At one time it used to be that when somebody said they were doing Ironman you knew they were talking about Hawaii. Today there are 22 possible venues with the registered trademark of Ironman (30 if you count the Ironman 70.3 series).
My question is how do you feel about the name “Ironman” being the exclusive trademark of ALL these races and NOT every race that is 140.6 miles? Do you think the TM business helps or hurts our sport? What if “Marathon” had been trademarked or “Triathlon” or 10k?
I don’t think it matters.
Ironman is synonmous with a triathlon is 140.6 miles - to the population in general Ironman is synonmous with Triathlon…
We in the tri world know that there is a difference between a Ironman trademarked event, and the Silverman, or the Great Floridian, but when it comes down to it they are all Ironman Distance triathlons; it’s really no difference then say the new Lifetime Fitness triathlon series and a normal International Distance tri.
I think you need to remember that people will refer to non tradmark ironman distance races as an Ironman also further confusing the issue. But either way a big name helps in spreading the word.
I think to this point in time that it has helped the sport, but my sense is that we are now entering a phase where it’s influence will be less as time goes on.
Depends on what’s important to you. When I do my first 140.6, as far as I’m concerned, I’ve done an ironman. If somebody is at the finish to proclaim “you are an ironman”… great. If not, that’s not going to diminish the accomplishment for me. The main distinction between “ironman” and “iron distance” is marketing which can be both good and bad. It’s good because it brings more attention to the sport. It can be bad for the same reason… look at what a pain in the arse it is to get into some of the more popular races. If I can get into an “official” ironman and the timing and location works out for me I may do it. If it works out better for me to enter some other iron distance race then that’s what I’ll do. I’m not going to be on the internet asking if I’ve really done an ironman since it wasn’t a trademarked event.
No question: It has absolutely helped.
WTC put our sport on the map with Ironman. If it weren’t for the Sports Illustrated article around 1979 and the following year’s ABC sports telecast of WTC’s (then Valerie Silk I think…) Ironman event triathlon would be on a lower level- literally- than curling.
Actually, up here north of the border, Ironman is on a much, much lower level then curling. Every spring, there is 3 weeks where the television networks will show up to 9 hours (3 draws) of curling per day - one week for men’s nationals, one for women’s and one for worlds. Plus they show finals from a bunch of other big international events. Total media attention to Ironman doesn’t even come close to curling up here. And yes, I’ve tried curling - way harder then riding a bike or swimming - trying to get that damn rock to stop in the right place is nearly impossible!
Dan
I still think curling was invented by bored janitors.
Gotta agree with Tom. The name has done more for the sport overall, than each local race on its own could have ever “established triathlon”.
Um, without the name “Ironman”, most folks wouldn’t even know triathlon is a sport. I know, it’s shocking because triathlon events are all over sports shows, talk radio, highlight reels, sports magazines, etc.
I’ve made no secret of the fact that I think they (WTC) should be dipped in shit and hung for stinkin’
IM is a distance, not a trademark.
" IM " is bigger than triathlon. the entire sport of triathlon gravytrains to some degree off the positive public/cultral image of IM. everything from the ease of getting a road closure for the local sprint, to the enjoyment of advanced R&D on the equipment used in the sport gets a shot in the arm from " IM ".
there are many sports that would KILL to enjoy a similar relationship with a figurehead brand creating such a positive public image. it is a constant source of wonder to me how many triathletes do not recognize this, or take it for granted.
I know, it’s shocking because triathlon events are all over sports shows, talk radio, highlight reels, sports magazines, etc.
those talking heads don’t give the hockey scores
track and feild no womans sports either soccer ect ect
they are just selling their content
it is the American way money money money
remember sears had ironman bikes in the 80s
I will not bother to quote your foul language, but indeed, it is interetsing to comtemplate how different things would be if the word ironman merely referred to the sport of Triathlon’s longest regularly contested distance event - just like the marathon is in running. I wonder how different things would be.
It bothers me that a sport as young as triathlon and, relativly speaking as small, has all these divisons in it. It’ can’t be good for the collective good of the sport. Look at running. Somehow everyone is able to co-exist under one banner - everything from middle distance running events on the track, to the marathon even to ultra-marathons. There is room for everyone in the tent.
i agree, fleck.
luckily, the positive public image of IM in pop-culture is not only bigger than triathlon - but by definition is a L-O-T bigger than the subset of malcontents within triathlon. indeed, to an average non-tri person who is familiar with IM, the idea of a ( quite ) small group of enthusiasts who fancy themselves critics of the event is actually kind of quaint. most average people in popular culture just admire the event as an ideal, or accomplishment, or even an oddity. the vocal minority of malcontents you see on a site like this does not amount to even the tinyest blip in the popular culture radar.
Right on “Cousin Elwood”. You have made no secret, see my prior posts righting your spewing of wrong facts about IMNA and WTC, about your ability and willingness to say whatever is on your mind, regardless of whether of not it’s factually correct and then just rant “it’s my opinion”. Sort of like if you say it’s day out enough times, when it’s night, then your right, it’s day. Foolish at best.
The number 1 is a registered trademark of Dale Ernhardt
The number (3) (in parentheses) is a registered trademark of Level 3 Communications.
The number 4 is a registered trademark of Swingline (as in staplers).
The number 5 is a registered trademark of Chanel (as in Chanel No. 5 perfume).
Your view on trademark and intellectual property is silly. Ironman is a trademark. The distance (140.6 miles combined) is irelevant. They could use Ironman to denote a sprint triathlon if they chose.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironman_Triathlon
Your complaints about IMNA and it’s registration process is ludicris, IMHO.
At least make make a sensible argument when you state your opinion instead of just castigating whoever is on your mind. Tell us something other than “they suck”.
I was just saying that without Ironman, triathlon wouldn’t get a sniff … osrt of like Track and Field without the Olympics, Women’s Soccer (heck, even men’s soccer) without the World Cup.
Even then, the Ironman race seems to be as much if not more about the hobbyists rathers than the professionals (or so the arguement goes).
The sport, professionally, needs more “big races” where “everybody shows up”, to create a stir. We have the occassional race where 1-2 tops pros might both attend, but nothing where 5 of the top 10 pros are going head to head at a non-Kona race. Outside of Kona, there’s very little for 140.6 fans to pay attention to (or so it would seem in the mainstream). Perhaps some of these races could be in the 70.3 series/distance.
There’s basically “one” event a year.
I’m not sure why you’ve chosen to make me your pet project, but I must tell you how grateful I am that you’re here to enlighten me. Once again, however, you’re choosing to attack me instead of discuss my opinions, which as I’ve noted earlier, are not capable of being right or wrong, they’re just opinions. I’m sure you didn’t allow your ex-wives to have opinionis, but sadly for you, you can’t stop me from having mine. Nor can you stop me from being amused when you attempt to show of the machismo that you don’t possess
"I’ve made no secret of the fact that I think they (WTC) should be dipped in shit and hung for stinkin’
IM is a distance, not a trademark."
Is this not what you said, dude? You state facts above about WTC’s trademark then try and say it is opinion. Like I said, your not my “pet project” but I am going to correct a total falsehood.
Go take some more Metamucil and Geritol and try and convince your wife the moon is made of cheese, because you said so.
You make me laugh, Cousin Elwood.
The irony is the situation is that I suspect you have either raced M-Dot races before or tried to sign up for them but did not too late.
You do a pretty poor job though at disassociating the POINT…and that is your prior posts about WTC and trademarks and IMNA even having a hand in the trademarks and branding are factually wrong. Those are not opinions but WRONG FACTS. That is why you amuse me so much.
Get it right, or admit that you mistated a fact. Don’t try and turn everything into your opinion. Like I said, go and try and convince someone that is daylight out when it’s pitch dark, the fact remains it is dark and only a true fools “opinion” would matter.
Peace out.
And by the way, in your reply to me were you trying to make a point about something related to the thread or did that “fly” over my head?
Dude!! What are you, 6???
"I’ve made no secret of the fact that I think they (WTC) should be dipped in shit and hung for stinkin’ "
“IM is a distance, not a trademark.”
“Is this not what you said, dude? You state facts above about WTC’s trademark then try and say it is opinion.”
“Like I said, your not my “pet project” but I am going to correct a total falsehood.”
“Go take some more Metamucil and Geritol and try and convince your wife the moon is made of cheese, because you said so.”
“You make me laugh, Cousin Elwood.”
“The irony is the situation is that I suspect you have either raced M-Dot races before or tried to sign up for them but did not too late.”
“You do a pretty poor job though at disassociating the POINT…and that is your prior posts about WTC and trademarks and IMNA even having a hand in the trademarks and branding are factually wrong. Those are not opinions but WRONG FACTS. That is why you amuse me so much.”
“the fact remains it is dark and only a true fools “opinion” would matter.”
“And by the way, in your reply to me were you trying to make a point about something related to the thread or did that “fly” over my head?”
This all seems quite important to you, why is that? (rhetorical)