I met a fella who was active Army who was about my age. As a first date we went to the mountains. He was stationed here and not a native Californian, but had hiked around in the midwest and appeared fit - I figured, he must have to be fit enough to pass those fitness requirements they surely have? So I chose a day hike to a peak.

Of course, it nearly killed him, and we only made it a couple miles, but he gamely returned for a second date, so it must only have bruised his ego a little bit.

Then there's the times guys have shown up with entire backpacks for day hikes, "training" - they don't let me carry their stuff despite the fact that I'm not the one huffing, puffing and looking like a cardiac arrest is imminent, and they are leaning heavily on my trekking poles. I think the trekking pole industry should give me a commission.