Odd

Paul Ryan lies about his best marathon time and is immediately caught.

I don't quite know how to interpret this.  On the one hand, embellished responses to past athletic endeavors is quite common amongst older men and mostly insignificant.  But Ryan embellished by 1 entire hour - a significant leap - suggesting rather than being an average marathoner, he was a really fast marathoner.  Not only that, but unlike Al Bundy's claim to have scored 4 touchtowns (which could be an embellishment, it doesn't truly matter) in an important high school football game, a marathon time matters because of its specificity.  Because of the time itself.  Every second matters.  You can't imagine Usain Bolt laughing and joking 20 years in the future talking about his 9.5 100 time.  You know?  It just doesn't work that way with times.

I think the only way to interpret this is through the lens of being a lifelong politician.  These guys are not normal creatures.  They create myths about themselves and the successful ones believe the myths.

For instance, I highly question President Obama's basketball skills.  He acts as though he was a real baller, but from what I understand, he did not start for his varsity high school basketball team.  I know sports - and I know he went to a big high school - but it was also a really bright nerdy high school and not exactly the South Side of Chicago with elite basketball players.  And he couldn't start for them.  This means he isn't that good.

And now we have Ryan lying about his marathon time.  I think these guys are full time salesman, selling themselves, and they'll do anything to make the product sell better.  Enough to disappoint us regular folks.