Quote Originally Posted by Running Mommy View Post
Thank YOU! That is what I'm saying... It just seems like IM is getting "watered down" so to speak. Yes I'm slow. I'm a full value athlete. BUT I never go into a race with a cut off that I'm not sure I could make.
There are certain marathons that I don't run because they have a 6 hour time cut off, and I know I'd be pushing it.
Just like I would never run the Boston marathon on a charity slot. I respect that race too much. I know I'll NEVER be fast enough to qualify, so I respect those who do even more. That race is about qualifying to get in, and the work that runners put into qualifying- or BQing in marathon speak.
And as with what happened in April, I pulled myself off the course because I knew I wouldn't make it in time.
I guess the popularity of IM has made it so that it's on a lot of peoples "to do once before I die list" and the rules are just silly details. "heck, I did the distance, so I'm an Ironman. No matter that I took an hour longer than I was suppose to, they still gave me a medal"...
NO, sorry, you are NOT.
And I blame the race organization for this. THEY should not be giving out medals like that. It smacks those of us who go out there and bust our butts to make it in under 17 in the face. I'm not saying that this person didn't give it their all. But EIGHTEEN hours??!! I'll have to read their RR.
Well, this lady did give it her all. But she came in past the cut off (the generous one at that because of the TT start)... and got a medal. That's BS in my book.

If you didn't make it 17 hours, you don't get the medal or the finishers T-Shirt.

BTW- is it normal for you have to buy your finishers T-shirt? They had to buy it for Ketucky.