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Carter, who had been a member of the U.S. Naval Academy's cross-country team 36 years ago, devised his own jogging program, with the help of books like James Fixx's The Complete Book of Running. He started out with one-to two-mile runs around the White House driveway on weekdays, and logged longer distances on his Camp David weekends. Like many novice runners, Carter soon became addicted. Said he: "I start looking forward to it almost from the moment I get up. If I don't run, I don't feel exactly right." By early summer, Carter was averaging 40 to 50 miles a week, and with typical intensity and stubbornness, he kept trying to better his time. At first, he averaged 8½ min. per mile, but he now regularly finishes the distance in 7 min. Occasionally, he turns in a 6½-min. mile, an excellent time for a self-proclaimed "senior citizen" who will be 55 this week.
Watching closely over Carter's regimen is Rear Admiral Lukash, 48, an ascetic-looking, genial Navy doctor. A graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School, Lukash has been on the White House medical staff since 1967, when he began helping to care for Lyndon Johnson. Gerald Ford promoted him to White House physician in 1974 and Carter decided to keep him in the post, which involves tending not only the First Family but the 1,300 members of the White House staff.
Lukash, who was running* at Carter's side when he collapsed, is rarely more than a few yards away from his most important patient during the working day.
He often sees the President as early as 6:30 a.m., when Carter pokes his head into the doctor's East Wing office to wish him good morning. If Carter is already working at that hour, Lukash will look in on him later in the day, just for a quick check of how he is feeling. "I'm not a medical albatross," says Lukash. "He sees so much of me that I try to blend in." He gives the President a complete physical annually, and does not believe more frequent ones are needed. "He's had no risk factors," explains Lukash. "He doesn't smoke. No diabetes, no hypertension, no heart disease, no lung problems."
Despite his job, Carter's blood pressure is a steady 110-115/70. Says Lukash: "He is in excellent health. I wish I could take credit for it."
Lukash readily concedes that Carter looks considerably different from the candidate of three years ago. The job has visibly aged the man—which is no surprise; it aged his predecessors. Carter's hair is grayer, his face much more lined. His jogging has also caused alterations. Before he started, he carried 158 lbs. on his 5-ft. 9½-in. frame; today he weighs 148 Ibs., a drop that has required him to send his suits out for refitting. Carter now regularly uses a sunscreen lotion to protect his fair complexion. This often leaves his face looking splotchy, says Lukash.
Lukash also believes Carter is bearing the emotional strains of his office well. Says he: "I've never seen him manifesting overt stress. Obviously, he gets concerned about his brother Billy or by Chip's divorce. But he's not in any way weakened under the pressure of decision making. He's philosophical about the pressures and feels he is doing the best he can."