WHAT IT FEELS LIKE . . . . . . to lose 119 consecutive Presidents Races.

Teddy Roosevelt may have been a great president, but he's a lousy runner. Since the Washington Nationals began featuring live Presidents Races between Roosevelt, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln during the 2006 season, our man Teddy is the only one to have never won. However, today marks the Nats' final home game of 2007, as well as their final game ever at RFK Stadium. Could Teddy choose this historic afternoon to break his losing streak? He was kind enough to engage in an e-mail interview with us this week.

Nothing has held me back. It's a splendid little race! George is fast. Tom is clever. Abe is . . . well, Abe is honest, I suppose. But I don't blame them [for the losses] -- I blame only myself. Some claim I am unfit, but I am as fit as a bull moose!

Let the man who would criticize me run the race himself. To quote our 26th president, "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena." It's not easy. It takes character to try, and to lose, and to keep trying. What I lack in wins, I make up for in character!

The zip line [ploy, which ultimately resulted in disqualification] was a bully fight. Reminded me of my first flight in an airplane. (Have the others ever flown?) I had a splendid ride in a golf cart, a scooter. . . . They all came close, but ultimately short. I even ran my own race.

It's not so much that I have not won; it's that my victories are not generally recognized. They've called it cheating -- I call it spirit! I've heard it said (actually, by me): "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." A pithy quote, to be sure.

-- Interview by Dave Sheinin