That annoying ironman dude...

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  Mar 11, 2008 5:32 AM GMT

  I was at the gym this afternoon, and bumped into this guy in the locker room. He had an ironman tattoo, was a m-dot t-shirt, and had on an ironman hat. It made me do a reevaluation of my wardrobe. Do any of you find yourself wearing so many race souvenirs that you look like a caricature?

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  Mar 11, 2008 1:48 PM GMT

  Haha - not exactly but I do still sometimes wear old betting shirts I won during my crew days. The husband always gives me a look when I do and says something along the lines of "It was 10 years ago - let it go!"

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  Mar 11, 2008 2:04 PM GMT

  I have dozens of shirts from races I've run but I don't wear them to the gym. The really cool ones I wear running and I've given away lots of less desireable Ts. I had a couple of quilts made from some of my most memorable race shirts.

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  Mar 11, 2008 6:53 PM GMT

  If it makes you feel any better... I went to Las Vegas with my parents when I was 13 and my dad wore this awful purple polo shirt, khaki short shorts, velcro sandals with knee-high socks, wore a ballcap, and walked around with his huge camera hanging around his neck.
  
  ...embarrassing...

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  Mar 11, 2008 7:46 PM GMT

  It's hard not to crow about such an achievement eh?
  I almost got a tattoo as well but I couldn't imagine putting a corporate logo permanently affixed to my body.

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• UStriathlete
  
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  Mar 12, 2008 3:17 AM GMT

  It's a running joke here in the mecca. i wouldn't be caught dead with one, as most here wouldn't either. he's just looking for attention. i don't wear my hawaii IM finisher shirt either. i give them to my mum, gives her something to brag about to her friends. IM's are a journey, one doesn't need to advertise it.

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  Mar 12, 2008 3:19 AM GMT

  what races?

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• irishkcguy
  
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  Mar 12, 2008 4:05 AM GMT

  I am not annoyed by people who wear the shirts but didn't really run the races.

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  Mar 30, 2008 3:19 AM GMT

  i flip flop with the idea of branding myself with the logo of an iron man when i eventually do one (it is on my to do list)
  
  Its not something i am doing for anyone else (not at the minute)
  
  And when i started doing normal tri's i only wanted to do 1, and i ended up doing 7, so the achivement factor was short lived, it was the 'go faster' component that drove me onwards in the sport.
  
  As for ironman, its the dedication and focus and determination that really allures me to the event, its not the tattoo or braggging rights or 3 week post binge that attracts me.
  
  Its Knowing that me and me alone was the final footstep across that line that drives me to one day finish that race.
  
  
  2 or 3 years........eventually,

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  Mar 30, 2008 4:33 AM GMT

  No, I don't consign myself to wearing brand name labels or free advertisements on my clothing. I'd rather be totally ignored by strangers, than be noticed for wearing a big brand label across my shirt and get attention for 'being in the know' or whatever the b.s. I don't care if anybody else wears whatever the hell. That's their style, or lack there of.

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  Apr 14, 2008 1:54 AM GMT

  I didn't get to complete my first attempt at IM due to injury, but have done 5 halfs. came across a really cool half im tatoo (half filled in with a blood drop from the head into the half filled "body" of the logo. I decided I earned the half tattoo and went for it. I LOVE IT and when i do IM this fall I'm probably not going to fill it in since i think it's cool.

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  Nov 05, 2010 9:42 PM GMT

  The tshirt and the hat are a little excessive I think. However, there is nothing wrong with being proud of an achievement. As for the tattoo, it's a camaraderie thing. If you have completed an IM or half for that matter and see the tattoo, you instantly have a connection. You know something of the other persons character and dedication.
  
  When running races I routinely see ironman tattooes and will run along side and chat them up about their experience. I personally have not completed one, but it is on my wish list.
  
  Just my two cents.

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  Nov 05, 2010 10:01 PM GMT

  Ugh, one of my pet peeves is the whole M-dot fixation. It's especially galling to see guys (and women, though they seem to be less absorbed into the whole IM cult) with M-dot visors, t-shirts, jackets AND their tattoos at trail races or other non-triathlon athletic events. It's clearly to announce LOOK AT ME, I AM AN IRONMAN.
  
  I've done ironman races before. No biggie. Who gives a crap?

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  Nov 05, 2010 10:03 PM GMT

  At best I'd put a decal on my car window...repeat WINDOW...not the bumper for 'Respect the man's car' reasons. The rest of the stuff is for the ride home after the event.

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• Atriathlete
  
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  Nov 17, 2010 6:14 PM GMT

  OK, it's probably going overboard. Wearing too many of the ironman race logo items does end up being a bit pretentious.
  
  On the other hand, I have all these frickin' tshirts from races. If I can't wear them at the gym or when out for a run, where do I wear them?
  
  I'm also not bothered by the M-Dot tattoo. I didn't choose to get one, but I think the people who have completed the distance have earned the right to the tattoo if they want it. The m-dot tattoo says more to me about a person and their character than the tribal arm band tattoo.
  
  Rob, who's apparently swimming against the current on this one.

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  Nov 17, 2010 6:20 PM GMT

  Sure, doing an ironman is a testimony to one's determination and ability, but the whole M-dot craze is called m-a-r-k-e-t-i-n-g... Being an ironman finisher does not a superior human being make.

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  Nov 17, 2010 6:22 PM GMT

  NC3athlete saidSure, doing an ironman is a testimony to one's determination and ability, but the whole M-dot craze is called m-a-r-k-e-t-i-n-g... Being an ironman finisher does not a superior human being make.

  No but it does make us IM finishers!

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• Ironman4U
  
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  Nov 17, 2010 6:28 PM GMT

  If you run in races, you get the stuff (t-shirts, visors, etc.), why not wear them to work out in. Of course, being a poster boy loaded down with stuff can be a bit much.
  
  I actually had thought about the m-dot tatoo (Ironman symbol) before I raced my first Ironman. I thought it would be a great way to commemorate the achievement of a huge goal. So I understand the mentality.
  
  I did give it further consideration, however, and opted not to go the tattoo route. I realized by getting a tattoo, it would be something I was doing to feed my ego and it really wasn't necessary (for me).

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• AvadaKedavra
  
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  Nov 17, 2010 6:45 PM GMT

  I think ironman is pretty damn cool:
  
  

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  Nov 17, 2010 7:00 PM GMT

  i say sport what you want and fly the colors that you are proud of... mud runners do the same as well...
  
  same for some military guys.... military tats, shirts, shorts, hats.... some people think i prob walk around the gym as if im gi joe... granted lets hope youre not looking like youre in a costume. other military you would never know because they dont fly the colors, which is also cool.
  
  but for me id be hard pressed to say that no matter what i wear i always have some of military symbol. whether its a ball cap, unit tshirts, a lapel pin on a suit or cut-off fatigue shorts... (although i do believe in recycling good clothing and trying to save money)
  
  its also a non verbal way to communicate... especially with others of common interest/background and maybe make a connection.
  
  with that said ill qualify it further by saying being a poster child or a show off would be a major turn off. humility goes a long way.
  
  what really annoys me are folks who wear a race or competition shirt or military something and when asked about it... they never did it! = poser
  
  if you did be proud and wear it, if that what you want. fuk everyone else.
  
  is it vanity? mmm perhaps... after all personalized vehicle license plates are referred to as Vanity Plates right?

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• UStriathlete
  
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  Nov 18, 2010 4:31 AM GMT

  i workout in race tshirts, it's just a tshirt... sometimes i'll get some ppl tell me if they did that race or how was that race?
  
  but the tattoo of m.dot(which is owned by wtc, and i'm not fan of them at all) ... not so much... even after 28 of them... still not for me..
  
  maybe i'll get a swim/bike/run tri tatt one day... or better yet a 140.6 tatt would be much better than support WTC with a M dot tattoo.

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  Nov 18, 2010 5:13 PM GMT

  I went with a personalized IM tattoo instead of the typical m-dot.

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  Nov 19, 2010 11:25 PM GMT

  Ironmatt saidI went with a personalized IM tattoo instead of the typical m-dot.

  
  
  And it's hot as fucking hell, for some crazy reason. Don't ask, it just is...*drool* Crazy......
  
  In the end, it's hardly any skin off my nose if some cat wants to fly the colors of his accomplishments. As long as it isn't a do-rag and a friggin' pair of Daisy Dukes who cares?

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  Nov 20, 2010 1:43 PM GMT

  MuscleComeBack said

  Ironmatt saidI went with a personalized IM tattoo instead of the typical m-dot.

  
  
  And it's hot as fucking hell, for some crazy reason. Don't ask, it just is...*drool* Crazy......
  
  In the end, it's hardly any skin off my nose if some cat wants to fly the colors of his accomplishments. As long as it isn't a do-rag and a friggin' pair of Daisy Dukes who cares?

  
  
  Thanks!

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  Nov 29, 2010 12:09 AM GMT

  I agree, the bar code tattoo was pretty dam awesome. Just promise me you wont wear the branded hat, shirt, and socks all at the same time while i am at the gym, okay?
  
  J

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