Ironman Dork!

I get so annoyed when people ask me if I paddle a kayak or surkski when I race Ironman - I have to explain that it isnt "surf life saving ironman" - but "ironman triathlon" - I usually say "Ironman is much tougher and covers much more ground - our races are twice as long as the longest surf life savings races" And then at the point where my anger towards the naive person has subsided - the dorkdem begins in full flight as I recount the story of the history of the Ironman... from humble beginings of 12 competitors in 1978, to Julie Moss, all the way through Dave Scott's 6 wins - right up to the 1989 race which still holds the fastest marathon splits at Kona of all time, Mark Allen's last race as the oldest winner catching Hellreigel with a 13min deficit off the bike - and on and on I go... the blank look on their face that began around the 30 minute mark of my story telling means nothing to me! But - Im always convinced that they wont ever confuse "surf life saving" with "ironman" ever again!

Bevan, a dork, never:)!

Any time I wear the $100 Ironman Finisher Polo Shirt I bought after my first Kona in '03 to work... Giant KONA on the sleeves and the Ironman "crest" on the chest.. I walk around the office looking like a big ole dork.... and yet I keep doing it...

Now there's a question for you? Why after realizing you're being an Ironman Dork, do you keep on doing it?

IM dork moment inspired by IM Talk. At the suggestion of Bevan and John I chose to wear my compression tights and top from the hotel in San Diego throughout my travel all the way to my house in Boulder. My girlfriend was a good sport about it but the looks I received from bus drivers and fellow travelers definitely reinforced the Dorkness. Good times! Thanks for the suggestion guys.

How do you tell an Ironman at a party?

Don't worry - he'll tell you!

Different grades of being an IM Dick

1) You want sponsorship for a 5K run? I did 11 miles before coming to work!

2) Yeah, I could probably do that (for any feat of extreme endurance)

3) Ironman - no really, anyone could do it with a little training - why not sign up for Lanzarote?

4) Yeah but he / she only did their IM in 15:25 - I was 3 hours quicker - yadda yadda yadda

5) What do you mean why has my watch, leg, t-shirt, bed, aftershave, screensaver, wallpaper, car, haircut all have that silly red M with a head on it sign.

Probably most of the time.... IM has a tendancy to encroach on everything else.

Once past the above mentioned Surf Life bit it's " So what do you have to do?" After giving details of the distances involved etc.etc. I usually get the reply " You must be fit then to swim all that way " Must be the point where they stop listening.

Scary how close to the truth Gary's comments are :)

Congratulations John on a beautiful little girl.

ps I actually enjoyed '50 Marathons 50 Days'!

My dorkiest moment so far was out on a training run around London. Pulled up to a couple of fellow runners - who asked

"Are you training for the London marathon?"

"No. Doing an Ironman" I replied

"What's that?"

"2.4mile swim, 112 mile bike then a marathon!"

Cue two looks of disgust from them, a sharp turn by me and a little run away, smiles all over my face! A marathon just doesn't seem enough......................