They're back on top.

They won the challenge in 2006, the first year a team title was awarded. They placed third last year. But this year, the District 1 legislative trio of Sen. Shawn Keough and Reps. Eric Anderson and George Eskridge reclaimed the crown of the Regence BlueShield of Idaho "Move It" Legislative Walking Challenge.

Sen. Keough (R-Sandpoint), Rep. Anderson (R-Priest Lake) and Rep. Eskridge (R-Dover) recorded 1,686,575 steps during the six-week challenge, tracking their steps on Regence BlueShield of Idaho-issued pedometers.

It was the third year the health insurance company issued the challenge to Idaho legislators, breaking them up into teams within their own districts.

And it was the third straight year District 1 finished in the top three. In fact, during the first year of the competition - it was each legislator for him or herself, and that year - Anderson placed fifth overall.

Everyone's step is slightly different, but it is estimated that it takes 2,000 steps to walk a mile so this year's 40 legislative participants, who walked 11,984,427 steps, roughly 5,992 miles. The District 1 champions walked roughly 843 miles.

Sen. Shawn Keough and Reps. Eric Anderson and George Eskridge present $333 check to Bonners Ferry High School.

For their win, they earned $3,000 from Regence BlueShield of Idaho and decided to split the funds seven ways. On Sept. 16, a $500 check was presented to Bonners Ferry High School and $333 was given to Riverside High School Alternative.

Sen. Shawn Keough and Reps. Eric Anderson and George Eskridge present $333 check to Riverside High School.

Check presentations were also made to Clark Fork High School ($500), Sandpoint High School ($500), Priest River Lamanna High School ($500), Lake Pend Oreille Alternative High School ($333) and Priest River Education Program ($333).

The second- and third-place teams earned $2,500 and $1,000, respectively for a school (or schools) in their legislative district. All money is earmarked for health-related purposes.

Additionally, the top-placing individual senator and representative won $1,000 each, and that money was donated to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games. Regence presented the $2,000 check to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games representatives Tuesday, March 18.

"Once again we were pleased to partner with legislators in Idaho to raise awareness about the importance of healthy activities, such as walking," said John Stellmon, President of Regence BlueShield of Idaho. "And the fact that we can award money to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games and to schools within the districts of the winning teams is an added bonus. We'd like to thank the Idaho Legislature for continuing to help us promote this healthy competition."

Regence began the Move It program in 2005 to help address questions about the rising rate of obesity in both Idaho and nationwide. Obesity trails only smoking as the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States.