what it means to be an ironman (Page 2)

Yeah, I've got to admit......that's all pretty horrific!!!!

LOL, Ok you got me.  You're right.  Now that I think about it, having other racers and actually being in a race doesn't define the competitor.

Did I mention I'm a super bike racer?  I took my motorcycle to the track years ago and rode during open track time.  Never did enter a race though but it wouldn't have made it any different.

Sometimes Mike Reilly is not at an official WTC race.  For instance, IM Louisville and IM Canada are on the same day.

Carry on....................

You're fine and I liked your point.

In my opinion, if someone did the distance, then they're in great shape.  Ironman is a sanctioned race and I believe that you "earn" that title when you cross the finish line to that race. 

Sure, why not? 

When the 2010 Myrtle Beach Marathon was cancelled due to snow (yes I said snow, it was maybe the only time Myrtle Beach has ever had 4 inches of snow), I ran the course on my own, with my own hydration save 2 water bottles tossed to me by my dad along the way, and having to stop in McDonald's and gas station restrooms. 

Heck yeah I count it as one of my marathons - it was harder than the organized races that I did - nothing like having to get going again at mile 24 after a stoplight, or having to cross 6 lanes of traffic on mile 25.  And still managed to PR!

Ya... and on the flip side of that... you have a guy (or girl) doing it with nothing "making" them do it... no race fee to forefiet, no one cheering them on, no one to run next to to help them out, no targets to keep the going. they also have no support, no water no anything, everything is self supported... the only thing they have to hold on to is just doing it "because".

So you can say they are not an Ironman because they didn't have the pressure of the race.... and for every person that made it through the "pressure of the race" I can show you just as many that could not "make it on their own". It's a silly distinction.

the original folks wanted to see who could do all three distances, then they said all three distances under a time cut off. If you can do all three distances under the time cut off, you are an Ironman....

Having said that though... then we get to what ever that means... because it has been proven  tens of thousands of times that average people with average ability can train for and complete an Ironman event. The fact that very few do, does not mean only very few can.

Well, no..."Marathon" is a distance, "Ironman" is an event. Ironman is just a company who puts on races. They have their half events, their 5150 events, and their fulls. They're the one who have decided that you are called an Ironman after doing their full. I think it is just as complimentary to say that you're capable of doing a full Ironman without calling you an "Ironman". It's a brand, it's not a ranking system or a title that you get for covering a certain distance. I mean,  if you finish a HITS full or a Rev Full are you gonna go out and get an M-dot tattoo? I wouldn't think so...

...says the guy with his Twitter handle and a link to his blog in his signature.

To the OP, I would not consider them an Ironman but doubt that person gives a red rats a$$ what I think of what they did on there[sic] own.

Totally agree with the above. Who really cares? If you did it and consider yourself one, good for you.

...so sharing my blog with others and linking my twitter to connect with other triathletes is showing off? If I were blogging to show off then I am doing it for the wrong reason.

As for my comments that are quoted, I guess that I may have choosen the wrong words to pick, but I believe that a few ironman competitors feel a sense of "I did an Ironman, what have you done lately?"

As for the original question, if you don't want to spend a large amount of money to register but still want to do an ironman, I say go for it. Why not? A guy in Texas does a self-supported ironman every fall to raise money for charity.

Don't hijack this thread.  That a whole controversial thread in and of itself.

Your question specifically asked "would YOU consider them an ironman".  I would not.  Nor would I consider someone a marathoner who has never run an organized marathon even. 

We tend to lose sight of the fact that ironman is a RACE!  Did you compete in the an ironman race?  Not if you are doing it solo. 

Also, part of the ironman challenge includes:

1.  dealing with stress

2.  pre-race jitters

3.  aid stations that ran dry

4.  getting kicked in the face and losing your goggles

5.  someone passing you and then slowing down on the bike forcing you to speed up and overtake him, slow down to keep your distance or get a penalty for drafting

6.  living with the rules of no headphones

7.  dealing with crowded T1/T2 tents

Anyone can call themselves anything they want to call themselves.  People play 1 round of golf and call themselves a golfer or finish one triathlon and call themselves a triathlete the rest of their lives. 

Ask yourself what matter more, how I view myself or how others view me?  I have found the older I get the less I care about the latter and the more the former.

If you are doing this for the reason of how others view you, you might be in it for the wrong reason, but that is just my thoughts. To each their own, and everyone has their reasons to race.

...enough of this silly talk for one day now.

 will there be a gift shop so you can dress one self in the proper Ironman fashion.

at least you can get whatever tat you what and say it's from your own race.