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Nevertheless, the doctor does not dismiss specualtion that the most recent set of worries—dismal ratings in the polls, Soviet troops in Cuba, allegations of cocaine use by Hamilton Jordan, the challenge of Senator Edward Kennedy for his party's presidential nomination—might have undermined Carter's strength and played some part in his Catoctin fallout. More significant, however, was the fact that the President was doggedly attempting to improve his time; he was trying to cut a full four minutes off his best previous time on the punishing Catoctin course, from 50 minutes to 46. Many runners would consider such substantial improvement under competitive conditions a fool's errand.
Admitted Lukash: "This time he was probably trying to do too much.''
* An avid jogger himself, Lukash has been running for 3½ years.