Ironman Signature

Sort of agree with you. There's a lot of people in this world that do a lot of phenomenal things (sports related or not), and we can't really all go around touting those accomplishments as if they're titles. Few people would know what it means, and when people see it and inquire, they may not have a favorable opinion of your intentions. But, if anyone wants to do it, go ahead...there's nothing stopping you.

Sincerely,

Lauren S. McClintock, HIM

Despite the impression you get from hanging around here, doing an Ironman means diddly to most of the rest of the population.

I find using titles outside of a professional environment to be amazingly pretentious.  I actually feel bad for people that have to do that as if being a normal human being isn't enough.  Even witnessing it makes me cringe.  I was watching someone get introduced to a guy who happens to be a doctor in a completely social context and my friend said This is Bruce and he looked sternly and said (in his robotic tone), Hello I'm DOCTOR "Smith".   I almost burst out laughing but I probably would have received the stern look and maybe a finger wag. 

Titles after your name are generally reserved for those who have completed terminal degrees or at least advanced education beyond bachelors degrees.  Additionally you generally only include the highest degree received.  Otherwise it's realized that your ego is far too large and you have too much time on your hands.   

I'm not quite sure what Joe Smith IRONMAN would convey in the professional world or the the average person.  If you are a triathlon coach or some sort of athletic professional adding it to your CV would be important.  I believe that anyone who can complete one has accomplished quite a feat but I don't know that signing Ironman would do much for people that would be quite impressed with a sprint and have no idea what it takes to complete an IM.

It's up to you.  You can sign anything you want to... I mean look at Prince... or the guy formerly named Prince... or ummm that guy. 

Strikes me as silly.  Imagine if we all stuck our hobbies in there?

Amanda Thimble, 1st Place Statewide Quilter, 2002, 2005 - "Qlt.?"

Earnest Mulch, Blue Ribbon Rose Gardener 1999, 2007- "Rs.?"

Ida Riddin,  Reigning Regional Champion Equestrian - "Eq.?"  Not to be confused with the "Esq." that aggiecatcher and I occasionally need to use on correspondence?  (So pretentious that I actually prefer "Attorney at Law."

And as others have stated, my other honorifics are far more important:  Child of God, American, friend... and now "Professor!"

Now an exception:  this is perfectly acceptable for BT signatures.  We're here to celebrate OUR obsession! 

Maybe for use in traithlon websites .........

I know for my business, if you are outside of the "industry" then having my "title" makes a bit of a difference in recognition.  People don't really know what RA means (registered architect), but they've heard of the AIA.

Sincerely,

Rick Carter, AIA, NCARB, MSArch

Now an exception:  this is perfectly acceptable for BT signatures.  We're here to celebrate OUR obsession! 

x2 Our longest race would make more since than "Veteran" over there on the left that I got just for running my mouth fingers. Even better if the system would pick it up from your race log, so you're not bragging, it just pops up.

Mark Swan, Sprint, BOP

Also, if you put "IM" after your name, most people would just think you're an instant message junkie or something like that, or it was your screen name.

Probably most people wouldn't get it anyways (uhhh, what's an Ironman?).

I'll use mine:

1stTimeTri, J.P.A. (just plain a$$h0le)  

This reminds me of that Seinfeld episode with "The Maestro."

-Elaine
BS CHEE, Sr. CCE II, CCS ROC NC, AZ CX SC, HIM SVR, TTG PSDNT