Can anyone recall if you fill out something on how to pronounce your name for the Ironman registration? I have one of those names that people often read incorrectly - they assume it’s a more common name than mine is. It would be like saying “Kristen” when a person’s name is “Kirstin” or “Katie” instead of “Katja.”
Maybe this seems like too much of a fuss, but if we’re paying upwards of $400 for a race, I would like some assurance that my name will be called correctly, in return for all the work I do to try to cross the finish line.
I can’t stand it when announcers at the finish line or at awards butcher names. My husband announces races and tries very hard to listen to how someone’s name is pronounced at other races, how the athlete pronounces it if he gets to talk with them, and he even will ask someone directly how to say it correctly. I worked a little with Greg Welch at the Honu Half and was very impressed with how he paid attention to pronunciations of local areas and worked hard on perfecting the correct sayings and names and local history. One never learns if one never asks.
Guy Hagi finally got my last name correct at Honu this year - I think Peaman had something to do with it! As for Mike Rielly, he totally butchered it last year at Kona.
Must admit, very tough job calling names from many athletes from many countries.
I know exactly what you mean, it seems disrespectful to me when others forget or miss pronounce people’s names. Last season Bryce was announced as Bruce at a number of races and once was even called Boris!!
That would be a great idea actually. I do some local race announcing and I feel terrible when I know I am mis-pronouncing a person’s name. In general, if you look at and work with names enough (like here in the store) you do develop some sense of pronounce them, but some are super hard and you just have to wing it.
Usually, when I am annoouncing and I come across a tough one I say something like, “Bob Djornknziekavstonsmith, of Walled Lake, finishing up now… Bob, sorry for struggling with ypour last name, but great race Sir…”
The ultimate thing as an announcer is to have a laptop with the registration list in it. As athletes approach the line an observer spots the numbers, keys them in to the database and the laptop spits out the name, home town and some notes on the athlete.
The new digital LED finish lines that read out your name and number and finish time are super cool too. That way at least people can see the names and they shoe up in the finish photo too, which makes you look like a superstar.
I’ve spent my whole life having my last name mispronounced, so it doesn’t bother me any more. If I’m giving my name over the phone I don’t even bother to pronounce it, I just spell it. I don’t expect someone who has been talking all day to get it exactly right, but Mike Reilly does a pretty good job.
One the other hand I have some friends with a short but very odd last name. The spelling & pronunciation are totally different. They always include the phonetic spelling in parenthesis.
Can anyone recall if you fill out something on how to pronounce your name for the Ironman registration?
You get a card at registration that is given to the announcers. Write your name on it phonetically BIG and they should get it right.
I was imagining what it was going to be like hearing my name at the finish line of IMCDA (being my first IM) last month but the honest truth is I was running so hard and focussing so much on not falling down I just plain missed hearing it. For I know Mike Reilly said “Michelle” instead of “Mike”.
At college and law school graduation, we told the one announcing how to pronounce our names immediately before we received our diplomas. I managed to sabotage myself by mispronouncing my own name at my law school graduation. The same thing used to happen to me in court from time to time in the first few years of practicing law.
Tom, you were just a little off on my name on Sunday (you were announcing the finish at Waterloo, right?), but it’s the usual way people mispronounce my last name so it didn’t bother me and it shouldn’t bother you.