So I got a mailer the other day “Ford IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP” OFFICIAL MERCHANDISE www.IRONMANLIVE.com
It is all full of tee shirts, cycling jerseys, expensive water bottles, watches and lanyards. All of it loaded up with Kona Hawaii images, icons and logos.
One little problem, I have never done the race. I dream of doing the race, regularly in fact. Maybe buying the merchandise would provide a little incentive in training. Yes, it doesn’t say Finisher on any of it ( I am assuming here). But, doesn’t this denigrate the significance of the event to sell this material to just anyone? I think I would be a little pissed if I had done this race, and Joe Blow got this catalog after logging onto ironmanlive.com with a fresh 30 minute 5k under his belt. Don’t get me worng, I am happy Joe completed his first 5k and wish him continued success and that he moves on to bigger and better things.
I know this topic has been discussed here before, and I even stayed out of it previously, and that I am also risking the wrath of Slowman by knocking a vendor. But his just doesn’t sit right with me. I really think it should have been reserved to those who have previously completed the race, or at least are currently qualified. Sending it to everyone (and again I assume lots of other people received this) just says crass commercialization by WTC.
Egad, could some of what ITU says about WTC be correct?
How is buying and wearing something that says Ironman Hawaii any different then getting an Authentic NFL replica jersey with Farve on the back? Or wearing a TdF t-shirt or a Lance 7-star hat. I’m not Lance - I didn’t win the tour de france, but i have a t-shirt from when i was there in France watching? I also know a lot of people who have them here in the states who have never been to france.
I have a college football t-shirt for a college i didn’t go to and a team i didn’t play for. I think it’s ok to be a fan and i think it would help triathlon if more people wore tri-gear and more people asked what Ironman Hawaii was all about! more awareness = more sponsors = more $$ = more races = more happy triathletes… (in an ideal world of course).
You can buy IMH t-shirts, caps and all sorts of stuff all over Kailua-Kona. Even the tourists off the big cruise boats buy it. You can’t buy finisher merchandise unless you are a finisher (and yes, they check the list). I think it’s fine. It’s a memento of a trip for some, and for their family members.
It’s not like other races where you see a race shirt and you assume the person did the race. In Kona, it’s either a finisher shirt or nothing. You don’t get a shirt just for entering.
GASP!!! Next thing they will be selling wetsuits, watches, bikes, beer mugs, jewlrey, and who knows, maybe trucks. It’s a business, they sell stuff. I think you have put them too high up on the pedastal, I use my finishers shirts for drying my car, nice quality…
How is buying and wearing something that says Ironman Hawaii any different then getting an Authentic NFL replica jersey with Farve on the back?
It is quite common, and recognized by a majority of the population that wearing a pro sport jersey is generally a sign of support for that team or specific player. If I wore an NFL jersey, no one would ever in a million years mistake me for even an ex-player (siggghhh). There are millions of fans, but only hundreds or a few thousand pros depending on the sport. However, in running/tri events, the participants are quite numerous, and the distinction in shirts between the actual finisher shirt and a souvenir shirt is miniscule. I understand the difference between an IMNA finisher shirt and a typical race shirt as Cathy brought up. I have two of the IMNA shirts.
I suppose I am arguing as to where to draw the line. I have no personal problem with posters and calendars, even waterbottles. It’s the jerseys and shirts that don’t sit well. And, you know what? I think it has got to do with that dreaded P word, and I am not going to go there. Nope, it wouldn’t be prudent at this juncture. Not goin’ to do it.
GASP!!! Next thing they will be selling wetsuits, watches, bikes, beer mugs, jewlrey, and who knows, maybe trucks. It’s a business, they sell stuff. I think you have put them too high up on the pedastal, I use my finishers shirts for drying my car, nice quality…
It’s too late! they are too high on the pedastal because of all that money underneath the base. As far as race shirts, I put them into three categories: 1) Nice quality and design reserved for wearing out and about (admittedly rare), 2) Reasonable quality and design and are worn for workouts, 3) Butt ugly design or color and are used for dust rags and then chaning oil on the cars. Eventually all category 2 shirts end up as category 3 shirts.
You can buy IMH t-shirts, caps and all sorts of stuff all over Kailua-Kona. Even the tourists off the big cruise boats buy it. You can’t buy finisher merchandise unless you are a finisher (and yes, they check the list). I think it’s fine. It’s a memento of a trip for some, and for their family members.
It’s not like other races where you see a race shirt and you assume the person did the race. In Kona, it’s either a finisher shirt or nothing. You don’t get a shirt just for entering.
I’m waiting for my Ironman condoms to arrive. Sold only to finishers
Well, no, you see there you go again. That’s an event I have always finished, but the timing is usually bassackwards. I mean that’s the one event you don’t win for being really quick. Sigggghhhh, again.
Do they have glow in the dark for the folks who finish over 14 hours?
No, actually I think you get written up in Cosmo by your SO, and she gets a lot of envy points. You, on the other hand, have now acquired totally unsustainable expectation levels from said SO. You really need to lower them if you expect to succeed in the long term.
Hey Monty, where is the love, man? I mean you have got this west coast Slowtwitch Gal pool party going on because you managed to put a hole in the ground and I am staring at snow in a couple of days. But hey, if the gals won’t share any pictures (breaking rule No 1 of the Slowtwitch club), maybe you could help out a few depressed guys in a purely vicarious manner. Maybe?
Okay, I think I have stirred the shit enough for one evening.
I made Toll House cookies today. Time to go share some with the family.
Hey Monty, where is the love, man? I mean you have got this west coast Slowtwitch Gal pool party going on because you managed to put a hole in the ground and I am staring at snow in a couple of days. But hey, if the gals won’t share any pictures (breaking rule No 1 of the Slowtwitch club), maybe you could help out a few depressed guys in a purely vicarious manner. Maybe?
Don’t worry man, I’ve got the digital cameras all charged up and ready to go. First we lube the tribabes with some of Monty’s patented margaritas, and then let the party begin. Hot tub up on the hill at the end of the stairway to heaven, and some valyermo classic sunsets. If that isn’t enough, we take the shirts off the Sweedish Doodes and make them dance in wet speedos, to the cool motown sounds of Marvin Gay. If all else fails, then I bring out my big gun, (know what you are thinking…), my storytelling ability, and my vast historical knowledge of what girls really want most, training plans for the next season…(-:
**Don’t worry man, I’ve got the digital cameras all charged up and ready to go. First we lube the tribabes with some of Monty’s patented margaritas, and then let the party begin. Hot tub up on the hill at the end of the stairway to heaven, and some valyermo classic sunsets. If that isn’t enough, we take the shirts off the Sweedish Doodes and make them dance in wet speedos, to the cool motown sounds of Marvin Gay. If all else fails, then I bring out my big gun, (know what you are thinking…), my storytelling ability, and my vast historical knowledge of what girls really want most, training plans for the next season…(-: **
You da MAN! Monty, I think just about every male Slowtwitcher reading this is raising a beer in a toast to your honor right now. Except for maybe those Aussies. It seems they always have a beer in hand and you can’t be sure if they’re just drinking to drink.
It’s called building a brand. It’s a job that the WTC has done remarkably well with the Ironman brand. Think about it: Just over 25 years ago 15 fitness freaks did the first Ironman. Even 15 years ago it was growing just beyond cult status. That’s about when the Ironman/Timex watch deal started up and it’s just rolled on from there.
Go to any Professional sporting event and there is ALWAYS a mammoth amount of merchandise being sold - clothing in particular. However, you would be surprised where some of this stuff ends up. In my travels: I have seen a Buffalo Bills T on a beggar in the streets of Bombay. A Pittsburgh Steelers sweat-shirt on a Mountain Porter in Nepal and a New York Yankees Cap on the head of a woman working in a market in Tanzania. Where will I see IM branded gear in 20 years?
