"Ironman" Brand Races / Spirit of Racine

skarl - 2009-11-09 4:28 PM

Seems anti-trust laws should be coming into play soon -- how many IM races are there left that aren't IM branded?

lisac957 - 2009-11-09 4:30 PM They've been "buying up" a lot of races this year it seems. I'm not sure that is either a good thing or a bad thing. I've done both IM-branded 70.3 and non-branded 70.3s. They are all equally good races, just different atmospheres in each. Some would say you get more with an IM-branded race (thus the higher entry fee)... others would disagree.

What was the race fee in years past? I have paid over $200 for both the branded and non-branded 70.3s, so was wondering if the fee hike was substantial, or nominal.

It does suck that they've eliminated the extra races, but my guess is that they are focusing on what they do best.
 

the bear - 2009-11-09 3:46 PM

It would take a lot more than buying up most of the races to invoke anti-trust laws, especially since they are providing no barriers to entry for competitors and charging substantially more than other races. If anything, they are opening the doors for greater competition by charging "exorbitant" prices.

I feel the trend will continue as long as athletes are willing to pay those higher prices for perceived and actual benefits of doing the branded races. Same thing is happening in the marathon world with the R'n'R series taking over races. I think the price of Mardi Gras Marathon doubled, plus they are changing the course significantly.

jdbadger - 2009-11-09 5:39 PM

I just liked the atmosphere of SOR and the offering of the sprint races it was very friendly to newbies and family friendly.  Considering there are not a lot of sprint races in Wisconsin it seemed like a great fit.  I'm also concerned whether the type of person entering the event will change. I happened upon a thread on the slowtwitch site and they were all psyched that the Ironman name and fee hike will keep the newbies away. I enjoyed the atmosphere last year and don't want the race to become filled with self absorbed wankers.  (I am hoping that I am wrong about this). 

skarl - 2009-11-09 4:28 PM

Seems anti-trust laws should be coming into play soon -- how many IM races are there left that aren't IM branded?

tetchypoo - 2009-11-09 4:57 PM I believe SOR was $90 last year, so without any significant changes, this seems like quite a price hike. I'll probably end up doing it though. :/

smilford - 2009-11-10 11:34 AM

I'm one of those guys that prefer a regular ol HIM

bryancd - 2009-11-10 11:36 AM




BZZZZZZZZ! You can't call it a Half IRONMAN!! See, that's the whole point, they OWN IRONMAN, the word, as it applies to a triathlon. They've already won!

InsainoDwayno - 2009-11-10 12:07 PM

Going forward we can call the non-Ironman races ID and HID races. ID can be Iron Distance, and it can stand for Irondude. I'm ok with being an Irondude instead of an Ironman.

jdbadger - 2009-11-09 4:57 PM

So is Ironman now sponsoring all of the races in the country?  I just went to the Spirit of Racine to look for the 1/2 ironman as well as the woman's only race that my wife participated in last year and found that it is now an "Ironman" race.  It appears as though the fees have been raised and the sprint and women's only sprint race are now gone.  If I am wrong about this please let me know since my wife wants to do the sprint.  Anyway, my question is whether the Ironman races are that much better run that they can charge more or whether it is just the name.  Hopefully they are keeping the sprints for Racine but if they are not I think that is a mistake for the community.  It was fun with everyone being able to participate on the same weekend and I thought Racine was extremely well run.  Yes I am whining.  My wife and I are from Racine and we planned vacations back to visit the family around that weekend so we could both participate.

bryancd - 2009-11-10 1:16 PM Well, we should be more inclusive, so I say IP...Iron People.

peto_primo - 2009-11-10 12:16 PM
As for WTC taking over the "above OLY" world.  Yeah I was finally going to target 5430 Long Course then they went and sold to WTC.  Now I really don't want to go do it...