IM - some thoughts

[robreddy]

well its been a pretty big week for IM with 2 new races announced. Really it has been a pretty big couple years with the corporate purchase of WTC, addition of 5 N American races, the explosion in the 70.3 series and the coming goliath that the 5150 series could be.

Change has, is and will continue to occur - and to paraphrase/bastardize a cliche - When WTC/IM sneezes the rest of triathlon will catch a cold - impact is moving through the sport.

IM has become a true American corporation, and within the 'culture' of triathlon that means to me we have lost something very intrinsic and unique to the idea that as 'traithletes' we line up and try to concor a huge feat of man versus himself - not produce an event that maximizes making $$ over anything and everything else. Human inspiration has been over taken by corporate greed or at least corporate desire to maximize profits ( and this is not my own personal pregnant dog about big business trying to make every $$ it can - in general i support that endeavor). For someone who has been in this sport nearly 30 year, and REALLY saw what a raw, grass roots event triathlon was in the beginning when it was mainly about experience over production - it does make me feel like we have lost something. I'm not pining for the 'good old day' because there were a lot of problems in those days to be frank - but I am saddened by this change in 'spirit'.

but in return we have overall and in majority gotten far better run events. Ya there are always some glitches and problems at any race, and certainly a few are true disasters. but the 'event' has really become an 'event' - and this has added some level of excitement, buss, professionalism and electricity that was not in the sport years ago. Further, WTC/IM has IMO raised the bar for all - competition raises quality - and I do believe that because of this there has been a trickle down effect that has greatly improved ALL races from the local 100 person community run sprint race to other major events across the country. And without a doubt, at the sub IM distance, we have more choices than ever, maybe even too many choices.

I have to say, even though i'm quite disappointed with the 'corporatization of IM' i still love the events overall and the community it has created. i still get a charge about doing these races. the money side of it has gotten (and I assume will continue to get) close to a point where participation needs to be questioned for me. i hear IMNJ/NYC may cost as much as $1000 entry - though I would seriously consider doing this event, that price (for me) has crossed some threshold where I won't pay it.


so for sure there is change, and progress - evolution. Some can be argued as good and some bad. But this 'change' will never stop - that is for sure. I think for each of us it is more important than ever that we figure out what WE want to get out of the 'endeavor of multi-sport' that goes beyond demanding well run races with extravagant accouterments and 5 start catered services. There are many many events out there (IM included) that have their own 'vibe' 'spirit' and 'ethos' - the food for the soul that fuels our desire to go out and train every day, that energizes us to select a life style that is truly outside the American norm, that gives us the strength and courage to place a toe at waters edge on race morning - and hopefully at the end of each day gives us fulfillment and joy to grow older with knowing that we have participated in life in a way money cant buy and most people can't understand nor have the privilege to experience.

THOUGHTS??

r

[kenb321]

I have never done an IM event, so my thoughts are very one sided. My first triathlon was at Edgewater park in 2003. They cancelled the bike due to Lakewood, Cleveland issues the day before. This was TriAmerica, I think that has become Pacific Sports. I still have my 1st place age group award in my office. Pacific Sports is charging $135 for the Olympic distance race, so prices/greed are not just limited to WTC. Rev3 is charging just a little less than IM for the CP fullRev. Competition may be good, but there is no one as big as WTC. I am not sure WTC even notices other events unless they want to buy them, like Muncie. But I like the grass roots events. I know my favorite races are Musselman, Miltonman, maumee bay, Huntington, GCT some of the local stuff. I think I like them because I know a lot of the people either racing or running the race. That is what I like about triathlon. The people that I can call friends, race against them, bust balls about puking and still ride with them on Monday night. Rev3 Cedar point was a great example. The preview days were great for training but more to get to know others doing the race and going thru the same sh*t I was going thru. I don't need the M dot to prove I can do an Ironman. Some said the rev3 course was too easy for a true ironman, so what. I still did the 140.6. I liked it because I had 35 people cheering me on at the finish line. The races don't have to be a spectacle. I really think that is what you are buying from WTC for an IM event.

I am interested to see what happens to Rev3 as they continue to grow. Can they keep the feel of the family friendly events going? I already heard from several finishers that the family finishes pissed them off at Cedar Point. I loved it. I think that is a unique way to go in triathlon.

Also, bloomberg again reported that the median income for an IM competitor is $161,000. If I am a corporation looking for a demographic to cater to, that would be one of them.

[MarkD]

First thought: Reddy should write a book.

Second thought: I couldn't agree more with the ideas/opinions presented. A friend of mine is a the president of the Trout Unlimited chapter in NE Ohio - they've always had a "grass roots" feel about them. But, like all successful organizations, they grow, and they are now positioned to take major contributions and start focussing on National issues instead of local community issues. My friend is going to likely leave the organization behind because of the natural growth and direction that he is not interested in - it will be a big loss for them locally. Relating that to triathlon - its very similar. But, here's the thing - I've done big corportate-strong races (NYC, Chicago, Wildflower, etc.). I've also done unique local races (Triple T, M-22 Challenge, XTerra O.N.E., Racing for Recovery, etc). In my experience, there is little advantage to doing the big races unless you are a fan of better schwag and more food choices on the course. But, as Rob stated, and I share the same opinion, the big corporate races indirectly improve the quality of the local, more affordable races. HFP is a great example of an orgainzation that will offer a quality experience at a fraction of the cost. You get peanut butter & jelly instead of the post-race 'food bag', but who cares....

Its all good.... as long as there are affordable options that offer reasonable quality, I'll take it.

[philjolliff]

No doubt that Ironman/WTC is improving the other races - making them step up to the plate to offer a good product. The spectacle surrounding an Ironman is quite amazing, I will certainly admit to being caught up in that. But one of the reasons IMKY in 2009 was so amazing and so fun was all the great Clevelanders that were there with me racing and cheering. Hopefully IMLP 2011 can come even somewhat close in comparison.

I love the small local races - my favorite race by far is Miltonman, it is near a bunch of my family members and that is the one time they come and watch me race all year. But it is more than that - it is a fun fast race with a great community feel to it - I always seem to know 20-30 people participating.

Post race food at IM's don't even come close to what I witnessed at Mountaineer (HFP) in 2008. That was my first Olympic and I remember after the Half witnessing Durno (whom I'd just met) and Tim Walsh chowing down on one of the greatest spreads of food I'd ever seen. Race 4 Recovery last week - they had a dude out there with a grill making burgers for everyone - they didn't buy enough buns for everyone, but it just has that small race feel where you can chill in the finish line area with your friends/family.

I haven't done a Rev3 race yet. I certainly intend to. I could care less about the family finishes, the swag, all that crap. If I'm doing a full 140.6 miles there needs to be a certain amount of support so that I can finish safely and with everything I need - they certainly seemed to nail this extremely well and that will help them continue to grow in the future, along with picking GREAT sites for their events. What they don't have yet is the buzz of excitement in the air, and I can honestly say that is important to me in an IM - but I think this can come with time and more participants. The best site for an IM in my opinion is a big attraction and or medium market city where you can ride 10 miles in one direction and be in the middle of nowhere - Louisville, KY anyone?

I'm sorry, but IMNYC seems pretty stupid to me. 4x27 mile out n backs on one road? The logistics of a start/T1/T2/Finish that are each miles apart?!?!?!?! Count me out for a while, especially at $1000. I already have enough to worry about when doing an IM, I certainly don't need all that crap to worry about.

Anyhow, Triathlon certainly is becoming a pretty big corporate deal, but since I did my first Tri in 2007, I really haven't known any different. I think that all the larger races will push all the smaller races to do better. As long as both choices (small/local versus big productions) are available, this sport will continue to thrive. When one or the other dies out, I think we'll have some problems.

Rob - love your last paragraph. Really hits home with me.

[MattCollister]

Rob, I think your comments ring true. I wasn't around in the early days, but I did get into tris right before the real "boom". I judge that, because I was able to sign up for my first Ironman USA Lake Placid about three weeks after the online registration opened.

The big IMs don't do it for me anymore. But I still understand the attraction. There's a sense of accomplishment, but also the sense that you're part of something much bigger. It's a winning formula.

Ken, my own massive corporation just announced that its sponsoring the Towpath races. The sponsorship is out of our recruiting department, not marketing. Triathletes/runners not only make good customers, they make good employees.

[timritt]

funny this has come up because i am struggling w the nyc race fee. i got the go ahead to sign up but a grand is a big number to do a race. unfortunately the races have gotten to a point where doing multiple races in a year is to expensive. Not sure where all of this is going long term but my guess is that if nyc sells out quickly they will raise the price of the other races alot more which would clearly suck.
Maybe they will start giving discounts to people who have alraedy spent thousands in im race fees but im not holding my breath. Might be time to doing something different like planking on the seventh floor of a building.

[MarkD]

Maybe we should get back to the grass-roots. A bunch of us get together, set up a 3-loop bike and run course, swim-bike-run for 140.6 miles. Stage some nutrition. We would have an extra luck factor (i.e. who gets stopped by lights, trains, etc.).

Entry Fee: $0
Total cost: Whatever your food and drink costs
Why? Because we can document it, send it to Triathlete (and Inside Triathlon) and tell stories about our adventure for the next 10 years.

Who's in?

[Chris]

I'm in Mark, where do I sign.

[jen]

Nice Mark! You know you have a course already as you've talked about the emerald necklace many times. That would be similar to the Fat Ass events in ultra running. And, I bet it'd catch on!

[MarkD]

I sense momentum. I'll work on course design...

We'll call it: IM CLE

It's catch phrase: IM CLE is IM FREE

[benmiralia]

Not all WTC are selling out. The Memorial Hermman is offering $199.00 entries.

[philjolliff]

Jun 16, 2011 20:33:03 GMT -5 MarkD said:

I sense momentum. I'll work on course design...

We'll call it: IM CLE

It's catch phrase: IM CLE is IM FREE

I like round numbers - let's make our distance 2.0 mile swim, 100 mile bike, 20 mile run! Distance us from the brand altogether : )

[Eric]

I'm in Mark. The CLE 122.

[Brandon]

Why not make it the CLE 216?

5K swim (3.1 mi) 181.8 mi bike - 50K (31.1 mi) run

It's not suppposed to be easy.

[gvale]

Im In! Point to point swim from Hunington to Rocky River. With the finish at 4th street.

[watchman]

I am in for sure also

I have a name for it. Since the scientific notation for IRON is " Fe". instead of calling it Ironman

call it " Fe-man".

at least people would ask questions

Or we could go a step better than iron and use steel. maybe "man of steel"

that would work too. Thats what my wife calls me so it would be good.

mike


mike

[aussierob]

I'm not into the sport as much as i used to be. Family time superseded my desire to train 3 sports, so i took my time and poured it into one....cycling.

That said, a large part of my disassociation from triathlon was/is the commercialism. Initially i was awed by the spectacle of IM, but looking back, it was the stupid things i did with like minded fool that makes me smile. Winter hill repeats, crazy Lake Erie waves with other fools, epic fridays where friends became enemies after mile 80, and were friends again after 100. In many ways, i resent the commercialization of IM, and while i was on that wave (paid $550 for my first one) after getting a couple done, i wont pay it again.....because it's now, what, $700?! That's just stupid.

I can get my fill of idiocy at huntington for $60, or go to a massively big bike race against some of the nations best and get owned for less than $100. IM is just a money grab to me now, and that sucks....because it doesn't need to be that expensive, and it prices a lot of good people out of the experience.

[MarkD]

Soooo.... does that mean you will IronFan when we do IMOZ ??

[kenb321]

Aussie will keep pimping people to do bike races to pump his purse winnings. His taste in beer is expensive at times.

[aussierob]

IMOZ will get me up. But bike racing sustains me.

Beer is reason enough to live, and more than a good reason to race!