Paul RyanPaul Ryan is a liar. We already knew that from all the fact checkers who pored over his convention speech, but it got much, much worse. Because that same week the candidate for Vice President was telling major political lies, he was also telling ones about his physical prowess. Apparently there was some misunderstanding about him climbing 40 mountains. But there was no misunderstanding at all about his marathon lies. He said he ran a sub three marathon -- a feat for only a fleet-footed few. He lied.

As any marathon runner knows, it's no small thing to run 26.2 miles. This is true whether you run it in five hours or three. But let's face it, there is a difference between jogging/walking a marathon and racing it. His real time -- 4:01 -- is fine, but not at all impressive, especially for a man.

He claims he "forgot" his time (it was 22 years ago), but I say anyone who runs a marathon NEVER forgets their time.

I have run two marathons and seven half marathons. My PR (personal record) in a marathon is 3:48. My PR in a half is 1:45. I could tell you the seconds. A runner doesn't forget.

Lying about one's times not only devalues oneself, it also devalues the entire sport. If it were so easy so SAY you ran a 2:50, then why wouldn't everyone? In fact, only 2 percent of runners run a sub three. It takes most people years of training to even run sub four. So to lie about that? Is a big deal.

When I am in full marathon training mode, I devote every day to working out. Sunday I am up at 5 a.m. filling my water pack with Gu, water, and Gatorade. I run two to three hours. I am exhausted, sweaty, and chafed before 9 a.m. and then I get to start my day. Marathon training is brutal, exhausting, and limiting. When I am training, I can't go out on Saturday night or stay up on Sunday. My body hurts all the time and I have to take ice baths.

The reason we runners do it is because it feels so good. We know our times. They are burned under our eyelids and we see them when we go to sleep at night and just before we wake up. We always want to top them. It's a hard goal we have to run track workouts to accomplish. We run until we puke.

Paul Ryan just lies.

If you don't think it's a big deal, then you have never really run a marathon. No one who would lie about his marathon time (or forget it) is worth electing in my book.

Are you bothered by Ryan's lies?

 

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