By way of introduction, I am decidedly ‘old school’ when it comes to life and Triathlon. I’ve been racing since 1983 and completed my 90th career Triathlon on Saturday. I’ve finished the Triple T and am a 3 time IronMan, including the rainfest that was Lake Placid 08.
I’ve noticed a recent trend which I find moderately disturbing. It used to be that you could approach anyone wearing the Dot M with nearly 100% confidence that they had ‘gone long’. This seems to no longer be the case. At recent races, I have approached people wearing the IM logo and asked about their IronMan experiences as I am inquisitive by nature and always like hearing about various race venues.
As a result of my queries, I’ve received the following answers, as examples…
“I’m in training for an IM later in 09”
“I did one of the IM 70.3 races and am, therefore, an IronMan”
Umm…ok. Well, the first smells like bad IronMan karma to me. Isn’t there something to be said for ‘earning the right’ before wearing the logo ? The second answer simply baffles me. You’ve completed an IronMan ‘branded’ event but you are clearly NOT an IronMan. An IronMan races 140.6 miles on race day, not 70.3. “IronMan” means something and completing a Half, regardless of brand, doesn’t earn you that moniker.
I think he means the Mdot tatoo. Having an Mdot tatoo is like tatooing “I played Federer at Wimbledon” on your shoulder. Either you did or you didn’t, but it’s clear what the tatoo is supposed to mean.
we have nobody to blame but ourselves on this one… we all pay way too much $$, and willingly at that, to race WTC races who have created a brand marketed to the masses as a participation sport, not a racing sport. Soon you’ll see 35.15 stickers on cars and the associated Mdot tatoos to go with.
blame it on either NA Sports or WTC. I did cali 70.3 and received an ‘Ironman Finisher’ bumper sticker. But yes, the BRAND name is definately washed out.
You are about to fight a losing battle here on ST especially since you indentified yourself as an “old-schooler”.These days you can be the non-triathlete girlfriend of someone who has done an Ironman and feel comfortable wearing his finisher shirt(I’ve seen it happen).
People are funny,one time(at band camp)I overheard a guy talking about how his friend rode across Australia in six days.I asked him who this guy was because to ride that distance that fast was the same a taking two days off the RAAM record( the distances are the same).I broke it down for him and he started getting really pissed off because he told me that he was on the crew for the guy that did it.I pressed him further and told him that I had never heard of anyone riding across Oz that quickly and didn’t believe that it was possible.
He freaked and then wanted to make all kinds of cash bets with me as he could prove that his friend and his team-mate had done it.I asked “Team-mate,what team-mate?” to which he replied that his mate and another cyclist had ridden across the country as a relay.I said "So your mate rode half way across Australia in six days?"He then told me to fuck off!
As the old saying goes,“Never let the truth get in the way of a good story”.
well I’m still up when I should be in bed so I’ll comment.
Most things about Tri and participants I really don’t care. I used to coach for TNT and I used to caution my athletes against saying that they were triathletes before they actually completed their event. What most people don’t understand is that a ‘triathlon’ is not an ‘Ironman’. Now that being said I’m not sure that completeing a Tri makes you a triathlete. I mean, my wife did a matathon, but she will never say that she is a marathoner or even a runner. somehow ‘being a triathlete’ is different for most.
Personally I think being a triathlete is living the life. Training all three and racing (even if occationally). Being an Ironman and doing an Ironman are a different things. as far as wearing MDOT before or after, well, I had an Ironman watch when I was 12 and before I knew what IM was. If you are talking about having an MDOT Tat, your a douchbag if you have one and you did a half. if you are just wearing a hat or tee or something from the marketing engine that is IM, then what ever. I’ve got a road ID that has a IM on it that I had my mom get me when I was trianing for IM. I never got to do the race, but I still wear it, and still aspire to do an IM. Maybe it is the modern day Harley tat.
In any case. Train, race, and don’t worry about the tourists.
My $0.02
Wearing IM branded stuff is fine (Timex watch, helmet, cheap Foster Grant sunglasses). Wearing participant or finisher garb (or getting the Mdot ink) is not until you’ve gone 140.6. Basically, just don’t misrepresent.
Okay, I fess up. I tagged my upper right arm with a small M-Dot. However, I made sure and tagged it with the 70.3 numbers on the bottom. I would never just put the M-Dot on the arm unless I went long. I am signed up for IMSG in 2010 so hopefully it won’t be bad karma. I figure when I complete that I would be worthy of the numbers 140.6 under the 70.3 or I suppose “X2” would work. Oh by the way, when people say I’m an Ironman I do let them know I’m merely a half and one day I hope to be a whole. Cool?
I was at a 70.3 race and the announcer was congratulating each finisher as and IronMan. So the WTC is watering down their own brand. They don’t care, the are a private equity firm and creating brand value is they want before the flip.
Completing 1 Try-a-tri does not make you a triathalete
Yes, I agree if you complete a 1/2 you are not an IronMan!
If you you get an Mdot tattoo you are an idiot, just put that next to the Nike and McDonald’s tattoo’s
Hey, what people choose to put on their body is their choice. If they want to have an MDOT corporate logo tattoo put right next to their Harley Davidson corporate logo tattoo, who am I to say?
My 2 cents…I too, am old school, you don’t say you’ve done unless you’ve done it…Simple…You don’t get an Ironman tattoo unless you’ve done the distance. Whether you did it in 9, 10 or 16:59, it doesn’t matter, you did it. Also if you happen to meet somebody who won a gold medal at the olympics, as an example, hold it, touch it, take a picture of it, BUT you do not put it on. It is not yours, you did not earn it!! Same goes for the Stanley Cup, do the same, just don’t hoist it over your head!!
I also see tons of folks wearing Orange County Chopper shirts, and with most of them it is clear that they are not owning a chopper from Orange County Choppers, and quite possibly not any motorcycle at all. To me that is amusing and not bothersome.
I personally have not worn an Ironman Finisher shirt, hat, vest etc despite having done a few “full distance” ones. That is just not for me. I prefer unique t-shirts.
It used to be that you could approach anyone wearing the Dot M with nearly 100% confidence that they had ‘gone long’. This seems to no longer be the case.
Do you also assume that if you see someone wearing a shirt with the Olympic rings they must have competed for a metal? Or anyone wearing a Super Bowl t-shirt must have participated? Or anyone wearing a team kit while on a group ride is *actually *part of that team?
First, why do you care? Do they look like tools . . . yeah. But it doesn’t affect you in any way. Unless you are just being elitist.
Second, there is a difference between ‘finisher’ gear and an M dot branded shirt/water bottle/hat. The latter are available and marketed towards people other than finishers.
Third, M dot is a brand. It is silly to say someone hasn’t ‘earned the right’ to wear a brand. What do I have to do to ‘earn the right’ to wear Castelli? I am a good cyclist, but not great. Does that mean I only get to wear Craft, but not Assos? I haven’t ‘earned’ it?
Finally, M dot tattoos are stupid regardless of whether you have ‘gone long,’ IMHO. I am not a fan of tattoos in general, but it seems especially idiotic to have a *brand *indelibly inked to your body.
I don’t see a problem with wearing something with the m-dot even if you haven’t done one…it’s called being a fan. How many pro-jerseys are out there for baseball and football?
I also don’t have a problem with people wearing it if they are in training. (I’m assuming clothing here, not a tat). Some people like to visualize and the m-dot is part of ironman these days. I am training for IM-Wisc and have two visors with the m-dot. Partly because they are great visors and I really like them…partly for that logo.
But if anyone asks me about IM I am very clear that I ain’t done nothing yet. So it isn’t like I am wearing them to impress others.
I think the tatoo is different…why are you branding yourself if you ain’t done it? And a 70.3 isn’t an IM. Brand or no brand.
I have a good friend with multiple sclerosis who was hospitalized for chemotherapy because of rapidly progressive symptoms about the time I was training for IMAZ 2005. I dedicated my training and the race to her and finished in over 15 hours; I gave her my finisher’s shirt.
Though she recovered, it’s unlikely given her condition that she will ever be able to go longer than a sprint tri but she continiues to train in all three disciplines and occasionally toes the line. She was touched by my gesture and still wears the finishers t-shirt. Feel free to call her a poser bitch if you run across her.
