If you look to our brethren at letsrun.com, you will learn that a triathlete is someone who cannot excel at any one sport, so, he/she compensates by being mediocre in three.
If you speak to many “pure runners,” they will scoff at your run training plan.
Indeed, I have overheard my own colleagues at work state that I have never “run a marathon” despite the fact that I have done 4 Ironman races.
So, I find it odd that running magazines have begun to run ads and focus on triathletes in recents months. Is this merely capitalizing on a hot trend? How do you think that plays with their “core” audience?
Examples -
Runner’s World, February 2009:
Inside cover - Macca running in his UA shoes.
Pg 88 - article on Newton running shoes (and mention of tri)
Pg 100 - Fuel Belt ad featuring Bryan Rhodes
Running Times, March 2009:
Inside cover - Macca running in his UA shoes
Second page - Matt Reed ad for Suunto
Pg 13 - Newton ad
Pg 19 - Newton feature
Pg 20 - Ecco shoes used by Torbjorn ($220, holy shit!)
Pg 64 - Fuel Belt ad featuring Chrissie Wellington
Triathletes run? I thought that we just shuffled along, stiff-legged, trying to see how fast we could scuff the soles off our shoes. At least, that’s what I do.
**Have “Runners” finally acknowledged that Triathletes run??? **
You are kidding right. Maybe from a marketing perspective, but from a performance perspective - no way. With all due respect, running is the weak link for many triathletes. It’s something that generally speaking most triathletes don’t do well. Now the flip side of this and the glass falf full story is that you can make HUGE gains in the performance level of your triathlon racing by improving your run - however you do that, and for different people that’s will be different. But that is absolutly true. Even minor improvements in run performance can lead to big improvments in triathlon race performance.
This is funny! I was and still consider myself a runner first and I just happen to be a Triathlete also. I just don’t get these ‘purist’ type folks that seem to harbor an elitest attitude about running, cycling, and triathlons in particular. The bottom line is that I’m an athlete. I love that in a triathlon that there are 3 disciplines and some folks have their specialties.
My training partner and I raced in an Olympic Tri last year. He beat me out of the water by 7 minutes(yes I suck at swimming!) but in the end he only beat me by about 90 seconds. Even though he still beat me it was a blast chasing him down. And he had a blast knowing I was running him down too!
I don’t see this as much with runners as I do with cyclists. I do think in general though that many more triathletes are accepting of folks than the purist runners and cyclists.
Unless you are under 22 years old and very immature for your age you should stay off letsrun.com. It has some of the most inane high school banter I have ever seen and very little info of value. What little there is requires one to dig through a ton of worthless teen banter. I find it really funny that they have a “high school” section. I guess the guys/gals in their early 20’s just can’t put up with the even more immature ranting’s of their younger siblings. Luckily most of the younger folks here at ST are pretty mature and sometimes even know a thing or two.
Check out the link from this thread. Pretty funny, sad stuff.
Bingo. It ain’t an editorial decision but an economic one. If triathletes bought enough scrapbooking magazines there would be add for Zipp in amongst the latest cropping shears.
If you look to our brethren at letsrun.com, you will learn that a triathlete is someone who cannot excel at any one sport, so, he/she compensates by being mediocre in three.
If you speak to many “pure runners,” they will scoff at your run training plan.
Indeed, I have overheard my own colleagues at work state that I have never “run a marathon” despite the fact that I have done 4 Ironman races.
So, I find it odd that running magazines have begun to run ads and focus on triathletes in recents months. Is this merely capitalizing on a hot trend? How do you think that plays with their “core” audience?
Examples -
Runner’s World, February 2009:
Inside cover - Macca running in his UA shoes.
Pg 88 - article on Newton running shoes (and mention of tri)
Pg 100 - Fuel Belt ad featuring Bryan Rhodes
Running Times, March 2009:
Inside cover - Macca running in his UA shoes
Second page - Matt Reed ad for Suunto
Pg 13 - Newton ad
Pg 19 - Newton feature
Pg 20 - Ecco shoes used by Torbjorn ($220, holy shit!)
Pg 64 - Fuel Belt ad featuring Chrissie Wellington
I suspect it is because those companies don’t have any of the top runners in their stable so they use what they can. The triathletes who read those magazines (there are probably many) will be impressed. The runners not so much.
**Have “Runners” finally acknowledged that Triathletes run??? **
You are kidding right. Maybe from a marketing perspective, but from a performance perspective - no way. With all due respect, running is the weak link for many triathletes. It’s something that generally speaking most triathletes don’t do well. Now the flip side of this and the glass falf full story is that you can make HUGE gains in the performance level of your triathlon racing by improving your run - however you do that, and for different people that’s will be different. But that is absolutly true. Even minor improvements in run performance can lead to big improvments in triathlon race performance.
I understand and agree with what you are saying. My statement was really made tongue-in-cheeck. What I find “interesting” (for lack of a better word) is that these “runner” magazines are featuring triathletes. Isn’t the core focus group of these magazines “runners?” Don’t “runners” often scoff at triathletes? If that is case, why would a “running” magazine feature anything sponsored by a triathlete? Wouldn’t the runners just laugh?
You also get to the core of why I, for example, buy the “running” magazines. Running is my weakest link. Even with a moderately decent run, I could (possibly) compete for a Kona slot. So, I need help on the run, no question.
You guys are all missing the biggest flaw in this argument:
What does Runner’s World have to do with running in the first place?
While I would guess there is a bit of humor in this post, I also agree that it is a legitimate crack at RW. The magazine has looked more like a cross between Mens Health and a runners periodical more than a pure running magazine. Quality has dropped over the years for sure.
I suspect it is because those companies don’t have any of the top runners in their stable so they use what they can. The triathletes who read those magazines (there are probably many) will be impressed. The runners not so much. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Frank: Have you thought about placing a Powercrank ad in one of these magazines? Do you think you could generate interest among the “pure” runners.
Meh, runners think triathletes are joggers, not runners, cyclists think triathletes can’t have no bike control skills and are slow, and swimmers think most triathletes would drown. Actually, swimmers are generally the friendliest group of the three towards triathletes, but regardless, everyone has to have someone to look down on, to feel superior to, I think it’s human nature. “I might suck at this, but that guy sucks worse so I feel better about myself”
As for the magazine, it’s a business decision, I’m sure. Triathletes are wont to spend lots of money on many things, and generally have a high disposable income, so as was mentioned in a previous post, they buy everything, including one-discipline specific magazines.
