It’s political season here in America and candidates are getting a lot more air time than usual. That means they have a lot
more opportunity to say something stupid. The biggest blunder as far as the running world goes, Paul Ryan bragging on the radio that he ran a sub-3 hour marathon.
He didn’t.
When called out on it, he admitted he made a mistake and actually did a 4 hour marathon.
A mistake, or a lie? hmmm
I find it difficult to believe that someone would incorrectly remember the time of their first, and only, marathon. I mean, I can understand being off by a few minutes but by a whole hour? It just makes no sense.
Granted it was over twenty years ago, but I’ve done 32 marathons since and while I don’t remember the exact time of each, I know that I haven’t run a sub-3 hour marathon. I remember my PR, (3:21:38) and the time of my first marathon which I ran in 1996 (4:02).
Is it lying or something else?
Of course, just because I remember my marathon times and every other person who’s run a marathon that I know remembers theirs, this doesn’t mean that Ryan is generally a liar. It’s hard to be in the spotlight and you’re going to say a lot of stuff. It is a rare person indeed that is able to have all that attention and not say something stupid or inaccurate.
I don’t really begrudge the guy for lying about this. However, it does make me wonder what other things he’s lying about. Not that it matters much. I disagree with the guy’s politics which is why I’m unlikely to vote for him.
Still, I wonder how many of you marathon runners have “forgotten” your time?
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I once joggled a 2:32 marathon. But, I just can’t remember if it was a dream or not
I thought it was so funny that he lowered his time by 1 hour! Maybe it’s like the fish that keeps getting bigger and bigger when the fisherman grows older and tells the story over and over…. Maybe marathon times keep getting faster and faster in some people’s memory over years, lol. Maybe he’ll be telling his grandchildren he did it in sub 2 hrs.
I’ve only ran one Marathon, it was while juggling three clubs. I don’t remember my time. But it was like 5 hours and 22 minutes. I do remember that my 20 mile time was 3:22 something.
A sub 3 hour marathon would be huge for a first timer, for most people. And I believe people who run, or pay attention to those who do, have more respect for that accomplishment than to be mistaken or lie about it.
You’ve got that right