I am still on the fence…if you finish Ironman AFTER 17 hours (about 15 minutes after)…is it a legit finish? and if Graham gives you a medal anyway? and what if finishing this IM is part of another award in a series of events (yeah I am talking about the trirudy award…www.trirudy.com, should this still count?
though I think you have to give someone credit for finishing, personally I do not think that I would take the medal, or count it as a finish.
No
.
17 hours is just a random number that happens to equal midnight. There originally was no time cutoff. Then 15 hours. Now 17. Last year at Lake Placid I gave my finisher medal to a lady who finished at about 12:05 after she collapsed into her awaiting family. No Mike saying “you are an Ironman”. She cried and I have no idea if she didn’t realize I wasn’t just one of the finish line volunteers or not as there were people milling all over taking things down, etc. I just hung it around her neck, smiled, and limped off back to my hotel. Don’t know her name, but that is a hell of a long day - Ironman to me.
man, you are something. that was awesome of you Rod! i appreciate your outlook, and your sharing that on here. 
you’re all heart my friend! kitty
What really happened was that the person in question was shot behind the Team Timex truck right after getting the finisher’s medal. What can I say, he died happy but he really didn’t deserve to be called an IRONMAN.
rroof
now that is class!
bitching on an internet forum, well maybe not…yep sour grapes on my part. He is just getting annoying! and the way he is spaying his picture all over! a little hard to take at times.
yeah, well, must have been because Record10 was with me at the finish line - in the rain by then. He brings out the best and worst in people 
I brought my medal down with me for just this reason. What the hell do I need with another one of these? The athlete that finishes that late won’t likely do another and will certainly appreciate it more than me.
A few years ago NA Sports started recording after midnight finishers as “unofficial finishers” rather than DNF’s. They know when there are still people on the course and someone usually stays around to make sure they get a medal. I think its a fair compromise.
Gary Mc
Went to the site, couldn’t find anything about the rudy award? So what is it? Of course it might be on the page, but my eye’s are so damaged from all these color changes I can’t see anything anymore.
Last year at Lake Placid I gave my finisher medal to a lady who finished at about 12:05 after she collapsed into her awaiting family.
Thats a really cool thing to do. I wish I had thought of that. I moved house this year and threw all of my IM medals in the bin. The Kona one was the only one I had second thoughts about but that's gone too. Yours is a much better way to pass it on.
Well they finished the course didn’t they?
So yeah it’s a legit finish in my books.
Even if it took them 2 days, as long as they finish the course they finish.
But how many people “IN THE SPORT” would you tell that you finished in over 17 hours?
Props to you my friend. As Judge Smails said “Top notch, top notch…”
Bob
I agree with kittycat. That is pretty awesome of you. I don’t know if could have done the same.
yeah, well, must have been because Record10 was with me at the finish line - in the rain by then. He brings out the best and worst in people I brought my medal down with me for just this reason. What the hell do I need with another one of these? The athlete that finishes that late won’t likely do another and will certainly appreciate it more than me.
that’s sweet Rod; i dig how you think about other people. lord knows you’ve been a good pal to me; trudging through 16 miles and whatnot, with me near tears at the end. like i said; you’re all heart and just shows the kind of person you are on many levels. we could use a little more of this kind of outlook around here.
****I am still on the fence…if you finish Ironman AFTER 17 hours (about 15 minutes after)…is it a legit finish?
I am not sure why you care?
though I think you have to give someone credit for finishing, personally I do not think that I would take the medal, or count it as a finish
If this was your first IM… I bet you would.
Impressive. Will have to remember that. Got more darn hardware, and shirts than I could ever use.
This is why I am walking my next marathon in Dec so I can pull along a bunch of folks who never thought they could
complete a marathon.
Dave
17 hours is just a random number that happens to equal midnight. There originally was no time cutoff. Then 15 hours. Now 17. Last year at Lake Placid I gave my finisher medal to a lady who finished at about 12:05 after she collapsed into her awaiting family. No Mike saying “you are an Ironman”. She cried and I have no idea if she didn’t realize I wasn’t just one of the finish line volunteers or not as there were people milling all over taking things down, etc. I just hung it around her neck, smiled, and limped off back to my hotel. Don’t know her name, but that is a hell of a long day - Ironman to me.
Very nicely done. I hope I get to meet you some day.
Very cool…
A class act all the way!
<<17 hours is just a random number that happens to equal midnight. There originally was no time cutoff. Then 15 hours. Now 17. Last year at Lake Placid I gave my finisher medal to a lady who finished at about 12:05 after she collapsed into her awaiting family. No Mike saying “you are an Ironman”. She cried and I have no idea if she didn’t realize I wasn’t just one of the finish line volunteers or not as there were people milling all over taking things down, etc. I just hung it around her neck, smiled, and limped off back to my hotel. Don’t know her name, but that is a hell of a long day - Ironman to me. >>
I’m not one to get misty,but that post brought a tear to my eye.
That was very nice of you Rod.
Joe