In another thread a poster mentions that he refused to buy any IM merchandise prior to the event.
For myself, part superstition I suppose but largely from a belief that it has to be earned, have avoided buying any Ironman branded merchandise. The Ironman logo on my Profile clip-ons is covered by tape and I will have my wife buy any merchandise at the expo the day before IMMoo, obviously my first. If I DNF it will be donated (sort of like the Patriots superbowl t-shirts which showed up in Nicaragua) If I finish, I keep it. (She will be reimbursed either way of course).
No. Seems rather silly. Moreover, I believe part of being successful (i.e. finishing) is have a good mental outlook. Seems that your strategy is kind of opposite to that. Setting yourself up for failure.
It is actually unlike my approach to anything else, though your failure comment is 180 degrees off.
It just seems wrong to sport IM logos until its earned. Old school maybe.
Not really old school, it’s a widely held belief in a lot of pro sports. There are many football, baseball, etc. players that don’t want to touch a championship ring/trophy until it’s earned.
It’s almost holy writ in hockey that you don’t touch the Stanley Cup until your name is about to be engraved on it.
It’s almost holy writ in hockey that you don’t touch the Stanley Cup until your name is about to be engraved on it.
Not to nitpick, but I think they won’t touch the Conference Championship trophy. They’ll only pick up the cup.
Also, unless you’re at the Hockey Hall of fame, you CAN’T touch the cup unless you’ve won it. Unless you’re a stripper at scores, when the 94 NY Rangers brought it in- then anything goes.
I never buy anything beforehand. Just the same as I won’t wear the IM Kona shirt that my Grandma got me when she was over there one October. I don’t know if it’s superstition, or just not wanting to wear merchandise from a race I didn’t compete in.
That being said, I’ve worn the same warm-up’s to all 8 IM’s…it’s the only time I ever wear those Nike warm-up pants. And, I’ve eaten a chicken burrito the day before every race too
I don’t buy any finishers stuff at the expo the day before. I also won’t wear a t-shirt from a race that I haven’t done myself. I have only one DNF from an event and I don’t even have that shirt in the house.
Do you own any Nascar/NBA/NHL/NFL apparel as well? You probably weren’t on any of those teams or played in any of those games but people still buy it. you are supporting a brand name by purchasing anything with a logo on it. Nothing more.
I used to feel the same way. Did my first marathon in Chicago years ago and refused to buy anything fearing that it would jinx me and lead to injury or certain dnf. Result was that the race went fine and all they had left the day after were crappy shirts in sizes that I could never wear. After that I figured F it and have managed not to have any dnf’s.
Still would not buy any “finisher” gear until after an IM but then I do not think they sell it til the next day anyway. I think it is a cool thing about IM’s that they do not give you the shirt until you cross the line.
I guess I’m screwed, I bought an Ironman watch a decade ago before I ever even considered doing the event. Of course I think all of Timex’s sports watches are Ironmans, so don’t kwow what else I would have done.
They have pimped out the logo so much I’m not sure it really has the same value. Now a finisher shirt or visor is a different thing.
I know that Paula and Paul Huddle had a superstition routine before and after Hawaii. Right off the plane in Kona, they would go to Mcdonalds and gorge. Afterwards(usually after winning for Paula) she would go to a jewlelry shop up in Capt. Cook, and buy some nice expensive bobble, or a funky sculpture.
My only routine that was somewhat compulsive, was to drink at least two beers or glasses of wine the night before with the last supper, no more, no less…
As a practical matter, it’s best to buy early to get the size and color you want. Then keep it in the bag with the receipt. If by some unfortunate turn of events you don’t finish, just take it back. Look at as positive thinking and smart shopping. It would only be showing disrespect if you wore the stuff before the race.
On a side note, I always wonder why they don’t sell Ironman in Training stuff. Seems since most need to sign up a year in advance, it would be popular?
As a practical matter, it’s best to buy early to get the size and color you want. Then keep it in the bag with the receipt. If by some unfortunate turn of events you don’t finish, just take it back. Look at as positive thinking and smart shopping. It would only be showing disrespect if you wore the stuff before the race.
On a side note, I always wonder why they don’t sell Ironman in Training stuff. Seems since most need to sign up a year in advance, it would be popular?
Good ideas on both fronts. I didn’t want to buy any IM gear before the race, not so much due to superstition, as much as it was just too darned expensive to buy if something ended up happening and I didn’t finish. Then found out that I either had to stand in a long, slow line; or wait until the line died out; but then most of the medium anything were gone. Would have been smart to go ahead and buy the day before, then just return it if the unfortunate happened.
And the “IM in Training” is a pretty cool idea. Anybody that’s done it knows that the training is really the hardest part.
There used to be an IM in training shirt on the Ironman.com store - I think it even named the race you were doing, etc. Last time I checked the ‘store’ wasn’t working. I considered buying the shirt for half a second and then realized I’d feel foolish wearing it.
Yeah. I’m the guy that posted that. I guess I didn’t want to jinx myself. I was so nervous about everything that was the last thing I was gonna do. What if I didn’t finish and I had all of that IM stuff? I would feel like total shit having it. I would have to get rid of it. I wouldn’t dare use it. You know?
