It was Ironman and the marketing and branding they did that got me off the couch and maybe help save my life.

Challenge has done nothing for me or the tens of thousands that share my same story.

I just cant picture myself being a Challenged Athlete (it doesn't even sound good).

Final note: If you really cared about the city of Penticton you would boycott the race all together. Last year they lost $377,000 and with what appears as a lower turn out this year they will lose even more. It would help the city if the race was cancelled.

I could not get myself off the couch I needed motivation It was Ironman that gave me the motivation.




Disagree, every race I go to I see and hear people share their story about how they were motivated by the Ironman brand.



That was a Joke I thought it was funny.

If Ironman went bankrupt tomorrow and had no more races, would you lose motivation and gain weight again?
Have you ever done a non mdot triathlon? If so, why?

Pure ignorance. The race is being taken over by a private entity next year that is taking on the debt. Cost to Penticton: ZERO. There are over 1000 entrants already for this years race.

I just looked at the site and it shows less than 300 signed up for the Full. Not sure how you got to 1000. The Penticton course is a Full Ironman distance. The add on races are just fluff. People say they want to race Penticton and sign up for the Half. Now how is that racing Penticton. They have gone from 3000 with Ironman to 300 with Chanllenge, Holy cow I didn't know it was this bad. 300 people stretched over 112 miles now that is a lonely experience.

... 300 people stretched over 112 miles now that is a lonely experience.

$125,000 government grant to a race that used to be run at a cost less than that sum by a private firm that gave charity funds back into town + 3 times the size economic impact than current

Not smart tax dollar math to me.

$377,000 loss + $125,000 grant + this years losses (say $100,000) is an even $600,000.

I'm a taxpayer here. It's arithmetic,

I will be volunteering. Those racing deserve our continued support this year.

I'm not in for the race... yet. May do the half depending on how things go over the next month (newborn at home, raced Calgary this weekend, racing Apple the week before).

$125,000 government grant to a race that used to be run at a cost less than that sum by a private firm that gave charity funds back into town + 3 times the size economic impact than current

Not smart tax dollar math to me.

$377,000 loss + $125,000 grant + this years losses (say $100,000) is an even $600,000.

I'm a taxpayer here. It's arithmetic

I weighed over 360 lbs (Only reason I don't know my exact weight is because scale pegged out at 360) and was sitting on the couch watching the IRONMAN World Championship. I watched a father pull his son in a raft for 2.4 miles, then ride with him on the front of his bike for 112 miles and then push him for 26.2 miles. I got up off the couch looked at myself in the mirror and said enough is enough. 2 years later I went up to Penticton volunteered and signed up for the next year. I was so overwhelmed with what I witnessed there that it kept me going for the whole year. I completed my first Ironman race IMC in 2009. On race day I weighed in at 200lbs.

So what does that story have to do with Penticton. For me everything. In 2012 I was getting in my truck to drive up to Penticton to volunteer again and sign up for the 2013 race. My buddy texted me and said "No Ironman 2013 in Penticton". I turned my truck around and started reading the news reports. I raced Ironman Canada in Whistler in 2013. It was Ironman and the marketing and branding they did that got me off the couch and maybe help save my life. Challenge has done nothing for me or the tens of thousands that share my same story. For us Ironman is not just a brand it is what pulled us out of a very dark place. I have now completed 8 Ironman races avg time is 12:15 so you can see I am not the fastest but I am the one smiling all 11 to 12 hours. I want to thank the WTC for letting me roll into towns across the country and providing a consistent race experience.

Now for the comparison:

Whister vs Penticton as a venue: Hands down Whistler wins.
Whister vs Penticton as a race course: Penticton is a better course
Whister vs Penticton for spectators: Whistler wins I saw my family 3 times on the bike and 2 times on the run. Penticton only saw them after transition.
Whister vs Penticton for food: Whistler Wins no comparison
Whister vs Penticton as a hospitality: Whistler wins not even close
Whister vs Penticton for cost: Whistler is 50% less expensive than Penticton
Whister vs Penticton local business: Whistler was laid back Penticton was trying to get every penny out of every athlete. (accept the Bike Barn those guys there were truly incredible and fair)

If Ironman branded both races on the same day I would race Penticton. Only because it was my first race and I would love to do it again.

I get it if you are a natural born triathlete and don't need motivation to keep you going than Ironman has limited value and all of us non athletes are just in your way. I get it. But, for us average joes who need that extra inspiration IRONMAN is ticket. I just cant picture myself being a Challenged Athlete (it doesn't even sound good).

Final note: If you really cared about the city of Penticton you would boycott the race all together. Last year they lost $377,000 and with what appears as a lower turn out this year they will lose even more. It would help the city if the race was cancelled.

Coming back to the topic on the thread, i truly hope that Penticton can get this working well with Challenge or someone else.

I think your disingenuous.

Race it again if you want it to succeed.

Uhh... the $125k reduces the debt. Should be a negative sign.

The addition of the half distance this year should do a lot to move the race into profit... I hope!