what it means to be an ironman (Page 5)

Rogillio - 2012-01-17 9:08 PM

I just remembered why I opened this thread to begin with....the subject line is intriguing:  What does it mean to be an ironman?  

In my opinon, not much.  It's a race.  It's not a degree or professional accredation or a title.  Its just a race that you did.  It's not like you won the Congressional Medal of Honor for courage under fire where you were shot and wounded by an IED.....you finished a race.  :-)

But people like to put labels on themselves.....let's see, if one does an ironman when they are 20, are they an "ironman" for the rest of their life?  What if they gain 400 lbs and are confined to the couch.  Do you still greet them as Don Ironman while you kiss their finisher medal? 

People don't call themselves ironman anyway!   No one says, "Hi, I'm Mike and I'm an ironman."  I don't sign documents at work: Rogillio, Ironman.  I don't answer the phone, "Rogillio here, ironman! what can I do for you?"  When my boss introduces me to someone he does not say, "This is Ironman Rogillio, one of the finest engineers in the company...."

 

 

Rogillio - 2012-01-17 8:08 PM

I just remembered why I opened this thread to begin with....the subject line is intriguing:  What does it mean to be an ironman?  

In my opinon, not much.  It's a race.  It's not a degree or professional accredation or a title.  Its just a race that you did.  It's not like you won the Congressional Medal of Honor for courage under fire where you were shot and wounded by an IED.....you finished a race.  :-)

But people like to put labels on themselves.....let's see, if one does an ironman when they are 20, are they an "ironman" for the rest of their life?  What if they gain 400 lbs and are confined to the couch.  Do you still greet them as Don Ironman while you kiss their finisher medal? 

People don't call themselves ironman anyway!   No one says, "Hi, I'm Mike and I'm an ironman."  I don't sign documents at work: Rogillio, Ironman.  I don't answer the phone, "Rogillio here, ironman! what can I do for you?"  When my boss introduces me to someone he does not say, "This is Ironman Rogillio, one of the finest engineers in the company...." 

Left Brain - 2012-01-17 11:16 PM

 

Nice!!! LOL

In the end, nobody cares.  As stated above, it's NOT a title.

And in the interest of carrying the thread into subsequent pages, I have to admit that I am one of those who thinks that it is Swim/Bike/RUN......and people who go into it with the idea of walking the "run" portion should be excluded.  Yep, I know that it's hard to define "walking".....but let's be realistic....many "Ironman" finishers walk a majority of the "RUN"

Personally, I don't care if that's your goal, GREAT for you, seriously!! And I certainly hold no animousity toward anyone who does......but if I ever HAVE to give my opinion of what I think "Ironman" means, then it doesn't include walking.

mr2tony - 2012-01-18 7:45 AM As me ol' pappy used to say, `Don't criticize a man until you've walked a mile in his mocassins.'

Goosedog - 2012-01-18 7:35 AM

Inapplicable.  It's clear ol' pappy did not frequent internet discussion forums.  If he did, he would realize the folly in his wisdom.

 

Rogillio - 2012-01-18 9:25 AM

My ol' pappy used to say, "Michael (he always called me Michael, not Mike), if you're not in bed by 11 o'clock.....well then, just come on home."

OK, not really applicable to triathlons but the reference to pappy brought a tear to my eye....

Goosedog - 2012-01-18 8:35 AM

Are you sure?  He might have been telling you that if you can't go sub-14ish, you aren't really an Ironman.

 

 

 

mr2tony - 2012-01-18 9:37 AM  If me ol' pappy was a real triathlete he'd say ``Tony, if you're not home by 7 p.m., don't bother.''

Rogillio - 2012-01-18 9:25 AM

My ol' pappy used to say, "Michael (he always called me Michael, not Mike), if you're not in bed by 11 o'clock.....well then, just come on home."

OK, not really applicable to triathlons but the reference to pappy brought a tear to my eye....

 

 

mr2tony - 2012-01-18 6:45 AM Wait, Left Brain, I recall you saying something in another thread about a HIM being tougher than a marathon or vice-versa or something. But in that thread you'd indicated that you hadn't yet done a full-distance triathlon. Is that correct? That you haven't yet done one and you're saying that people who walk the marathon portion of a full-distance triathlon can't call themselves ironmen? And here I thought you were more of a man than me. I feel so cheated. As me ol' pappy used to say, `Don't criticize a man until you've walked a mile in his mocassins.'

Left Brain - 2012-01-18 8:57 AM

Yeah, I thought a Marathon was MUCH harder then an HIM.  And nope, I haven't ventured a full IM yet.....I started with a 5 year plan to get there, with a finish time in my head.  I'm on track for it, and I don't want to walk any of the Marathon portion.  Like I said, I could have used the pink font in my entire post because I don't really give a rats arse who walks and who doesn't or what they call themselves.  For me, I want to swim/bike/RUN an Ironman race.  But when I do, I'm gonna come up with a better name than "Ironman" to call myself.

Rogillio - 2012-01-18 9:06 AM

 

What about the guy who only averages 12 mph on the bike and just barely under the bike cut off?  If he then ran the marathon is he more of an ironman than the guys who hammed the bike at 23 mph and walked some of the marathon?  :-)

Or what about the gal who takes 2:19 to finish the swim because she was doing the breast stroke and floating on her back.....but then runs like a Kenyan and has a 3 hr marathon split...is she an ironman?

Left Brain - 2012-01-18 8:57 AM

Yeah, I thought a Marathon was MUCH harder then an HIM.  And nope, I haven't ventured a full IM yet.....I started with a 5 year plan to get there, with a finish time in my head.  I'm on track for it, and I don't want to walk any of the Marathon portion.  Like I said, I could have used the pink font in my entire post because I don't really give a rats arse who walks and who doesn't or what they call themselves.  For me, I want to swim/bike/RUN an Ironman race.  But when I do, I'm gonna come up with a better name than "Ironman" to call myself.

TheClaaaw - 2012-01-17 9:16 AM Well, I am counting my homebrew Doughboy triathlon from November as an actual olympic. I don't know if you have to be nerdy enough to create a webpage and file a race report. Of course, olympic-distance finisher doesn't have the same ring to it as IM.

mr2tony - 2012-01-18 9:13 AM I can tell you from experience that I figured I'd RUN the whole thing too. I was on about an 8:45-9 minute/mile pace until mile 18 and it started to hurt. Hit mile 20 and I was sure I was going to hurl so I slowed further and eventually walked from 22-24. At mile 24 I got more food and took a five-minute break at the aid station. It's way tougher to do than it is to say. And why is it limited to just running. By your rationale, anybody who doesn't swim a sub-1:15/100 swim or bike a sub-5 bike (or whatever what some feel are fast times) shouldn't call themselves an ironman.

Left Brain - 2012-01-18 10:33 AM

 

Brah....I can't make this more clear.....people can call themselves "Supreme Commander"" for all I care.  For ME, I'll be dissapointed if I walk any of the marathon portion, that's not what I'm training for. FWIW - I can't see me ever calling myself an Ironman, any more than I can see me calling myself a Marathoner.  This is just something I am working toward, a goal I made, it won't define me, standing alone, any more than anything else I've ever done.  In the end, if things go well, someone someday will be able to say that I completed an Ironman race.....that's all.

BTW - congrats on your race!

Left Brain - 2012-01-18 9:33 AM

 

Bro....I can't make this more clear.....people can call themselves "Supreme Commander"" for all I care.  For ME, I'll be dissapointed if I walk any of the marathon portion, that's not what I'm training for. FWIW - I can't see me ever calling myself an Ironman, any more than I can see me calling myself a Marathoner.  This is just something I am working toward, a goal I made, it won't define me, standing alone, any more than anything else I've ever done.  In the end, if things go well, someone someday will be able to say that I completed an Ironman race.....that's all.

BTW - congrats on your race!

Rogillio - 2012-01-18 9:55 AM

 

Don't set yourself up for disappointment.  I've seen the pros walking and they still finish in 9 hrs!

There is no "shame" in walking.  An IM is all about energy management and pacing.  The idea is to push yourself on the bike as much as you can w/o spending too much and having nothing left for the run.  If you are too conservative on the bike, you might be able to run the entire marathon but still have a slower finish time than had you pushed harder on the bike and allowed for a few walk breaks.

Having said that, I had a goal of running the entire 26 miles of my first marathon.  I would not even allow myself to walk thru the water stations!  I ran non-stop for 24 miles and then simply had to take a walk break.  I was disappointed that I'd 'walked' part of my marathon but in the years that followed I found that strategic walk breaks (like thru the aid stations) actually resulted in a better overall performance. 

 

trishie - 2012-01-17 11:13 AM

Crud! Can I still keep my tattoo???

synthetic - 2012-01-18 10:38 AM

 

I look at it this way, if you like ford cars, you can keep your ford tattoo , cause you liek the BRAND... doesnt mean your a ford  car driver

mr2tony - 2012-01-18 10:06 AM I agree with this. Sadly a lot of people won't allow themselves the walk breaks and end up with a DNF and wonder why. The body will let you know if you need to walk it out and if it does, you should listen and let the ego slide.