"Yeah, I can bench about 350"

[EpyonXero]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/...marathon-claim

Fact Check: Paul Ryan Exaggerates Marathon Claim


Correction: the Runner's World calculator discussed below is used for training purposes. A pace calculator estimates that Ryan would have needed to run at about 6:50 per mile to complete a marathon in 2:59.

Our original post:

Last week, Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan claimed he'd accomplished an athletic feat: He had run a marathon in under three hours. The claim came during an interview on radio host Hugh Hewitt's program.

"H[ugh] H[ewitt]: Are you still running?

P[aul] R[yan]: Yeah, I hurt a disc in my back, so I don't run marathons anymore. I just run ten miles or yes.

HH: But you did run marathons at some point?

PR: Yeah, but I can't do it anymore, because my back is just not that great.

HH: I've just gotta ask, what's your personal best?

PR: Under three, high twos. I had a two hour and fifty-something.

HH: Holy smokes. All right, now you go down to Miami University ...

PR: I was fast when I was younger, yeah."
A "sub-3:00" marathon? The congressman is known for his athletic prowess, but that's still a blistering pace. According to a nifty calculator on the Runner's World website, in order to complete a marathon in, say, 2:59, the calculator suggests Ryan ran a mile in 5 minutes, 37 seconds on average. Then he'd have to sustain that pace for 26.2 miles.

The speed is so fast that Runner's World checked his claim — and couldn't find it. It did locate one marathon he participated in: "Grandma's Marathon" in Duluth, Minn., on June 23, 1990.

He finished in 4 hours, 1 minute and 25 seconds.

Friday, a spokesman for Ryan told the magazine the Republican vice presidential candidate has indeed run just one marathon. And, Ryan issued this statement:

"The race was more than 20 years ago, but my brother Tobin — who ran Boston last year — reminds me that he is the owner of the fastest marathon in the family and has never himself ran a sub-three. If I were to do any rounding, it would certainly be to four hours, not three. He gave me a good ribbing over this at dinner tonight."
Runners posting on the Runner's World website are outraged: Many are listing their own PR (personal records) with date and marathon name.

Incidentally, Ryan's marathon time is a little bit slower than former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the previous GOP vice presidential candidate. Her marathon personal record is 3:59:36.

Tags: Runner's World, Rep. Paul Ryan

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[pauldun170]

I banged out a sub-3hr marathon too.
Having a car really helps

[derf]

Heh this is a non issue scandal to me, the guy misspoke our forgot our something, it was 20 years ago

[OneSickPsycho]

Well, Gary Johnson climbed Everest... and he actually did.

[fatbuckRTO]

Originally Posted by derf

Heh this is a non issue scandal to me, the guy misspoke our forgot our something, it was 20 years ago

Near as I can tell, Ryan misspoke or forgot his entire speech. I suppose, at least, that makes him a good match for Romney...

[derf]

I agree the guy is a tool, but in this case I give him a pass

[pauldun170]

Originally Posted by derf

I agree the guy is a tool, but in this case I give him a pass

Agreed...
Sounds like he had a case of the brah's

[Sixxxxer]

There all Liars and Thief's...Why is this a shock?

[KSGregman]

We get what we TOLERATE.....

If we tolerate people who lie habitually like this, it's what we get....and honestly, we DESERVE it for allowing it to happen.

If he's (or politicians like him) going to lie to you about a marathon time, he'll lie to you about ANYTHING else...it's inexcusable how people are lining up to excuse this type of behavior away. This Country is going down by the bow and it's not hard to figure out why....no morals....no work ethic....all the things that USED to make us great have been abandoned in the name of a quick fix of popularity and/or wealth.

[EpyonXero]

Originally Posted by derf

Heh this is a non issue scandal to me, the guy misspoke our forgot our something, it was 20 years ago

Im not a runner but my friends who do marathons say you never forget your personal best.