Is the IM brand doing everything it can to be a racket?
I have done three IM races and several 1/2 IM races, all with the IM brand. I'm proud of having done those. I'm glad there is an organization that puts on these events and creates the "brand" for IM, which in turn continues to grow the legacy of "YOU are and IRONMAN!". The organization on race-day and before and after is great. The races themselves create incentives and goals for participation, and in many cases, change people's lives and health for the better.
But I wonder about the selling of the brand and the sport. IM races are extremely expensive. I know that a big part of that is needed for organization, support, and race-day planning. But I worry that a big part of that is trading on the IM "brand." I feel it's as much a selling of the brand for "membership" as much as it is a race. They are selling the lifestyle as well, for a profit.
One case in point to me about a racket is the "All World Athlete" program. The long and the short of it is that for the cost of 3 or more entries in races per year ($2000+) in IM BRANDED RACES ONLY, participants get a "ranking," swim cap, preferred numbers, and some PDF certificates. The way the rankings work is that participants get points for each race. The more races, the more points. It seems to me that quality points overall for 1-2 FOP finishes in a year mean less overall than points from 3-4 races. It seems to me that it's really a way to reward people for entering as many races per year as they can. An incidental benefit is that those who are a part of this program can also have one more thing to talk about.
I can look at this two ways. I can not get caught up with it and just be glad for people that they are a part of a healthy lifestyle and participate in lots of races over a year. Or, I can see this as really just a way by IM to keep getting the entry fees and reward those who can pay $2000+ per year to enter (NTM travel, lodging, equipment, time off, etc). The reward isn't necessarily for quality.
How should I look at this?
I'm steeling myself to get flamed by additional comments, but please, take it easy.
I have done three IM races and several 1/2 IM races, all with the IM brand. I'm proud of having done those. I'm glad there is an organization that puts on these events and creates the "brand" for IM, which in turn continues to grow the legacy of "YOU are and IRONMAN!". The organization on race-day and before and after is great. The races themselves create incentives and goals for participation, and in many cases, change people's lives and health for the better.
But I wonder about the selling of the brand and the sport. IM races are extremely expensive. I know that a big part of that is needed for organization, support, and race-day planning. But I worry that a big part of that is trading on the IM "brand." I feel it's as much a selling of the brand for "membership" as much as it is a race. They are selling the lifestyle as well, for a profit.
One case in point to me about a racket is the "All World Athlete" program. The long and the short of it is that for the cost of 3 or more entries in races per year ($2000+) in IM BRANDED RACES ONLY, participants get a "ranking," swim cap, preferred numbers, and some PDF certificates. The way the rankings work is that participants get points for each race. The more races, the more points. It seems to me that quality points overall for 1-2 FOP finishes in a year mean less overall than points from 3-4 races. It seems to me that it's really a way to reward people for entering as many races per year as they can. An incidental benefit is that those who are a part of this program can also have one more thing to talk about.
I can look at this two ways. I can not get caught up with it and just be glad for people that they are a part of a healthy lifestyle and participate in lots of races over a year. Or, I can see this as really just a way by IM to keep getting the entry fees and reward those who can pay $2000+ per year to enter (NTM travel, lodging, equipment, time off, etc). The reward isn't necessarily for quality.
How should I look at this?
I'm steeling myself to get flamed by additional comments, but please, take it easy.