[ironman]

Having run Boston 4 times myself, Kerry is not entitled to claim he "Did" the Boston marathon even if he was a bandit. Maybe he got in on an exemption one year but there is no evidence of that. I do not know when the Boston Athletic Association went to qualifying time standards, but the only instance in recent history when there were not standards was in 1996, for the 100th edition, when they had a "non-qualified" division. Time standards actually used to be a little tougher years ago. You still need to be in a near-elite class to qualify.

If you've only run one or two you'd know right off the top of your head the year and time. On the other hand, I've run so many and did so many other athletic events I need minute to go back thru my memory and reconstruct which years I ran and what my times were. But that is easily done. My best guess, Kerry is exaggerating (surprise), he's never officially run the Boston Marathon.

[Drawsing]

He is quoted, "I remember my FIRST Boston Marathon." Obviously implying he ran more than one.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

My best guess, Kerry is exaggerating (surprise), he's never officially run the Boston Marathon.

Of course, you are correct. I strongly suspect that Kerry probably ran two miles of it once as part of some sort of ceremonial/political thing.

Kerry, of course, talks about it as if he finished.

It is a lie as he presents it...but one he could retreat from, claiming that people just misunderstood.

[litany_of_lies]

Y'know, he had a chance at getting away with this until he threw in the "qualified" part. Thousands of bandits run the race every year. I don't know what the BAA does with them at the finish line, but they probably let 'em slide through.

I ran and finished Boston 4x in the late-70s/early-80s. I know my finish times.

AM1776 pointed out the VERY tough qualifying standards during that time. You don't just show up, not even if you're a well-connected politician. Will Cloney, the race director during that time period, simply would not have allowed it, and any politician asking for the favor would have been embarrassed in the press.

Simple Q to Mr. Kerry, "OK, I'll believe you ran, I'll believe you finished, and I'll even believe you don't remember your time, IF, IF, IF, you can tell me what marathon you ran in to qualify for Boston, and when."

Prediction: He won't answer, or will claim to not know or remember. This is not possible without Alzheimers. His only "vague" answer might be that he ran a "few" marathons in the year he qualified. OK, big guy, name them.

This is actually WORSE than Christmas in Cambodia to me.

It is something a LOT of people can relate to, and it would appear it doesn't even pass the smell test.