IM Fl vs. Great Floridian

So if GFT was bought by IM and 'became' Ironman Florida instead of the GFT this would somehow make it more legitimate?

I'm just trying to understand the theory that if you're not aiming to get a slot to Hawaii, who cars if it called 'Ironman' or abc triathlon. I can understand someone wanting to do a WTC Ironman because of the allstar event they run, but for the name I just can't grasp.

I am only going by what I heard from others but, with IM North America races you know exactly how they are going to be put on. You know how the aid stations will be set up and that there will be plenty of food and drinks, that the course will be accurate and marked correctly, that there wil be plenty of volunteers and have all the good stuff you want from an IM. I volunteered at Ralph's Half IM 2 years ago and they were very maticulous about how the aid stations were set up. They had it all laid out with no variations. If I am going to do a race of that distance I want to know that I will be taken care of.
My 2 cents
Tom

As far as doing an IM just because it's an Mdot, I couldn't care less. I just want to know there will be water at hour 15 on the run
I'm doing IMAZ in April. I would never think of doing an inaguaral IM distance event unless it was an IMNA race.
again my 2 cents

Not my point.  I didn't say the other was not legitimate, just said I would like to do an Ironman race, meaning an Ironman NA sponsored event like the others have said.  I am sure the GFT is a good race and put on well, just not my first choice of events.  1st choice is IM Florida and 2nd is IM Arizona.

Edited by Cavu9 2004-10-05 4:05 PM

So if over the Winter, Graham Fraser/WTC bought the rights to GFT, renamed it Ironman Clermont (same course, same volunteers, same everything except a name), would it be on your list?

I haven't heard anything good or bad about the GFT. But I would if I knew it were run well, wether it was an Mdot or not

Possibly.  But to be honest the dates have a lot to do with my choices.  I am in the military and travel a good bit, so that is a big factor in determining my choice.  Again, don't know much about the GFT, just prefer to do the IM Florida. 

As a local, I've heard it is a well run race. I know a lot of people that do the half IM version. I personally chose to do IM AZ b/c I ride in Clermont all the time and wanted to make a trip out of the experience. I'm sure someone will debate it but I would say the bike course is much tougher than flat IM FL. Lots of hills, heat and wind in the afternoon. If you want to see the profile, go to www.michiganoutlaws.com

Is the Great Floridian associated in any way with the USAT Training Center in Clermont, FL?

Not that I know of. It's put on by Sommer Sports, who put on the Tri-America series. They are based out of Clermont. http://www.sommersports.com That being said, I'm pretty sure Fred Sommer is the regional rep on the USAT Board.

Edited by Lookingtoride 2004-10-06 10:37 AM

Same deal with the Ultramax race. It seems that there are folks that want to race a 140.6 mile course and there are those who want to say 'I am an Ironman'.

This same topic came up the other day when looking at races alternative to IMNA races. The non-IMNA races cost less and you get more (same aid stations, more free souvenirs) and you get to race with a lot less people on the course. No one could say anything bad about the non-IMNA races ... only comments were about wanting to be associated with the Ironman logo ("I am an Ironman") and be where "everyone else is". It seemed that the race was secondary to being part of "the event".

So ... I guess it all depends on "why you are doing the race". It will be different for everyone.

To me, it's about the distance not the logo/trademark. From a competitive standpoint, IMNA races have lower times. BY the same token, less than 10% of the athletes are competitive. I am doing the race to answer the challenge of the distance, not to proclaim myself an Ironman.

As I said at another website ... if someone kicks my butt in one-on-one basketball, I don't find solace in the fact that my shoes cost more.

FWIW, I plan to do both IMNA and non-IMNA races over the course of my lifetime.

I've actually had the same toss up between these two events mostly because I don't want to rush to spend the $300+ in November (at christmas time) when I can wait to sign up for GFT. However I think Im more interested in IM Florida not because its association with the logo but more for the crowd. I think doing the distance is as much a part of it as is my competitive spirit and running with the group. Even though Im a MOPer. Less people may make the race, especially the swim, go a lot easier but if I didnt want to run with the crowd I could do the distances in my back yard and not race anybody even though Im really only competitive against myself. I think for my first IM distance I'm going to do the Official IM race and subsequent ones the GFT or GFT Half. This of course could all change come november.

We actually do have a hill or 2 in Florida. Here's Sugarloaf. You get to do it twice in the full GFT. http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=215326;sb=post_latest_r...

I have to see it to believe it. I've never seen anything like that in Florida anywhere. Is that where you're riding in Clermont?

We have some other hills but this one gets the most press. It's short but steep. I rode hills out there the past 2 weekends and they were definitely good workouts. I'll probably be out there most weekends from now through the spring. Come on over for a ride sometime.

It's on the bike, once for half IM & twice for full IM. There is one really steep hill at the beginning of the run and then it is fairly flat. Both profiles are at http://www.michiganoutlaws.com

I just finished my first Iron distance in Clermont two weeks ago, and I couldn't have asked for a better race. The volunteers were awesome and the course was great. The hills killed me on the bike course though (I train in Miami). I had no quams about doing the GFT and not an MDOT. It was about challanging myself, not what anybody else thought.

I have yet to do an iron distance. I completed the FL 70.3 in may and have done the triamerica tris in clermont along with a lot of training rides. I've also live in panama city for a while. I would agree that the course in clermont would be more challengeing than pc. But as far as doing one or the other just for the name. That's not what it's about, it's about doing it period!! No matter what the name of the race is if it's NA affiliated or not you just did and iron distane, weather it be Bob's long course triathlon or IMFL, IMAZ, IMCDA, or whatever. It's about doing it to see how far you can go, not to say you done an IRONMAN. Think about it 140.6 or 140.6 not much differance, well maybe about 200-300 bucks, and a name that's it. You still train just as hard and put in just as much time, or I have been. I plan on doing the Vineman in ca in july2008 rather than an IM. It will still feel great to cross the finish line without the Mdot symbol over head when I do. Just my thoughts

I too just did my first iron distance and it was the GFT. It was very well run, the cops and volunteers were great and I have absolutely no complaint about this race. I did sign up for CDA next year but could not have been happier with the GFT as my first IM. I was thinking about doing it again next year as well!