Am I just part of a growing fad?!?!

I was reading Fortune magazine of the train this morning (true story) and there was a blurb on page 29 of this months issue that talked about Triathlons, specifically Ironman.

Since we’re right in the middle of the Ironman Challenge (have you voted yet, cause you should) I found this really interesting..

“Forget marathons. Today it’s all about triathlons, the run-bike-swim competitions that range from”sprints to 140.6 mile Ironman survival tests. 

More than 1.2 million Americans finished a tri last year, up 51% from 2007. There’s even an Ironman Executive Challenge Series for 100 top industry titans, such as Juan Andrade, president of the Hartford. Seeing dollar signs is World Triathlon Corp., which is branding Ironman products all over town. Here is a sampling. -J.S.”

Fortune Magazine October 18, 2010

I’ve read about World Triathlon Corp “over branding” Ironman and the M-DOT logo on a few different forums. When I was a kid running cross-country and track in jr high I had a Timex ironman watch, and I’ve seen the M-DOT sunglasses and water bottles at wal-marts and other everyday retailers. But ironman coffee… and what was the sales pitch for the fragrance?

“Don’t you want to smell like you just completed 14 hours and 140.6 miles of racing, use ironman cologne.”

Barf…

I guess every Corp needs to find alternative ways to make money, and I’m sure there are enough people out there who recognize the logo and brand and will buy products based off of that. But for me, the only M-DOT logo I want to see will be at a finish line in 2011.