There are several legitimate reasons why people walk during an IM
Injury/distress during the event does not allow them to run
Injury prior to the event but they trained hard and want to do it anyway
Plan to walk 1 minute - run 10 minutes (that’s how they train)
Physical handicap that prevents running
Those are all legitimate reason for walking the marathon (or portions of it) and I don’t think anyone is saying that it deminishes the achievement of the athlete. My hat is off to you for persevering. IMO you are an IM. Completing any tri, whether it is a sprint or an IM, is an accomplishment.
Makes no sense when compared with this:
But, going into a tri planning to walk the run leg is different, it is a fraud. A triathlon is Swim-Bike-Run NOT Swim-Bike-Walk. If you want to go around telling people that you completed a tri, you are a liar. You did not. You completed two legs of the tri and went for a long walk afterwards.
Go ahead and flame all you want. You are not fooling anyone but yourself (and perhaps those that you try to impress by telling them you are an IM).
FJB - not directed at you
.
Being physically unable to run going into a tri is OK and you “are an IM”, but going in intending to walk (while physically unable to run) is a fraud and “you are not an IM”? wha?
There are several legitimate reasons why people walk during an IM
Injury/distress during the event does not allow them to run
Injury prior to the event but they trained hard and want to do it anyway
Plan to walk 1 minute - run 10 minutes (that’s how they train)
Physical handicap that prevents running
Those are all legitimate reason for walking the marathon (or portions of it) and I don’t think anyone is saying that it deminishes the achievement of the athlete. My hat is off to you for persevering. IMO you are an IM. Completing any tri, whether it is a sprint or an IM, is an accomplishment.
Makes no sense when compared with this:
But, going into a tri planning to walk the run leg is different, it is a fraud. A triathlon is Swim-Bike-Run NOT Swim-Bike-Walk. If you want to go around telling people that you completed a tri, you are a liar. You did not. You completed two legs of the tri and went for a long walk afterwards.
Go ahead and flame all you want. You are not fooling anyone but yourself (and perhaps those that you try to impress by telling them you are an IM).
FJB - not directed at you
.
Being physically unable to run going into a tri is OK and you “are an IM”, but going in intending to walk (while physically unable to run) is a fraud and “you are not an IM”? wha?
Well, you know, to be a TRUE IRONMAN, you must be fit in body AND soul. Going in with the intention to walk is bad and you are not a good person. But, if you intended to run and end up walking for whatever reason, it is OK and you can still be a TRUE IRONMAN. Next year, there will be another column added to the results lists that indicates whether the athlete had good intentions or not so you will be able to separate the TRUE IRONMEN from the posers. It will come in handy, surely.
**Being physically unable to run going into a tri is OK and you “are an IM”, but going in intending to walk (while physically unable to run) is a fraud and “you are not an IM”? wha? **
I think you know his intended meaning without trying to split hairs.
**Being physically unable to run going into a tri is OK and you “are an IM”, but going in intending to walk (while physically unable to run) is a fraud and “you are not an IM”? wha? **
I think you know his intended meaning without trying to split hairs.
Actually, I don’t. It’s probably me, but the two parts of the post are completely at odds and make no sense.
Would I go into an IM intending to walk? Nope, but that’s just because it would bore the living shit out of me to walk for that long. I’ve walked a 5K with friends, that was quite enough. Can’t imagine 26.2 of it. But if others want to, what the fuck do I care?
ETA - Sweet! I’ve made yellowdawg’s … I mean Paul’s sig line. Guy’s had a boner for me for years apparently. 'Bout time he gives me props
“ETA - Sweet! I’ve made yellowdawg’s … I mean Paul’s sig line. Guy’s had a boner for me for years apparently. 'Bout time he gives me props”
No man, don’t confuse me with your daddy. I put that ChrisM quote up there to show the ST Nation what a pompous human being you really are, I don’t want it lost. Do you read what you write?
Frankly I think you’re a winner just for signing up.
And the striving for mediocrity continues…
Hahahaha…
In 1995 I was a guide for the Ironman Canada bus tour and after our trip around the course,as we were heading back into I told everyone in the bus that there would be an announcement at the carbo party.The finish cut-off would be raised from 15hrs to 17hrs to be in line with Kona.There was a big cheer in the bus celebrating the news to which I responded by saying “You all came here after training for a sub 15hr finish and you should all be fit enough to finish in 15hrs so why are you cheering?It should not make any difference to anyone here”.One guy then said,"it now means I can walk more if I want."To which there was another cheer.
I lost a little of my respect for Ironman that day.
I should caution that I was fucking miserable walking that entire marathon. It gets long, real long.
That is my ultra weakness.
I dropped out of 100 mile run while still in the top third of the field, because I slowed down to a crawl. Until I learn how to be patient and allow the miles to come to me I fear I will DNF a number of ultras.
wow, am I ever glad that I’m not as insecure as many of you are that you think someone walking an IM deminishes your accomplishment. Seriously, get some real problems in life to worry about. How does it matter in the slightest to you if someone walked the marathon?
Last time I read the rules, you even allowed to crawl.
all the power to you. They give you 17hrs. Make it in 17hrs and your and Ironman and should be proud. Don’t let the rantings of these insecure people deter you from your goals.
For those of you worried about your finishing time, make sure the time is included in your finishing picture so you can show how great you really are.
wow, am I ever glad that I’m not as insecure as many of you are that you think someone walking an IM deminishes your accomplishment.
I’ve read through the entire thread and have not found anyone who said that someone walking an IM diminishes their accomplishment.
**For those of you worried about your finishing time, make sure the time is included in your finishing picture so you can show how great you really are. **
maybe I’m reading a little between the lines, but I don’t see why else anyone would care how other complete their race.
and the tone of a lot of people in this thread seem to have pretty strong opinions that you should not do the race if you can’t run it.
I guess if they aren’t insecure in their accomplishments they are just elitest. Either way, if people don’t like the rules, they shouldn’t join the race. And the rules give you 17hrs to cross that line whether you run, walk or crawl.
Maybe some of you guys should start your own race with a 10hr cut off time and call it the “Were better than the rest of you who need 17hrs Race”.
Or, some of us think a triathlon includes a run. No one has said you cannot walk but the discussion centered around people with no intention of running.
The insecure people are those calling others elitist for simply stating what is quite obvious to some, a triathlon includes a run.
Maybe they should just change the rules and allow people to use a kayak if they don’t feel like training for the swim. I know you would be okay with that since it has absolutely no impact on your race.
the difference between my statement and yours is walking is allowed in the rules currently. I guess if they allowed kayaks, then I’d make my decision whether I wanted to be involved or not.
I’m quite sure there are people who can walk a marathon faster than many people run. Should they not be allowed to enter if they want?
Justify it all you want in your head, but until the change the rules, people who want to pay the money and enter the race with the intention of walking are more than welcome and should be very proud of their accomplishment. At least they aren’t sitting on the couch getting fat like the majority of North Americans.
Unfortunately reading a thread like this is very likely to scare many of them off, thinking they don’t belong, and I think that is sad.
Some of us are still having a hard time understanding why you care how others complete their Ironman. If you have a standard of what a triathlon is to you, fine, but why apply your standard to everyone when the rules of the people putting on the race clearly say something else?
I could care less “how” someone finishes a race. Being that it’s a race, though, it’d be nice if everyone that signs up intends to finish the fastest he/she can. If the fastest he/she can includes walking, then so be it. If the goal is just to finish, then I think it’s been pretty well documented that merely finishing by the cut-off may not be one’s “best” and it may leave room for improvement (read: less/no walking).
Some of us are still having a hard time understanding why you care how others complete their Ironman.
But you can say that about anything. Why do you care if someone steals, or cheats on an exam, or cuts a corner in a race. If things don’t directly impact your life, why do you care about anything. That’s just not how things work despite the fact that it is politically correct and sounds nice.
**If you have a standard of what a triathlon is to you, fine, but why apply your standard to everyone when the rules of the people putting on the race clearly say something else? **
My standard has nothing to do with anyone else, they are free to do whatever they want. I’m simply stating my opinion that a triathlon is a swim/bike/run. I know that is crazy and I shouldn’t judge others by that tough standard but until they call it a swim/bike/walk, I’m going to have to go with the fact that it is a run.
The question is less about it being acceptable to walk or not…sometimes you have to because of injury, race execution, or circumstances. That is different than going into the event never intending to do the training necessary to even attempt to run. The event reads: swim, bike, run…
I could care less “how” someone finishes a race. Being that it’s a race, though, it’d be nice if everyone that signs up intends to finish the fastest he/she can. If the fastest he/she can includes walking, then so be it. If the goal is just to finish, then I think it’s been pretty well documented that merely finishing by the cut-off may not be one’s “best” and it may leave room for improvement (read: less/no walking).This +infinity.