What are the differences if any
willieverfinish
Posts: 1,381
in General Chat
Stupid question time now
Are there any differences between a middle distance race and a 70.3 race ?
Is it the distances ? Is it the fact that Ironman have some input in a 70.3 and not a middle distance race ?
I am confused ?
Are there any differences between a middle distance race and a 70.3 race ?
Is it the distances ? Is it the fact that Ironman have some input in a 70.3 and not a middle distance race ?
I am confused ?
0
Comments
For ease, most triathletes will call them 70.3 as it's synonomous with the distance but race organisers can't unless they want a legal writ coming their way!
Most races will vary ever so slightly from the exact distances but will be close enough to ensure you have an even race. I believe most race organisers will provide exact distance splits if there is any significant differences.
You can trademark "70.3" but you can't place any legal claim on any specific distance. Anyone can put on a triathlon with a total distance of 70.3 miles, but only the WTC can call a race 70.3.
Conehead's potted history of Ironman is interesting, and the one everyone learns. It all sounds rather spontaneous, relaxed and Hawaiian "hey guys let's do all three at once and find the real Ironman" etc.
At some point fairly early on however someone with a business/legal brain must have seen the value of the brand and ensured that "Ironman" etc were protected with trademarks before they became generic ie too widespread to be protected. (You couldn't for example now trademark the word "marathon" for a 26.2 mile running race, the term has been in ordinary usage for years and years).
That's why Marathon became Snickers I guess then?
Nah, it's not generic for a choccy bar. Change it back I say, sod all that global branding bollocks!