A rose by any other name

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2009-08-11 3:55 PM

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Subject: A rose by any other name
I'm considering an iron distance race next year. There is one relatively close late in the season (November) and reasonably priced. It's not an IM race however. There is a part of me that wants to be able to say "I did an Ironman." I guess they've really marketed the brand well. There is something about that name recognition that is appealing. I don't think the sense of accomplishment would be any different, but I'm still drawn to the IM. Any thoughts?

2009-08-11 11:11 PM
in reply to: #2342312

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Subject: RE: A rose by any other name
Hey, if you want to spend the extra money and go through the anxiety about whether you'll get registered for your target race (or have to make two trips to the race site so that you can get in as a volunteer), it's your nickel.  But 140.6 is 140.6.

And if you want to tell me (and the 700 or so others I raced with) that I'm not an ironman after finishing a non-M-Dot race...well, I guess it's a free country.  Of course there are those out there who believe the term "Ironman" only legitimately belongs to those who finish Kona...so I guess even if you do one M-Dot race or another, there'll be people who won't consider you an Ironman, anyhow.

Honestly, the way people succumb to naked marketing ploys in this society makes me happy I work for a marketing/brand-development consulting firm. 
2009-08-11 11:20 PM
in reply to: #2342312

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Subject: RE: A rose by any other name
what he said ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2009-08-12 7:29 AM
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Subject: RE: A rose by any other name
tcovert - 2009-08-12 12:11 AM

Hey, if you want to spend the extra money and go through the anxiety about whether you'll get registered for your target race (or have to make two trips to the race site so that you can get in as a volunteer), it's your nickel.  But 140.6 is 140.6.

And if you want to tell me (and the 700 or so others I raced with) that I'm not an ironman after finishing a non-M-Dot race...well, I guess it's a free country.  Of course there are those out there who believe the term "Ironman" only legitimately belongs to those who finish Kona...so I guess even if you do one M-Dot race or another, there'll be people who won't consider you an Ironman, anyhow.

Honestly, the way people succumb to naked marketing ploys in this society makes me happy I work for a marketing/brand-development consulting firm. 


Agreed ^^^^^

140.6 is 140.6
2009-08-12 9:53 AM
in reply to: #2342312

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Subject: RE: A rose by any other name

You will run into IM bigots that will tell you the generic brand is inferior.  And you will run into the IM super-bigots that tell you the M-dot IM you did is inferior to some other M-dot IM (I was told my IM Canada finish was nothing compared to IM LP and IM Lanzarote).  And you run into the IM uber-bigots that will tell you that you finish time shouldn't even count because the cutoff should have been 12-hours or 11-hours or whatever.

You can listen or not. 

2009-08-12 10:41 AM
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Subject: RE: A rose by any other name
plumberchris - 2009-08-11 3:55 PM

I'm considering an iron distance race next year. There is one relatively close late in the season (November) and reasonably priced. It's not an IM race however. There is a part of me that wants to be able to say "I did an Ironman." I guess they've really marketed the brand well. There is something about that name recognition that is appealing. I don't think the sense of accomplishment would be any different, but I'm still drawn to the IM. Any thoughts?


An IRONMAN is someone who raced 140.6 miles... not someone who did a race with "Ford Ironman" splattered all over it.

I did a IM "branded" event for my first one, simply because I knew I would be BOP and I didn't want to be alone. I also wanted there to be huge crowds. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered.



2009-08-12 11:02 AM
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Subject: RE: A rose by any other name

I gave this some thought before I registered for a full 140.6 race.  I decided on Redman over an Mdot race for several reasons.  Probably number one was cost.  I can do Redman for about 1/2 the cost of IM.  Not just registration, but what I understand is for an IM you need to arrive 2-days prior to the race.  I am just not into the big production...I just want to do a well managed event and not spend any more time then necessary at the location.  Another deciding factor is that Mdot lost it's appeal to me a long time ago. I think this really stood out when they put the logo on 70.3 events.  I'm not saying to not get a Mdot tat if a guy wants one but I would never put a corporate logo on my body.  But for guys that do...it's your body...do what you want. 

IM just took over the 5430 series in Boulder, CO.  The 5430 series has been a very well managed event for years.  I'm not looking forward to next year when Mdot has their logo all over the place in Boulder.  But, I am sure because it is now branded with Mdot alot of triatletes will be drawn to the event that had no interest before.

Anyway, this will most likely be my only 140.6 event and I will be very satisified finishing the distance (assuming that I do) .  Because it's not branded by Mdot will not take away any part of the accomplishment for me.



Edited by rayd 2009-08-12 11:04 AM
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