IM Distance or Name?

Nope.  I'm up for Silverman - a NON Ford Ironman event.  It's 2.4/112/26.2 - that's all that matters to me.

I do care for my first ones (although I can't say my reasons seem to be particularly strong): I did Oceanside 70.3 for my first half and will do IM Malaysia as my first full.

Now I could give a rat's azz for my future half-irons, and after Malaysia, irons either.

Part of it is been there (specific location), done that (specific branded race); part of it is that Ironman does carry a certain level of course support both official and local; hype (including more participants, generally) and course quality/standardization; part of it is the famous and rockin' pros that predominate at the branded events; of course, you do pay more for all this.

could be.  Silverman is a top notch event.  Lots of support.  I'm not sure, but I think it's comprable to an m-dot race.  The other HIM I did, not so much.  No aid stations for the bike was the biggest problem.

My thoughts when I first responded, was the old argument of "do you have to do an M-dot to be an ironman".  In that case, I still think "NO", it's the distance that matters - not the name.  that's where I thought the question was comming from.

But if you are talking about the awsomeness of the race, crowd, and support, I would go with an M-dot or one of the other BIG races (mentioned above)

Originally I thought I would do an off brand not M Dot race as I'm not big on crowds or hype. I dislike Disney World or stuff like that.

My thinking changed when I thought more about it...I wanted the best experience possible, great photos, big event, support, lots of tacky but cool IM merchandise to buy and wear for the rest of my life, I wanted to be able to celebrate my accomplishment so I went with the M Dot big deal.

In considering if I wanted to do an IM distance race next year and look at both branded and non branded races, my husband said he wanted me to do an branded race as he enjoyed the circus and vibe of it. I'm doing a first year distance race as a relay in a few weeks and will see how the vibe is and may change my mind.

I think for everyone it is different..challenge only?; experience is it important? If you are slow are you fearful being BOP alone? What excites me and seems challenging is different than what excited others.

I did Redman last year and it is top notch. Nothing iron to compare it to yet (after Nov 23 I'll let you know) As far as 70.3 I have done both and I think it goes both ways.

This is something I struggle with. Ironman brand being sign up a year out and make the commitment is hard for me. Today I am all on board but two months from now I want a smaller race that is in a cool location.

With marathons I always would go back and forth. I would do Chicago, Boston, and Vegas and then go run some 85 person race in the middle of Iowa. I love both ends of the spectrum. BIg crowds, lots of spectators, huge sponsors and then the local tri club putting on an Iron Distance with the whole town getting behind it but not a ton of athletes or big sponsors.

The nice thing is it is still 140.6 miles so you have all day to debate the merits of each in your mind.

For my first IM, I chose to do an ironman brand event mainly because that's all that was available a few years ago in the northeast. It was fun to have the big ironman hype experience, but now that I've done two, I don't really care about the name, and wouldn't hesitate to choose one of the newer non-IM brand races.

I think it's a nod to the marketing genius of the ironman organization that people think that the Ironman 70.3 events are somehow better or more prestigious than other half IMs.  The majority of these races have existed for years, but now they've just tacked on the Ironman 70.3 logo. The races are exactly the same, and the quality of each race is a reflection of the race directors, not NAS or WTC.  It has not been my experience that the 70.3 races are any different except for being more crowded and costing more.

I did IMWI last year for my first IM race and wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I think the crowd support and the hype that goes along with most of the IM events is hard to match. That being said, I was very disappointed in the post race activities for the athletes. The crowd at the finish line was spectacular but as soon as I crossed that line, was asked if I was okay, got my medal and finish picture there was nothing. Cold pizza and stale subs eating huddled up in a chair with no tables is not a good memory of my race.

The entry fees and how difficult it is to enter most of the IM races is the downside. I'm doing B2B in November this year after IMKY and will have a good comparison. I already like the 1/2 price entry fee and course set-up, not to mention I didn't have to stand in any lines to enter or hover over my computer hoping to get a slot.

I think we are lucky in upstate NY to have some of the finest race directors in the country who put on phenomanol races here in the finger lakes. Tons of volunteers, great local food, local ice cream, ice baths, etc. People actually want to stay around and socialize after a sprint, oly or 1/2 IM.

The off brand races are run well and are easier to get into not to mention more reasonable. For a first IM or 1/2 IM, forking out the cash might make it easier to make the commitment and  the crowd support definitely helps with the adrenaline boost but unless you are trying to qualify for Kona I like to give the non-IM branded races the support.

Depends on what you're looking for.

I've done both Indie and M-Dot events and so far the Indie races have the big brand beat.  Your best bet is to find an event that appeals to your likes....hilly, flat, ocean, etc.  Consider also the location and time of the year.  It's tough to get into M-Dot races.  Indie's typically don't sell out until just weeks before the event. 

IMO:  Distance is distance.  No one (but elitists) will tell you otherwise.

My feeling is that if you are looking for the finishing the distance aspect, you find the race that suits your strengths or what you want to challenge yourself with, that could be any race, branded or not.

If you are looking for the whole "experience" of the iron distance than I would say an M-Dot branded event or one of the very large popular ones like Roth in Germany.

Either way, you finish the race, you are an ironman regardless of the branding.

Speaking of the Vineman...I am going to do the Vineman in 09 as my first IM.  I would have loved to do a Ford Ironman event, but I cannot afford, not only the entrance fee...but the travel and the accomodations...I am close enough to the Vineman venue to drive there and I can probably find some friends to stay with...or see if I can't drive up with a camper and camp out someplace close...There are other reasons for going up to Guerneville, but those are more private...

I would hope that people would still call me an Ironman.

Would you rather show off your Bolex or your Rolex? 

Ahhhhh, another hohum post.

Sorry.

CP2K

Don't care and almost would like to avoid M-Dot on the HIM distance.

For the Full IM,  I tend to lean to the M-Dot but would consider others if I felt good about the directors and the locations.

My experience with a non M-Dot event was Chessieman last September where I did the aqua velo.  We all started together and there was probably something in the 350 range for total people with the full participants, the aqua velo and the straight swimmers.  It was really low key and laid back (if you can think of an IM distance event as laid back) and everyone was really supportive.

But it did not compare at all to either experience I've had with the M-Dot events.  Just a whole different level of energy.  Almost frenetic ..... but definitely gets you in the mood to race!  And definitely has an affect on people wanting to sign up for them.

We always tease 3558 that the 140.6 sticker on his fairing ought to be changed to 135.6.   

Funny people keep bringing up price. For Redman full last year I stayed at the host hotel for $89 a night no minimums. Race was maybe $250 I think. I will also say ( haven't experienced MDot yet) the post race brunch and awards will be hard to beat. The food was a plenty and fabulous.

Also the post race was great. Big medical area with plenty of support, lots of massage therapists, plenty of food with people racing around to get you whatever you need.

Downside, the road from  Oklahoma City doesn't lead to Kona.