Wear MDOT logo clothes before completing first IM?

Like buying NFL jerseys.   

I just don't think they should wear the finisher t-shirt, if they haven't done it.

maybe we're not talking about this at all --- but doesn't the M-dot corp make a ton of stuff (wetsuits, socks, watches etc.) that's intended to just sell as training/ racing gear?

(I don't own any of it, but I always thought there was MDOT logo race-specific shirts [to be worn only after a race, IMO] and MDOT training/ racing clothes [who cares?].

Read my race report.  I wouldn't.

But if you don't have the time, my n=1 experiment proved that if you buy a specific race's MDot gear (NOT finisher's gear) you won't finish

I don't think timex iromman, or the ironman cologne, applies

People get really over the top about this question.

I bought an IMLP in training shirt before I did my first IM and wore it a lot...felt it applied.

When the company that ran the expo for NAS had a clearance sale 50-75% off last year I bought a bunch of stuff..when is IM stuff cheap? 

Finisher stuff I kept in a box until I finished the race. I did wear IMLP socks when training..used them as motivation to train. I did also wear a IMLP bike jersey while riding the trainer last winter again for me it was motivation to do the work so I'd be ready. I only wore the socks out in public. 

I won't wear anything from a race I haven't completed.

However, I did buy an IMFL coffee cup at the expo this year. The rationale is that when I use it at 4:30 a.m. it will remind me of my training goals.

Usually, I will buy the race-specific tri top as soon as I can because they often sell out of those.  Even at IMWI in 07 (my first), I picked up the bike jersey and tri top before finishing the race.  However, I refused to try them on until after I had finished.  It was akin to touching the Stanley Cup before you'd actually won it for yourself. 

Plus, and this may just be me, but I see a difference between a race-branded item (e.g., Ironman Kentucky visor) that happens to have the m-dot in the design, and an item that simply has a free-standing M-dot. 

My feeling is that a race-branded item simply means that you attended or, if you're a competitor, raced in the race. 

The stand-alone M-dot, on the other hand, has a different connotation to it as symbolizing someone who has completed a 140.6 race (I don't delineate between WTC and non-WTC races) and earned the right to call themselves an Ironman.

My $0.02.  YMMV.

Sweeeeetttt!!!!!

We haven't had the usual strength training, supplements or even mdot tattoo threads lately so this is a sure fire popcorn duty thread

Now who wants extra butter?

Before IMKY 08 I would not wear anything M-Dot nor would I even let someone refer to me as an Ironman.  I stayed far away from labeling myself before I crossed the finish line.  "IRONMAN" is a title that can only be EARNED, NEVER given/bought/borrowed.

But I'm sure their not the first nor will they be the last.
 

Kathy hits the nail square on this. The triathlon community is getting way over the top about the Mdot stuff. I mean, seriously, do we care that much what someone else wears? The only person that we should care about is the one that stares back at you when you look in the mirror. For the majority of us, THAT is who the race is against anyway.

I say blow the thought energy thinking about the guest list to your annual holiday party (that is what I will be doing this afternoon). All BTers are invitied!

I've wear M-Dot stuff many times and I’ve never done an IM. Some have been presents from my athletes and some have been presents from my parents who don’t know the difference between a 70.3 and IM beyond the distance. I don’t really care what others think if I should be wearing M-Dot stuff before completing an IM or not. Really for me are just items I wear when I am training or hanging out. If the IM gods (whoever they are) want to make my day miserable during my 1^st IM because I wore merchandise with their logo, well what can I say, it seems they have too much time in their hands to be concern about me and what I do. But in the end I don’t believe in Gods either so I am not too concern about it

I admit that I had the same opinion as many of you, that no IM stuff should be bought or worn before completing an IM. Max and I even had a discussion about his tattoo many years ago.

Now, after doing a race or two, I realize the only people who care about this stuff are people that make Ironman out to be more than it really is. I know this will make a few of you pass out, but it is JUST A RACE. A very hard race that most people wouldn't dare attempt, but it doesn't change the fact that it is what it is. There are no IM Gods, you are either ready or you are not on race day. No item of clothing is going to change that.

Jorge, you said "when you do an IM" Does this mean you are going long?

IM Moo '07 I purchased an Ironman Wisconsin leg reflector strap and a cap and wore those DURING the race.

Let's take a different perspective on this.  How many of us wore Nike, Adidas, etc. clothing but haven't been sponsored by them?

In that regard, what's the difference?

However, the "official" IM Finisher gear is what you get at the end of the race anyways and is the distinction of who actually did the race or not, for those who do care.  I'm proud to wear my "official" Finisher gear, but I'll wear the other unofficial gear, too.  But in reality, 98% of the persons I hang around with don't give a rat's azz one way or another, or don't even know much about IM, the logo, or anything else about it.

Sheesh, Jorge.  You need to turn those in.  You are so undeserving to have those.