I was always of under the impression that the unwritten rule was even more broad than that....I understood that you were not supposed to wear any apparel from any race unless you actually crossed the finish line. I was given a free shirt from a race that I did not compete in at a tri expo and that has sat in my closet since I got home.

i wore my ironman watch in 7th grade
am i in trouble?

I think the Ironman watch is the exception. At least I hope so.

[quote=djciii]I was always of under the impression that the unwritten rule was even more broad than that....I understood that you were not supposed to wear any apparel from any race unless you actually crossed the finish line. I was given a free shirt from a race that I did not compete in at a tri expo and that has sat in my closet since I got home.

[/quote]

If you volunteered at said race however, go for it.

Well, I say this, if you have not done an Ironman, wear the apparel at your own risk! I did the San Diego century a few weeks ago and ahead of me was a man wearing a Kona Ironman Championship jersey. I couldn't wait to catch him at a light and congratulate him on his accomplishment! When I asked about the experience, he said..."oh, I didn't do it, I was just there." All I could say was..."oh".

My mother-in-law went to Kona 2 years ago and brought me back an Ironman shirt left over form the race. It is really nice and it lives permanently at the bottom of my t-shirt drawer.

Was it tri?sooner that posted the passage of appropriate race shirt protocol? If not, it was one of the high level trifuelers and it was funnier than hell.

That being said.. I too still wear my ironman watch (that I have had for ages) and love it.

[quote=jwillia852]Was it tri?sooner that posted the passage . . . [/quote]

. . . at your service. [url=http://www.trifuel.com/forum/17647/t-shirt-etiquette-guidelines]T-Shirt Guidelines[/url]

[i]1. A shirt cannot be worn unless the wearer has participated in the event. There is an exception, though: "significant others" and volunteers are exempt.[/i]

I still put the kibosh on the "significant other" and "volunteer". So what if you washed a water bottle or two or stood around and cut oranges? If you did not train for, toe the line, and cross the finish line, Do. Not. Wear. If my girlfriend finishes Harvard Med can I wear her alumni t-shirt? But! But! But! No.

Here's a Tough Case: At some of the M-Dot brand 70.3 races, the finisher T-shirt and hat come in one of those black gear-bags that say "Ironman" on them.

Assuming you haven't done the iron-distance, are you allowed to use the bag? Techinically, you've completed an Ironman Event, so long as "Ironman" is understood only as a brand-name. On this interpretation, use of the bag should be permissible. You did have to cross the finish line to get it. Nonetheless, you are unquestionably creating the false impression that you have completed the iron-DISTANCE. Even further, it is extremely likely that you KNOW that you are creating this false impression. But on what principle can we make a prohibition?

My thoughts: Due to a technicality, the use of said bag is not prohibited by law. But by social convention, it might be frowned upon. Or, by the other side of that coin, we might think it admirable (but not required) for one to forgo use of the bag until he has completed the distance.

Any opinions?

P.S. Although I currently enjoy full "Ironman" privileges, there was a period of time during which I was guilty of the above transgression. I always had moral qualms about it, though. I think it's time to come clean and open up some dialogue about the issue.

I wear NCAA Championship shirts from my alma mater without a second thought. Admittedly, I look nothing like a college athlete but if ever questioned, I or any reasonable individual would state our status as a fan rather than suggest we were on the winning team. Elitists who criticize supporters for wearing race gear are idiots. Personally, I would be flattered if family, friends, or fans of the sport wore the regalia of triathlons. It is a great way to expose and support the sport we love. Wear a Kona World Championship jersey and let everyone know that that is your goal. You will likely find that most friends and strangers will be extremely interested and very anxious to help you get there.

[quote=Trilosopher]Here's a Tough Case: At some of the M-Dot brand 70.3 races, the finisher T-shirt and hat come in one of those black gear-bags that say "Ironman" on them.
...
My thoughts: Due to a technicality, the use of said bag is not prohibited by law. But by social convention, it might be frowned upon. Or, by the other side of that coin, we might think it admirable (but not required) for one to forgo use of the bag until he has completed the distance.

Any opinions?
[/quote]

My opinion: send the bag my way. My IM finisher t-shirt and hat came in a bag that says.... ta-dah..... Ford. ... yep, just Ford I've seen those IM bags and have to feel just the tiny bit cheated. Wanna trade for a nice black Ford bag??? ;-)

On the t-shirts and apparel, I don't do it unless I've done the race. That includes the hat. Hubby was a bit ticked once when I didn't want him to wear my IM finisher's hat. It just goes against all the principles.

I'll say that the one time I make an exception to this rule is that hubby's running club has a white elephant t-shirt exchange at Christmastime where they all exchange old race t-shirts. I'll wear those, but in that case I haven't done the specific race but I've always done the distance. Most of them are 5k and 10k races, and mostly I wear them for gardening anyways. If I somehow got a Boston marathon shirt or something I wouldn't wear it.

I don't wear any of my own race shirts because I am an extra-small and they never carry that size. I finally decided, instead of wasting the t-shirts, to pick up a large for my husband at each race. He wears them all the time even though he has never done a singe race. I love that HE DOES NOT CARE what anyone thinks of this practice. He says a t-shirt is a t-shirt is a t-shirt. He has no intention of trying to trick the public into thinking he is a triathlete and will gladly tell anyone who asks that his wife earned the shirt.

Personally, I would never wear any Ironman apparel unless I had done the distance.

Race it - then wear it.

Ya, I have one of those black Ford bags too - ARG!

I was curious about this also because there are wetsuits that have "Ironman" on them and I thought - what an azz I will be if I am wearing that wetsuit in an open water swim clinic being taught by a man that has finished multiple Ironman and I haven't even attempted yet. Just my thought.

when i was a baby my cousins went to hawaii and bought me a hat that said "iron baby" on it. i wore it. i am truly sorry to those who might be offended seeing a baby with ironman gear, as i obviously could not have finished the race. unless they allowed tricycles and water wings.

I think "offended" is the wrong word, at least at this site. No "I am superior than you because I did this race or distance and you didn't" attitude on Trifuel. At least none that I have noticed.

It's all personal preference.

As for these new "Ford" bags, I guess the RD's are responding to the concern's I've voiced above. If it makes any of those unfortunate to have gotten one feel better, anyone who knows better will know what that Ford emblem really means.

I'm not sure that the NCAA Championship T-shirt analogy works. It would be better compared to a "Craig Alexander: Kona Champion 2008" T-shirt, as both would be celebrations of someone else's achievement.

I wish everyone would read those rules about wearing race shirts. I keep seeing it at every race, that as soon as people get t-shirts they put them on and run in them.
Maybe we are all wrong and race directors expect you to wear the shirts that you get before the race... but to me it's still a no no.
Except for Triple-T, because you have to wear the jersey ;)

I also think baby clothe with IronMan or something about 140.6 miles are cute and should be an exception.

There's a certain element of luck involved in every IM finish. Yes, most of the time, most people who start an IM will finish it. But stuff like illness, mechanical failure on the bike, severe weather, injury, and GI problems can derail even the best-prepared person.

To appease the triathlon gods, I decided I wouldn't wear any IM clothing until I finished one. Since I finished my first attempt on a day with rotten weather and a fairly high DNF percentage, I have concluded that my superstition was completely valid. ;)

I say wear it regardless. Triathlon doesn't really have teams to support, but it does have branded events that should be supported. I think of wearing a race shirt as wearing a sports team jersey. You are just showing your support for that event. I've never played for Arsenal F.C., but I wear an Arsenal F.C. jersey sometimes :) I think "Ironman" in particular is moving to this status.... One exception. If the shirt says "finisher", then you should probably have finished the race. I've noticedthat many of the bigger local events now have "finisher" shirts or "participant" shirts as well as "volunteer" printed shirts.

Now to the real problem.....I will never wear a race shirt because everyone I've ever seen is just plain ugly. Can't someone with an iota of fashion sense design a shirt for a race? Can't they spend an extra dollar or two and get something better than cheap white cotton? I'd happily pay the extra couple of bucks...

I didn't wear any IM stuff before I finished one, however my wife has worn a shirt from races that I have done.

She has volunteered for an IM for 18 hours, which is not easy either, so I cut her some slack ;-)

IM branded gear is an exception I think - Ironman watches, wetsuits, etc. It's not the same as a shirt or hat that says Ironman Finisher.

Quite unfortunately, my Ironman Finisher shirt is just about the ugliest t-shirt I own. I don't even wear it to wash the car. The hat however is a prized possession!

No finish no wear, but I know a guy who wears a 'Nice Iron Man' T shirt, he was a volunteer. Still wouldn't do it me

Personally I have no issue with people wearing shirts, rather I see it as suppporting the sport. I will not however wear a race shirt until after the event when I am competing (so far the only way I have gotten comp shirts) in any sport due to a bit of superstition about it being unlucky. But thats just me.

Ironman® brand apparel, wear it like anything else.
Race specific (non-finisher) apparel, sure why not. I call it motivation.
Race specific (finisher) apparel, I wouldn't until I did the race but that's me.

What about baby strollers? I turned down this stroller in favor of the unbranded one. I'm serious. My wife & in-laws thought I was nuts.

they have Iron Man strollers????????? Holy heck

If you feel the need to please everyone, then do not wear IM items until you finish. There are about 20 people in this world that it bothers, and they all browse forums like Trifuel.

It doesn't seem much different than wearing an NCAA Final Four shirt with the name of a college that made it. The difference might be if you are a 12 year old fat kid, people will not assume that you played in the final four, but IM finishers come in all shapes, sizes, and ages.