Marr walks all over the competition

OLYMPIA — The end of a legislative session in Olympia is fraught with competition among legislators trying to ensure that they meet their goals as the clock ticks down to the final moments before Sine Die.

This year, Sen. Chris Marr, D-Spokane, clearly came out steps ahead of his colleagues —exactly 361,541 to be precise.

That’s the number of steps achieved by Marr during the fourth annual Regence BlueShield “Move It” Legislative Walking Challenge, in which legislators wear a pedometer to record their back and forth journeys during session.

“I’m not surprised that I came out on top,” joked Marr, an avid runner who made it a goal to average six miles per day either running or walking. “I’ve heard that Derek Kilmer is a fierce door-beller on the campaign trail, but I’ve always had my doubts — I mean, he looks a little soft. And Steve Hobbs? Sure, he may have been “The Hobbinator” when he was in the Army, but I knew I could take him — guys like that use it all up in their youth and burn out early.”

Marr’s closest competition came from Rep. Dave Quall, who managed to pace off 316,189 steps, and Sen. Rodney Tom who walked 315,201 steps. This year, legislators participating in the challenge racked up a total of 2,032,479 steps — walking more than 1,000 miles between committee meeting and floor debates.

As an added incentive, Regence will donate money to be used for health-related purposes to a school in the district of each winning legislator. Marr’s first-place finish will net a Spokane area school $3,500.

Regence began the “Move It” program because of the rising rate of childhood obesity as a way to allow leaders to demonstrate healthy behaviors to the public and to set a good example for the next generation.

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