Thanks for mentioning it. I got silver and blasted my Facebook page with it. Also congratulated my friends that also got it and blasted their page. Looking forward to the perks and putting the sticker on my truck. Happy to be a part of this club and Triathlon.

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http://www.sfuelsgolonger.com

Well apparently many do. I don't....but it doesn't bother me if someone does.

Some of them may judge you and question what you care about.

Calling it a B.S. points system or a WTC money grab is probably true. But, the program does make me think twice about how many WTC races I might do in a year. In fact, I now shoot for doing three events each year whether I'm in race shape or not.

I also like my Delta miles and Amex points programs. You can start a whiny thread about them too.

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What I do: http://app.strava.com/athletes/345699

Just out of curiosity...where do you park your car at night?

I am not annoyed by the social media posts, but I can't help but notice how few of them come back to tell me about their USAT All American status. The latter may have flaws but is a much better indicator of performance. The OP may be a douche but not nearly as much as the AWA program.

Checking my AG, the USAT All American ranking status goes much deeper than the WTC AWA Gold rankings. AWA includes worldwide participation vs. just USA rankings.

Some of my thoughts on making bronze status for the first time...



http://slowpope.com

And yet how many AWA Gold members from the U.S. make all American status? That is my point.

I honestly don't understand why the AWA program itself is douchey.

I can certainly see how people bragging about it on Social Media would be annoying, but if that's bar douchness, what isn't douchey?

They give you points for doing races, then you get very small perks for getting those points, like an expedited race check in. If you have frequent customers, why wouldn't you reward them?

I don't even think it generates much new cash for IM. My guess is that anyone running out to buy AWA branded merchandise would still be buying something branded by IM even in the absence of AWA stuff.

Everyone hates some stuff (I hate man buns and people who let their 10 year olds wear fedora hats), but I'm fine with the AWA program. If my one 70.3 combined with a 13.5 hour 140.6 [sweet back door brag] allow me to cut the check in line at my next race at no extra cost - then colour me bronze.

I have no problem with rewards or loyalty programs. Most companies are straight forward about. But WTC blends it with a mix of performance and then markets it as if it is 100% performance ... hence the name and the social media blasts. I would prefer the AWA cashback program myself.

I think I'm confused - are his results representative of a top 10% finish? He says straight out he was top quarter in one race, and top third in another - how do you make a top 10% out of that?

Therein lies the rub. It's accumulated points over your best three races. So if one guy wins a 70.3 and grabs 3500 points and another races two fulls, finishes in the top half in each, nabs 2000 points in each, he's now up in total points.

You also have to factor in that the AWA program is actually 3 separate AWA programs. There's the 70.3 AWA program, the full Ironman AWA program, and the combined program. So, that's potentially three distinct groups earning gold, silver and bronze. That's a lot of medals.

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What I do: http://app.strava.com/athletes/345699

All of them? I'm not sure what your point is w/r to the comparison. There were something like 220 AWA Gold listings worldwide and 250 USAT All Americans for the same AG.

It's not really a frequent flyer thing...I got my AWA with only 2 Ironman events...a sub 10 hour and a KQ effort....oh the front door bragging! :) heheheh

Seriously, yes, I get it. BUT...rewarding your best customers with no check in lines is nice. At IM South Africa, AWA Gold and Silver were invited to a brunch with a speech by Paula Newby-Fraser. It was alright and learned a few things too. Speaking of IMSA, AWA also hooked me up with a really great spot in transition which was an advantage over where the plebs (tongue in cheek!) racked their bikes for M40.

In other words, I think it's a good idea and with some more customer-focused benefits could actually become valuable and thus an incentive to race more...which is what the WTC wants. As for bragging rights....save that for after the Kona slots allocation! :)

Andnow you gotta add something called "All country,". Some new ranking category

I forgot about the rack spot - that was definitely a perk.

Posts like yours are pathetic. If you resent giving Ironman your money find other lame races to do and shut up about it. I do totally agree that it's super loserish to post pics of your AWA badge. However, it is not just about doing the races. The points are based on your time difference from the winner of your age group. Most people end up with zero points. I happen to love getting to check in without waiting in line, and I like getting to register early for races that sell out fast.

American Wanker Association??

Correct. And incorrect: the floor for any finisher is 1000 / 700 / 350 / 250 points, depending on the event. Zero points for DNS/DNF/DSQ, but DFL always gets points.

I never cared about AWA until I hit gold...now suck it Silver and Bronze!

Oh, All American too. I wish that was a badge I could place on my FB page!

Bingo! The program empowers those who are marginally successful and need a boost to keep going at it.
This is done by providing them with some irrational and constructed accomplishment.

Nothing wrong with that. Everybody is a winner.

So you complain about (1) decreasing participation in the sport, (2) recognition for patrons and (3) free advertisement on vehicles and social media.

Get over it. If you don't enjoy the sport, get out of it, or stop racing. Otherwise, let your times/results speak for themselves.

Good lord. And they say millennials are self-righteous.

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just your average age grouper . no one special . no scientific knowledge . just having fun.

I am guessing very few of them. Post 37 explains why.

Send a note to USAT...but dont expect perks...they dont think that way.