Ironman - The Biggest Loser?

Triathlon Forum
1

Last night I was watching The Biggest Loser with my wife.

Blaine, who was voted off, said he was going to do an Ironman. Following that by, ‘it’s a mile and a half swim, 80 mile bike and half marathon run.’

I got ticked off, not because he’s taking on our beautiful sport, but because IM North America has been unconcerned with the well being of Triathlon that they have diluted what we call an Ironman. What Blaine is doing is a Half Ironman, but now the definition between the two is grey.

I understand IMNA’s quest for Brand recognition and to not become the next “Coke”, “Kleenex”, or “Band Aid”.

But I still argue that the FULL distance is an Ironman…and that’s our name for it and I say it shouldn’t “belong” to IMNA.

Almost every one of us in the privacy of our own homes, call the local full distance triathlons that we do an “IRONMAN”.

It’s still the distance.

What irritated me is IM North America has taken away, through selfish commercially driven legal battles, the ability to call any full distance EXACTLY what it is…an Ironman.

Ironman North America is little more than a Commercial Race Management Group that is concerned with their own money making machine without regard for the sport of triathlon as a whole and is apparently ONLY concerned with “owning” the name “Ironman”.

And because they “own” the name, they have also diluted it.

So, it’s great that the sport of triathlon got national air time last night.
But,I also feel that IM North America has made US, the triathletes…The Biggest Losers.

2

I saw that as well but I thought he was explaining the 101 series. When was this season filmed? Must have been early last year.

Theoretically if 101 would have stood up, I probably would have described it as an Ironman to those who didn’t know the difference. Or you could say 3/4 Ironman, though technically only 71.8%

3

Last night I was watching The Biggest Loser with my wife.

Blaine, who was voted off, said he was going to do an Ironman. Following that by, ‘it’s a mile and a half swim, 80 mile bike and half marathon run.’

I got ticked off, not because he’s taking on our beautiful sport, but because IM North America has been unconcerned with the well being of Triathlon that they have diluted what we call an Ironman. What Blaine is doing is a Half Ironman, but now the definition between the two is grey.

I understand IMNA’s quest for Brand recognition and to not become the next “Coke”, “Kleenex”, or “Band Aid”.

But I still argue that the FULL distance is an Ironman…and that’s our name for it and I say it shouldn’t “belong” to IMNA.

Almost every one of us in the privacy of our own homes, call the local full distance triathlons that we do an “IRONMAN”.

It’s still the distance.

What irritated me is IM North America has taken away, through selfish commercially driven legal battles, the ability to call any full distance EXACTLY what it is…an Ironman.

Ironman North America is little more than a Commercial Race Management Group that is concerned with their own money making machine without regard for the sport of triathlon as a whole and is apparently ONLY concerned with “owning” the name “Ironman”.

And because they “own” the name, they have also diluted it.

So, it’s great that the sport of triathlon got national air time last night.
But,I also feel that IM North America has made US, the triathletes…The Biggest Losers.

Ha Ha Ha
Saw the same thing and thought the same thing

4

Are you worried that when you tell your friends you did an Ironman, they won’t be as impressed with you as you want them to be?
You race a distance, not a name.

5

Seriously, why do you give a crap what some guy on a reality TV show says. HTFU

6

Dude, you need to get a grip, and come up with a reasonable connection between some formerly obese person getting the IM distance wrong, and IMNA being to blame.

7

haha I thought the same thing too. I was half watching it and suddenly heard “Ironman” and thought great, another person signing up for a long endurance event as a means of validation. Then I heard the “mile and half swim, 80 mile bike and half marathon”, and was confused for a second. When I made the comment to my wife that it wasn’t an Ironman, but a half-Ironman, she said it didn’t matter and that they were the same thing.

Then again she also talks about all the “marathons” I run and how she knows I run them right around 1:30 so she knows when to be at the line waiting.

8

Here we go again. OK, some facts:

  1. IMNA does not own the name Ironman, they license it from World Triathlon Corporation, who holds the license from Marvel Comics for the rights to use it. Marvel Comics owns the rights to Ironman. Essentially.
  2. WTC now owns all the American IM races that IMNA once put on (exception: Canada). Since the inception of the 70.3 series, IMNA has had very little to do with the half IM (Oceanside and a couple others off the top of my head), but WTC runs the 70.3 series.

See this article for more: http://www.slowtwitch.com/...e_trademark_272.html

EDIT: also, apparently in the unedited version, he got it right and said Half-IM, NBC (yeah, the ones who broadcast Kona) edited out “half”. Blame NBC for trying to cross promote their Kona broadcast or for making his race seem larger than it was, but the blame for last night should stop with NBC.

9

Hah, I was privy to this as well. My wife was watching it and when it was done she said, “wow, you’re going to swim a mile, ride 80 miles, and run a half marathon in one day!?” When reminded her that I was doing the 140.6 (in the appropriate breakdown), she said, “oh, so you’re not really doing an Ironman.” ??? … I wasn’t offended, but that logic didn’t even warrant a response. I just rolled over and went to sleep.

10

He also said:
“a man and a half to an ironman is not bad… even if it is just a half ironman.”

11

Don’t miss the forrest for the trees… Our sport is not just about a label! It’s about a lifestyle, a desire to push ourselves, and cross what ever finish line that lie in front of us. Sure, he may have got the distances wrong and maybe even called a half a full by mistake. He’s a Tri rookie, obviously…lodi-dodi, everybody has been there!

He is inspiring simply by his accomplishment thus far and his desire to further those accomplishments. Maybe, unlike many of his biggest loser counterparts, this will help him keep the weight off, stay in shape, and maybe even pass one of our asses on a tri-course somewhere out there!
Get over the semantics and just support the sport and those that want to be apart of this Triathlete Nation!

12

Lighten up Francis. Accdg to a post on BT, this unedited clip http://www.nbc.com/...lips/week-6/1008101/ shows that he called it a half ironman, and NBC edited it. (NB - I have not watched it so can’t vouch for that)

Personally, I did not wake up this morning and find my IM finish tarnished by what someone said on a weight loss game show. but that’s me

13

I’ve had to correct more than one person that equated ‘ironman’ with ‘triathlon’
.

14

“IMNA does not own the name Ironman, they license it from World Triathlon Corporation”

not anymore. see here.

15

I honestly couldn’t care less about whether or not the general public knows that an Ironman is 2.4/112/26.2.

completing one, or a half/70.3, or any triathlon, for me at least, has been about my own journey and experience in the sport. If I say I’ve done an Ironman and someone thinks that its 1/80/13.1 or some other distance and don’t ask to clarify, it doesn’t take away from my feeling of accomplishment in the least.

How the corporate entities like WTC, IMNA or anyone else define Ironman is irrelevant to me. I know the truth and for me, that’s enough.

16

Good points.

My opinion is not busting on Blaine for mis quoting the distance.

I grew up racing triathlons starting in '82 at 12 years old.
I had adults I looked up to race Hawaii in what I passionately call the golden years.

The DISTANCE was ALWAYS called an IRONMAN.

My irritation is NOT what people say about me…
I have nothing to prove to anybody.

It’s with the “COMMERCIALIZATION” taking the name of the distance away from us purely for Monetary Gain…
By what ever the organization.

So, with what you say, let the record reflect it’s NOT IMNA.

But it IS still a commercial enterprise F’ing with our sport.

It would be like some company taking the word “SPRINT” away from that distance…simply for Brand posturing and not giving a flip about the sport they are financially tied to.

17

Here we go again. OK, some facts:

  1. IMNA does not own the name Ironman, they license it from World Triathlon Corporation, who holds the license from Marvel Comics for the rights to use it. Marvel Comics owns the rights to Ironman. Essentially.
  2. WTC now owns all the American IM races that IMNA once put on (exception: Canada). Since the inception of the 70.3 series, IMNA has had very little to do with the half IM (Oceanside and a couple others off the top of my head), but WTC runs the 70.3 series.

See this article for more: http://www.slowtwitch.com/...e_trademark_272.html

EDIT: also, apparently in the unedited version, he got it right and said Half-IM, NBC (yeah, the ones who broadcast Kona) edited out “half”. Blame NBC for trying to cross promote their Kona broadcast or for making his race seem larger than it was, but the blame for last night should stop with NBC.

Whoa… Well that does put it in a different perspective. WTF. My girlfriend and I were watching last night and were also confused. I had a moment where my eyes lit-up when he said I’m going to do a (half) ironman and then a look of confusion lwhen he rattled-off the random distances. Hmm. Anyone from NBC lurking around here? He’ll probably get a special-interest Kona slot and we’ll see him in December. “From Biggest Loser to Ironman”… a 1:30 commercial. Well, good on him.

18

So one can only assume you would say the same about hockey, baseball, track, swimming, cycling etc etc… If there is money to be made, there will be. It’s a business, and they are trying to maximize their profits.

19

Don’t miss the forrest for the trees… Our sport is not just about a label! It’s about a lifestyle, a desire to push ourselves, and cross what ever finish line that lie in front of us. Sure, he may have got the distances wrong and maybe even called a half a full by mistake. He’s a Tri rookie, obviously…lodi-dodi, everybody has been there!

He is inspiring simply by his accomplishment thus far and his desire to further those accomplishments. Maybe, unlike many of his biggest loser counterparts, this will help him keep the weight off, stay in shape, and maybe even pass one of our asses on a tri-course somewhere out there!
Get over the semantics and just support the sport and those that want to be apart of this Triathlete Nation!
That’s where I think you’re wrong, unfortunately. I think the majority of people attempting to finish an Ironman are doing it for the label. Its not about the desire to push or perform and improve. Its about doing an Ironman, being able to tell everyone you did an Ironman and getting the tattoo. Sad, but true.

20

Exactly, Does the saying finish an Ironman and “Brag the rest of your life” mean anything anymore.