courtesy of John Hancock’s Elite Athlete Ambassador program, will be attending the 38th ACLI Capital Challenge for the first time.
“I am very excited to be involved with the ACLI Capital Challenge,” said Kastor, who won a bronze medal in the marathon at the 2004 Athens Olympics. “It is an honor to participate in this great Washington tradition. I’ve run in some amazing races in my career with competitors from all over the world. It is a great privilege to be at a race that features so many of our nation’s leaders.”
This year’s race will benefit Junior Achievement and its financial literacy program. Junior Achievement will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2019. Its interactive educational programs reach nearly 4.9 million students per year in all 50 states.
“I’m looking forward to joining the other participants and supporting the important work of Junior Achievement and its financial literacy program,” said Kastor. “Financial literacy is essential for people of all ages. It’s great that ACLI and Junior Achievement are working together to help students learn about the importance of planning early for retirement.”
Supporting race sponsors include ACLI member companies: AIG, Boston Mutual, Guardian, Hannover Re, Jackson National, John Hancock, MetLife, Nationwide, New York Life, OneAmerica, Pacific Life, Prudential, RGA, Transamerica, USAA, UTG, Voya and Western & Southern.
Additional information about the race is available at www.CapitalChallenge.com and www.acli.com/capitalchallenge. Follow @ACLINews and hashtag #CapChallenge on Twitter for more on the race.
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The American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) advocates on behalf of 280 member companies dedicated to providing products and services that promote consumers’ financial and retirement security. 90 million American families depend on our members for life insurance, annuities, retirement plans, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, reinsurance, dental and vision and other supplemental benefits. ACLI represents member companies in state, federal and international forums for public policy that supports the industry marketplace and the families that rely on life insurers’ products for peace of mind. ACLI members represent 95 percent of industry assets in the United States.
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