Ironman Brand (Page 2)

That would suck to do all that and realize that you only did half of the swim.

See, that's the problem with these non-sanctioned events.  :-)

~Mike

I always find it amusing how people who have not done the distance at all can argue one way or another about the validity of a race or brand.

Kinda like someone arguing whether or not Harry Potter is an evil and anti-Christian series having never read a single page of any of the books ....

I don't care either way, but I can understand why many prefer IM branded. B2B is the race I want to do. It will be a few years, though. I went to school there I've done races on part of the swim course and the run course, I just really like Wilmington.

I just hope B2B doesn't get a reputation as being the Iron distance race for people that can't a real IM swim.

Hopefully, there are plenty of races that have parts that are easier than others. Flat courses come to mind.

As for doing it on your own, an informal froup would be okay with me. If I felt good about the distance measurements, sure get together with 15 friends and do it. Y'all can bust me if you want, but isn't that how the first IM was?

Guys it was a joke...My point was "140.6 miles is 140.6 miles. At the end of those miles you are an Ironman. "

 Im doing Kansas 70.3 in June but I'm going to wait until I'm 19 or 20 to do my first IM.  But training is easy and fun so it won't be a problem.

 I put all my times together, and my base time hopefully will be 5:25 and 5:30 with transistions...but those are long transistions and a slower paced bike, and a really slow run.  Goal pace is 40 min swim 2:30 bike and 1:40 run.  

Maybe it's because of your youth, but you come off as a little arrogant and brash.  For instance putting "Training is easy and fun so it won't be a problem" into a post that was trying to explain your point about "140.6 miles is 140.6 miles" kind of doesn't make sense.  

But anyway, good luck with Kansas 70.3.  5:25 would definitely be an awesome time!!  But if you add your goal times up that you listed above, you'd be more around 4:55.  0:40:00 + 2:30:00 + 1:40:00 = 04:50:00.  Hope you're not planning on spending 35 minutes in transition. . . .

Don't worry about it.  Humor on internet forums is a tricky thing and what we think is funny often comes off wrong and someone gets PO'd.   And that is why I never joke around here.  Triathlons are serious bidness.

Now get you arse trianing and quit trying to be Rodney Dangerfield!

~Mike

I did my first IRONMAN in Louisville this year and I'm signed up for next year.  I thought alot about the branded vs. non-branded races.  I agree with most people the entry fee is a small portion of the total cost.  Its really what you want, your budget, race location, time of year, etc.  I can't speak for all of the M-Dot races, but Louisville was first class.  Sorry,  I don't have any experience a non-branded race. Either way its going to be a rough day, so start looking at your long term training.  Good Luck.

x2

If/when I get ready to do an iron distance it will be a smaller indy race. I would much rather be able to work out all the kinks in racing at that distance in races that don't send me to the poor house. If/when I get to the point where I can actually race an IM and have a reasonable chance at making it to Kona, then I can justify the expense and other hassles of IM races.

IMO anyone who completes the distance is an Ironman finisher. I've read that the original racers agreed that only the winner could be called the Ironman, and everyone else was an IM finisher.

Everyone has their own reasons for racing. I would much rather make my first attempts at the distance without all the distractions and hoopla of the IM brand races. I've done some big marathons and found it irritating when my performance was mediocre to be continually told by volunteers and spectators that I was looking good. I would prefer to have fewer people watching when I'm suffering, and since I do at least 95% of my training by myself I have no need for other racers to be near me at any point.

Redman is a race I'm seriously considering as my first iron distance race. What's great about the independent races is I can wait until I see how my year is playing out to decide if I want to do the race, rather than registering a year in advance and hope I can make it.

To each their own. No one way is better than others.

True...however when you look at from a capitolistic 'demand' side, there seems to be a bias towards M-dot races....which of course, it why they command $525.

You can pretty much use the "brand" / "non brand" arguement about many of the products we buy, the foods we eat, the clothes we wear, the cars we drive, the hotels we stay at, drugs we take, etc. 

So we can say "it doesn't matter" all we want but obvioulsy it does matter or all IM events would be equally in demand.

~Mike

I think the only people who would know to even ask a question regarding an Mdot or another would also know enough about tris to not ask or care.  If you can go the distance, you are an Ironman regardless - that can not be purchased - you know the personal price and sacrifice!  If you want the bling, then go for it and get it.  It is a drop in the bucket if you consider your time. 

The guys who sat around and thought up the ultimate physical challenge had no concept of the company who would ultimately sponsor such an event.  To me, the biggest attraction to non dot venues is the lack of dropping 500 a year in advance and not being certain you will be healthy, able, and trained come race day.  The primary draw to dot events is; you know it will be well supported and attended and an opportunity to qualify for Kona.  Other than that, in my book, who cares. 

Have a great time where ever you choose.  It will be an awesome accomplishment regardless!

Maybe easy is not the word for it, but training is definitley fun.  Group rides are fun, long runs are fun, getting better at swimming is fun.  IT takes time and I put effort into it but overall I have a good time training and for me biking 3 hours is not really hard and running 10 miles at 7 min pace. (When I feel good of course) - 2 days ago went on a run at night in a park and saw 1 other person.  It felt great so for me it felt easy. Easy depends on the day.

How much of the popularity of IM brand races is due to marketing hype and mass market TV exposure from Kona? From what I've been able to determine, the races themselves are not much different or more special than races like GFT, B2B, Silverman, or Redman. Bigger - yes. Measureably better - not really, based on reports from people who've done both types.

As mentioned, I've done some bigger marathons. Grandma's and St. George both have thousands of participants and both sell out quickly. I found neither of them to be any better than the Colorado Marathon, which has a tenth or less of the runners. I suspect the same holds true for iron distance races.

One thing IM races do have in their favor is they are more scattered throughout the year, whereas most independent races are in the Sept-Nov time frame, making it possible for most people to only be able to pick/race one event per year. It would seem races like GFT and/or Silverman could possibly be moved to earlier in the year to avoid competing against all the other races - both IM and Indy - in that fall time frame. I don't know the particulars of the weather, but Florida seems like at stays warm enough year round for a race like GFT to move to perhaps April/May.

I'm not a "brand" purchaser. I've found stuff like the Walmart compression shirts to be every bit as good as the much more expensive brand names. Generic aspirin/ibuprofen, etc. provides me with the same benefits as the name brands as well for less money. There are times when a brand name item is clearly much better and worth paying for. IMO - IM races are not such an item.

I can relate to the large vs smaller marathons.  I've run 4-marathons, Vegas, Twin Cities, Duke City and Colorado.  By far the most enjoyable were Duke City and Colorado...the smaller races.  I don't buy the race souvenirs, bumper stickers or race photos...but it's cool for the people that like that stuff.  It's just not me...and I've been doing this for more than 20-years.  I do like the finisher and occasional AG medal though!  I'm not loyal to any brand...not even my beer. 

Then someone needs to tell Mike Reilly he's doing it wrong.

-ak-

No doubt.  I am leaning more towards racing to salt away a different little experience everytime vs doing the same courses if I can.  While I am happy to be doing MOO again this year, part of me wishes I would have locked in Silverman instead.  Oh well, hoping to experiment with a new oly and HIM this year.  OP needs to determine what is important and make the choice there.  But dont let what someone else sez make the determination of what race of the same distance makes you more capable in their eyes.  I give the IM experience at MOO in 07 a double thumbs up, but also had a blast doing a 50k where I didnt see a soul for some 40 mins or so.  You can see the operas and the monster truck rallys out there and everything in between ya know