Only you don’t know it yet, and you’re so young! Believe me, in five years, many of your married friends will be getting divorced, having affairs, etc

Stay with the long view. Scrap the timeline that is taunting you. One day, and you have no idea when, you’ll connect with that special girl.

Keep doing what you’re doing! But ditch the results-oriented dating approach, a recipe for disappointment.

You’re on the right track, it’s just that some times, the flower that blooms late is the most beautiful of all (Apologies for using a such a lame cliché)!

Really, it’s gonna happen and will be worth the wait. Cary’s right. No worries. Do your thing!

But your friends who hooked up too early will be asking you for advice as they try to figure out the mess they find themselves in.

That’s a good one.

Oprah trained hard for--and ran an excellent race in 1994. Accounting for age and sex, (there’s calculators on the web for that), she kicked your butt.

But I won’t pile on too much, because the posters here did an excellent job of pointing out the flaws and vacuity of your alleged argument.

Also, most local road races aren’t money-makers for the sponsors, etc. If it weren’t for the back of the pack runners supporting these things, you might not have a race to run!

As a devoted runner, though, I do cringe when I hear a few people saying “anyone can do a marathon” etc. And some people do show up at starting lines untrained and maybe a little naïve. But that’s life, (and not exclusive to running) and it has no impact on me. (or Ryan Hall for that matter).

But the people who train and put in the time and miles regardless of pace have nothing but my sincere respect and congratulations. And I’m so happy for them because running can enrich every corner of your life, no matter how fast or slow! I wish more people would give running a try, but maybe snobs scare them off?

Really, I think you’re disgruntled because Oprah seriously kicked your butt, despite the fact you consider yourself a “real” runner.

Great advice. I will try to follow your recommendation ..as a stay at home mom this summer, with my nine year old girl. Garrison, enjoy! And keep 'em coming...I look forward to reading your words by the pool this summer, and then jumping in that cold (!) water with my daughter!

...try the food! It's really not the Fair, without it! The malts made by the 4-H Club are worth waiting for every year!

This year at my county fair, I saw a sweet teenage girl tenderly kiss her show rabbit on the forehead. The cows and bulls were proudly tended to by their devoted caretakers. Beautiful animals and an honor to visit them up close. In this unfortunate age of feedlots and factory farms, a visit to the Fair is good tonic.

It's just not summer without the Fair.