What's the most ridiculous claim you have heard from a none runner?

I confess this is not about running but I used to be a runner, and am still an athlete, who takes sports stats seriously.

A former, averagely built acquaintance and football player from a class under me in high school—that of '07—returned from his service in the Marines and one evening we randomly and happily bumped into one another in the weight room of my current gym. We got to talking and he disclosed to me some fantastical tales about life and death on the ragged edge of the battlefield. I both believed and respected him until he began to bleat on about other achievements, such as how in high school he could bench press 385 pounds for 15 reps to his chest for 3 sets. Now, I did not call him out on his egregious exaggeration; but I did, and hope you do, realize that there are maybe merely a dozen people in the world capable of such a feat.

To aggravate matters, later I am repping out 315 on the bench when, in the middle of my set, he saunters over to my spotter to disclaim how easy such a weight used to be for him. So not only did his earlier lies about lifting delegitimize his stories of service, but he was now effectively putting me down as I did what he never could and few can. Then, and I kid you not, he walks over to his own bench and begins to shakily rep out 135.

Unbelievable (so to speak).

Two of my favorites:

Running-store salesperson in 1988 (me): "So, what kind of running are you doing?"

Woman customer: "Well, I'm just getting into it, but I did run a mile in right under four minutes."

Me (risking loss of the sale): "That would be pretty incredible, since the women's world record is about 4:16."

Customer: "Oh, um...maybe it was a half-mile."

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Loudmouth older fat guy at a party: "I was on the Israeli Olympic team in 1972. I just missed a medal in judo."

Me: "Oh, man--that must have been terrible, being on that team...but at least you survived."

Guy: "Oh, let's not exaggerate--it was only a sport. I can accept being fourth-best in the world."

Me: "I meant, you know, the terrorists."

Guy: "What, the Germans? I beat them easily."

rank1 wrote:

Then, and I kid you not, he walks over to his own bench and begins to shakily rep out 135.

Unbelievable (so to speak).

to his defense, i've got a max of 350lb, but have a hard time with 135 at first when coming from a long layoff (but then quickly get back into it after a few weeks). It's more of a coordination thing than a strength thing. Like having to switch between pushups and bench press.

or, in this case, doing other things with your hands that aren't bench pressing

350 is good, congrats. Most lifters will never get there. Aiming for 4 plates per side? 405 is within reach.

I agree, when you get back to it after awhile, it takes awhile to get back into it. This point notwithstanding, we had occasionally worked out together in high school and I never saw him go above so much as 185 for a single. He was not even one of the stronger guys on the team who, by the way, themselves were struggling to press up 3 plates.

Definitely wasn't bringing up the 135 to refute his claims. I actually feel there is no need to as they are preposterous. Was only bringing it up to show how silly it was for him to slight my respectable set, and then go and fail.

I'd never do that to my worst enemy.

hominy wrote:

Teamdoc just stated that the guy ran 6 minute miles, which is pretty vague since its common to be nonspecific. The seal could have easily meant he ran in the 6 minute range. Now, 50% slower than 4:30 is 6:45, which is in the 6 minute range. Don't be a douche next time :)

6:45 is much slower than 6:00. That's not nonspecific, it's lying. Nonspecific would be saying "high 6 minute miles" when you run 6:45.

First of all, let's not discuss bedside manner as an internet forum discussion doesn't necessitate it. I apologize for calling you a jackass. Robert Bannister is actually my idol, and I look to him for inspiration as I try to accomplish what he did at the same age (albeit, 58 years later).

Secondly, I didn't know the backstory of your NAVY Seal friend. I concede and take your side that he's a liar. When I made the comment about running with a 50lb backpack, it had to do with ME. I'm only 140lb and my knees are only conditioned to handle that weight. Someone who is obese and sedentary is unlikely to have the necessary muscle support groups for that kind of pounding. Military men, however, specifically train their bodies to lug around hundreds of pounds of gear.

In response to the guy who accused me of not knowing math, I agree with the poster who called you a douche. Non-runners always round down, and say "my friend ran 4 minute miles" when he only ran 4:40. Or "he averaged 5 minute miles" when it was 5:30. It was completely reasonable for me to estimate anything within the 6-7 minute range. I said "50% slower" as a shorthand for taking 50% more time. In terms of mathematics, it's well known that doctors (and premeds) are terrible with it. Fortunately I started out as an engineer, so you need not worry.

Thanks MSR. I'm with you on idolizing Robert Bannister, one of our finest accordionists.

http://alt-usage-english.org/AUE_gallery/robert_bannister.html

I think we can all agree that running with a squeezebox would slow one's mile time by at least 50%, but it would be more than made up for by all of the children's smiles along the way.

I was joking when I said that Carlos would have won if he wanted to. I was mimicking him. He thinks he would have won if he wanted to, not I.

Haha, what a terrible typo! That link was hilarious, btw.Teamdoc, are you a sports medicine physician or is it just a handle?

teamdoc wrote:

Thanks MSR. I'm with you on idolizing Robert Bannister, one of our finest accordionists.

http://alt-usage-english.org/AUE_gallery/robert_bannister.html

I think we can all agree that running with a squeezebox would slow one's mile time by at least 50%, but it would be more than made up for by all of the children's smiles along the way.

A few years back there was a woman news reporter covering the Boston Marathon. While the second wave was being released behind her, she stated that she could pick up a bib and run the race if she wanted. As a news reporter, she had missed the fact the race wasn't open to "anyone wanting a bib," but dismissing this, I sized her up and thought no way. Judging by her appearance and demeanor, she was an extremely pampered and manicured person, who I doubt had ever pushed herself through physical discomfort -- let alone physical discomfort that was completely avoidable. She would have lasted about 5K before hopping an SUV to the finish.

a boss who had to have weighed 250+ lbs who was ex marines told me that he ran 23 mins for 5 miles in the military. "man i was tired after, it was a hell of a run". This is after I told him I ran xc and he asked what the distance was (i told him 5 miles) etc.

No, man, I'm just a Ph.D. who researches the social dynamics of teams and team performance.

My high school chemistry and physics teacher, who was in his early 50s at the time, claimed he ran 1:49 when he was in high school.

To be fair he said he thought he ran 1:49, and he didn't sound positive that was the time he ran. Maybe he ran 1:59, I could have seen him running that time back in his prime but not 1:59.

Oh yeah, and he didn't run in college.

The 1:49 he claimed to have run in the 880.

One time a guy on this thread (ukathletics coach) claimed that only Ethiopians can run 8x400 in 60 sec with a minute rest even though I have seen dozens of people run 10x400 in 60 sec with a minute rest.

Recently a friend asked my mile time, then proceeded to tell me how "at least two" kids from his high school ran "4 minute miles." After some back and forth I found out that 4:04 and 4:40 meant basically the same thing to him.