This article brought back many memories. I was there for the initial concept and the event. When I first heard of the concept, I asked John Collins if it were to be run for 3 consectutive days? Who would have guessed it it would explode like it has. The concept of a challenge is now in $$ hands.
3
One of the best SI articles I've ever read was the one about the second Ironman. When I hear about another Hawaii Ironman being run I think of that article. Those 15 people may not have gotten any money but they competed in the first races.And as they say, Priceless.
2
The origin story truly begins in San Diego, years before any Ironman organization. That’s when Jack Johnstone, a teacher and athlete, joined colleagues and friends to produce the first Triathatlon. The amateur group organized the event; spread the word, and: had family hold hand made signs giving participants directions. The Triathatlon idea “blossomed” and soon other communities held similar three sport events. Johnstone and his friends initiated the Tri for the love of sport. Now, it seems the competition for money trumps the initial intentions of competitive camaraderie.
2
Given how some commenters have credited the NYT with changing the "face" of sports... it would have been nice to include at least one picture of a woman winning IM Kona. Instead there's one of the male IM 40th winner and another of him again but with the second place finisher also. IM gave men and women equal race purses from the beginning too, which may have been a first in both national and international pro sports.
9
Why does everything always have to be turned into some corporate monstrosity?
5
When I finished the 1985 Ironman Valerie Silk placed a lei around my neck. As I walked out of the finish area John Dunbar handed me a replica of the original Ironman trophy, an iron figurine with a nut for a head. John and I served in a SEAL Team reserve unit together and are still close friends today. Valerie became a friend over the years. She treated all Ironman finishers as her friend. I hate to see this happening because the are both good people.
7
Ummmm, makes me think about two bald guys fighting over a comb. The toothpaste is out of the tube. Get over it.
4
Actors have a Union contract which is signed before they start work and that is the only reason they get residuals, most of the rest of the crew get no such thing, many people contribute to the success of a TV show, most only get a paycheck and basic benefits. Had he demanded ownership before racing, that would be a different story. His property is likely worth a fortune, should he give some of that money to whoever sold it to him cheap? No risk, no reward, it is a shame that he forced all that money to be spent on lawyers, so wasteful, the type of person who gives lawyers a bad name.
5
Have there been any Taliban competitors?
3
John Dunbar is as described, a bit of a loose cannon. When he ran triathlons on Maui he left cups, water bottles and tons of debris on the roads. It got to the point that the Maui police were reluctant to give him a permit. It was his lack of organization that killed his scheme. Had Dunbar taken over there would be no Ironman. Silk was the genius and owes Dunbar nothing. I was there and created XTERRA.
12
@Dave Nicholas
LOVE XTERRA! San Dimas was my first of any type of Tri. I always refer to non XTERRA races as "flat triathlons"
1
A...the heady days of the late 70's...when there was still the lingering wisps of 60's love, and its all cool man, we're all friends and not out to make buck,but if we do, we're all in...its about the purity of the competitions, dude.
This sounds like one more of the thousands of great American missed opportunity stories.
Whats a computer? That will never sell!
What? Wearing fancy work-out clothes like regular clothes, are you crazy, I'm not investing in that!
No way are you getting people to pay to show up in a hot room, and step-up and down on a box, over and over, twist and high-step, all to thumping, sped-up disco like music! No way.
How many times have people who were there at the beginning of a "thing", who did not recognize the potential phenomenon, and means to make some big bucks...? Then say they should be cut-in later?
Must be beyond counting...
5
The TRUE origin of this origin-story begins in San Diego, California. Two friends organized a race for fellow athletic enthusiasts. The newly christened Triathatlon was a success, and similar competitions soon followed.
https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2016/02/20160202_atc_jack_johnstone_creator_of_the_triathlon_dies_at_80.mp3?orgId=1&topicId=1062&d=216&p=2&story=465321566&siteplayer=true&dl=1
1
“Swim 2.4 miles! Run 26¼ miles! Bike 112 miles! Brag the rest of your Life!”
Yeah...knowing a few finishers...oh boy, yes...the bragging never stops. Never miss a chance to drop it in a conversation that they participated. Usually inappropriately and completely irrelevant.
Yawn. You are now among several hundreds of thousands...the pool is diluted.
Or the other thing they do. Strategically show off the IM calf tattoo...going so far as to wearing shorts in the bitter cold...cant cover the tat.
FYI; that you ran this race in no way makes you virtuous! And its not relative to every other aspect of life. Good for you, you finished. Took a lot of work. Be proud of yourself for that moment in your life. Now move on. No one cares about your glory moment. Go sit at the end of the bar with all the High School, college athletes going-on about their glory-days.
4
Sort of like the Facebook kerfuffle
1
I think it’s unfair when some people here think that Dunbar is quite the antagonist. It’s true that his claim is weak legally, and that he is quite an aggrieved person, but the original participants of this event took a considerable risk, what with the insufficient support to ensure the safety of the original competition. Without them, the Ironman wouldn’t have existed.
I agree with the other commentator who said that Wanda should act on good faith and invite the originals creators—along with Valerie Silk—into an Ironman appreciation award or something like that and give them a small slice of the cake in the form of appreciation grant, and invite them into talk shows, etc.
1
As one of the early participants when there was no prize money, I just never figured that it would grow to the worldwide behemoth it is today. Came out to Kona to scout the event in 1984 and happened to meet up with Scott on a bike ride. In 1985 I got in via a lottery with no prior triathlon experience. Was a strong long distance cyclist but had only 1 half marathon and several swims of 1 to 2 miles before heading to Kona. My memories of the event are still positive, this article relates history I was unaware of. Dunbar and others appear to have had a case, too bad they could never get some modest compensation and recognition.
4
In 1988, my wife and I booked rooms in Kailua-Kona for r honeymoon. Never having heard of Ironman we arrived at our hotel to find tha we were only one of the few guests who weren't, what we called, Iron People" (there were a lot of fit looking women, too). We felt very guilty our first morning tucking into plies of Macadamia nut pancakes, watching the Iron People picking at small portions of yogurt and granola.
9
This is a well researched and balanced article. The accompanying photographs however, managed to avoid even one picture featuring a woman competitor. Given that from the first time prize money was given, it was equal in amount for both sexes, (something many other people sports have yet to do), that is a pointless oversight.
16
I felt privileged to do my first Ironman in Kona in 1981. ( That event was held on Valentine's Day, February 14th and coming from the Midwest it was hotter than Hades out in the lava fields. ) But I somehow finished and returned six more times, completing my last Ironman in 1989. The Ironman changed my life by giving me a mission to loose weight, be physically fit and deal with post-Viet Nam depression. The article made me very sad to hear that Valerie had so many issues selling the event. Valerie and the people of Kona created a wonderful, loving experience for those of us who participated in the Ironman in the 1980's. I was proud to be a member of the Ironman Ohana (family) back then and remain proud today. I guess every Ohana has some bad members.
Much Aloha and mahalo nui loa Valerie. For me the Ironman experience was worth much more than money.
Steve "Fat Rabbit" Howarth
20
I now understand why some strongly support tort reform. A fee paid to participate in an event where the total amount paid is used for the sole purpose of covering the costs of that one event does not imply ownership of future events.
6
@A Unless the rules specify that it does.
@A - Not seeing how "tort reform" -- a concept created by tobacco and asbestos companies looking to curtail products liability suits -- has much to do with this story of the Ironman litigation.
At bottom, this is a breach of contract / intellectual property case. The agreement that the original Ironman participants entered into governs. I personally don't see that the founders had a strong case, but they did have a good-faith basis to bring it coupled with the inescapable fact that Ironman would not have existed without their efforts. That being said, Ironman also wouldn't be what it is today without Silk's years-long promotion and investment in it. That's what makes this such an interesting story--both sides have compelling arguments re: fairness.
A relatively easy and fair resolution would be for Wanda Group to offer the original competitors a decent-sized personal services contract to go out and be ambassadors for the race. Speaking engagements, race appearances around the country, etc. Doing so would recognize their contributions to Ironman's founding, eliminate the personal ill-will, and protect the brand's image. Also, much cheaper than hiring attorneys (like me). Aloha!
8
This is an interesting read. The 1979 Ironman was the beginning of a new athletic competition that has drawn millions of participants over the last 40 years. However the real interesting story about the 1979 race, that is forgotten, is that a woman competed and beat most all the men. Lyn Lemaire, after a stellar women’s amateur bicycle racing career, competed and finished 5th. This was a ground breaking moment for women athletes who previously were relegated competing against only their same gender.
37
@R. Graham Lyn went by my house at around mile 30 on the bike. She was flying & not far off the lead. We turned to one another and said, "Was that a woman?" We were astonished.
5
As a triathlete (USTA #154872) and a lawyer I read this feature with great interest and considerable sadness. All involved are good, motivated people. But the "G"word (greed) is between every line of this. From a legal perspective it's a no-brainer; i.e., without question the original participants had/have no cause of action, and likely not even if they'd filed inside the statute of limitations. In non-legal analysis, had we relied on the efforts on the disgruntled original participants, the triathlon industry would not exist today.
17
@Paul Kramer Thanks for your independent information Paul. So I assume then that the ‘Iron Man Triathlon Organizing Committee’ original clause held no legal consideration? Was the race solely John and Judy's to sell?
1
As a 13 time Ironman finisher I have heard the story before but not with this level of detail well written and researched. Ironman is a unique challenge of the physical and mental fortitude required to complete them. The sports illustrated story is worth a read too. After number 13 I took up hang gliding another very quirky sport most people no very little about.
7
"HAIKU, Hawaii — On an October night in 1979, a Navy man named John Collins rode his Triumph motorcycle over to the offices of a Honolulu health club."
Impossible, since Haiku is on Maui.
8
"HAIKU, Hawaii -" at the beginning of an article in a newspaper represents the location where the reporter filed the story. It is not a description of the location of events in the story although reporters typically file from locations nearby.
7
It's the dateline of the larger story, evidently from where most of the major reporting was done. A dateline doesn't imply everything within the article occurred in that location.
5
(Responding to Geri). The location stated right at the beginning of the article is the “dateline”. It reflects where the article was written or filed. It does not relate to the first sentence of the article.
5
A wonderful story.
Many thanks.
Ms Silk reminded me of Mr Ray Kroc - who made MCDonalds what it is today.
And hate to say this - but Mr Dunbar the original brothers of McDonalds from San Bernardino.
And as the movie on Mr Kroc showed - you can have all the good French fries you want - but if you cannot monetize - it's just a one store in San Bernardino.
So, kudos to Ms Silk - Ray Kroc of Ironman.
And another note - thank you for printing those color photos from 1979 circa.
That brought a smile - as I remembered many of our family photographs.
Those were real photos - and not selfies.
17
John, Judy, Dunbar, Silk and the other individuals mentioned in this story should band together, bury the hatchet, find a very competent attorney, brainstorm, incorporate and trademark a new name for a triathalon covering Oahu, Mau, the Big Island and Kauai -- I can elaborate later -- secure funding, sign a TV deal, and hire some management and marketing whiz kids to run their new event. A happy ending for all. If any of you wish to discuss, let me know. :)
6
I've done triathlons for almost 30 years and I can honestly tell you that the "brand" was never part of the motivation for me nor did I know anyone who cared about who owned the event. Yes, you wanted to do "classic races" like Wildflower, Alcatraz, Ironman, Nice (France), or XTERRA but you never really cared who owned those events.
Sadly, this is changing as people become brand loyal, racking up as many of one series as possible. Events like the Rock & Roll Marathon and Ironman relied on the fact that they could commodify and reproduce the same event over and over again. Consumers fell for it.
The quirkiness and individuality of local events is often lost when Private Equity (or China) buys the event and tries to turn a profit...
11
@04kunde
I agree with you. I've competed in triathlons all over the world including Kona Ironman (1983) and most of the other races mentioned in your email. And for me the "quirkiness and individuality" of the local events is what makes these events interesting and fun. In the early years of triathlon (the 80's) there was an abundance of these types of races put on by local communities all over the place. They were a tremendous amount of fun, providing a venue to travel, to race, and to meet all sorts of people from all walks of life. Things changed pretty quickly when the big money sponsors started to get involved. Rules had to be standardized, and the personal quality that made these events so much fun quickly evaporated. That's about when I started to lose interest.
7
@04kunde
In 2002, after a few years of doing shorter distance triathlons, I participated in an "iron-distance" called the "Iron Devil." It was held outside Durham, N.C., and sponsored mostly by the Duke University Cancer Center. There were a couple of hundred participants. I got a nice sweat shirt and what I thought were bragging rights until I was told by some other triathletes that it was not a "real" Iron distance because it wasn't sponsored by Ironman, Inc. I wasn't too bothered by such ignorance, since to me, 140.6 miles is 140.6 miles. But triathlon, even on the local level, became increasingly brand fancy, expensive and exclusive and I lost interest when people who would never think to get a tattoo rushed fresh from races to get the Ironman corporate logo inked on their calves. I gravitated toward trail running. I found that community far less concerned with brands. Ultra runners seemed more mavericks than machines. I met some nice folks when doing triathlon, but as the sport became increasingly brand-dependent, the mentality of many of the participants seemed to shift. It doesn't seem to be a coincidence that the rise of Ironman Inc. coincided with the attraction of participants who seemed to me to be in it not to have fun or stay fit or, for heaven's sake, fail (because failure is inevitable in an event of that distance) but to pad their resume for their next motivational speaking gig.
5
@04kunde: You're a tri old timer like me! Hope you are not the tri-curmugeon I've become! I boycott the for-profit commercial tri's here in the Northeast but the small, private ones run by municipalities, YMCA's and civic organizations are becoming harder to find. PS/ the famous WIlkes-barre Tri is not more after 30+ years! Couldn't find a new generation of people like Silk.
1
2 acres on the north shore of Maui... Dunbar is set for life!
12
Money ruins everything.
16
Des Moines, Iowa, had a race that became an institution called the "Dam to Dam". It was originally around 13 miles and they didn't bother to line it up with a 20k (and then a half marathon a little later) until it was well established.
It was a big event in Central Iowa, well-known by everyone including people who didn't care at all about running. 375 participated in the first race and 10,000 participants ran in it in 2018...the 39th and last time the race was run.
Why it's over is a bit of a mystery (to me at least). Some theories: course volunteers wondering where the money was and the founders not wanting to give up the name. The race goes on (now called "Dam to DSM") but it's still sad to me that part of the tradition does not.
5
Dunbar sounds almost exactly like a friend of mine. Stubborn to the point of foolishness and his own ego causes him more trouble than any stranger ever could. I have no sympathy for Dunbar.
11
Excellent piece. The story seems similar to the old story The Little Red Hen. Based on the article facts presented, Mr. Dunbar isn’t there to help bake the bread but certainly wants to eat it, assuming it comes out of the oven tasty.
In any case, whatever Mr. Dunbar believes he was entitled to as owner would have certainly been diluted by the “sweat equity” put in by Ms. Silk and others and whatever “ownership” he had would likely have been diluted or eradicated by that.
Ms Silk takes on all the risk and rewards of ownership; the door doesn’t swing one way. To her point in the article, sounds as if nobody weighed in on the risks but came knockin when the rewards flowed.
29
Unfortunately, the world is filled with John Dunbar types, those who see others as the unreasonable ones again and again and again.
8
a guy trying to take credit when a woman did all the work.
53
Fine looking trophy, I say.
5
The sport of Ironman was developed in 1964 in Australia by Valentine Trainor to combine the four main disciplines of surf lifesaving into a single race; swimming, board paddling, ski paddling and running. The sport should not be confused with Ironman triathlon. It is typically run as a single event as a part of a surf life saving carnival, although it can be run as a sport in its own right. Internationally it is sometimes called Oceanman
6
Wow - made me think of the old adage “Second Place is just the First Loser”.
2
hello, i love triathlon
in 1982 I saw the competitors running the rusty man tri in kapiolani park. they did not look happy toward the end so I said I don't need this Time & expense doing a tri in Kona or the rusty man in Honolulu. I had more important things like supporting my beautiful young family
1
Never let the concepts of health and exercise get in the way of cashing in. After all this is America! One of the most obese industrialized nations on the planet.
2
How can this be owned? Anyone can organize a race, or combination of races.
The new owner, Wanda, should shake loose a few million for each of the litigants for good PR, not to mention the morality of the issue.
10
I have heard this story many times. A group of people in a community created a beer in Abita Springs and someone stole it and made it into the business it is today. People in New Orleans created Whole Food Company and John Mackey stole the idea and made it into Whole Food Mkt. Artists in Greenwich Village created tie-dye and a guy went off to Ojai, CA and tried to make it a private business and brand. Burt of Burt's Bees was not interested in business. Business people are a different skill set. They are nothing without the creativity of a community, and that creativity will remain local and limited without business acumen. How to share the wealth?
10
It's a shame that the people who originated the Ironman ended up with virtually nothing, but unfortunately that's what happens when you try to pit essentially moral claims against later interests who have armed themselves with all the legalities.
Mr. Dunbar and Mr. Haller still look very fit and athletic, so they have that going for them!
7
Great reporting. In depth and a fair account. Bravo
3
If it was about the principle, and not the money, then why did Dunbar wait until there was money to be had before suing? Answer seems obvious to me.
7
It is kind of like Mcdonald’s, Richard Mcdonald had the idea but Ray Kroc made it a billion dollar business.
1
It would have been grand if the Chinese company gave one-time checks to the litigants but that won't happen. The gov't was at Davos this week saying the US should expect them to keep stealing intellectual property because it's their right! In this case, they are not legally bound to give away a penny.
2
@Geraldine Conrad how does Chinese government's comments at Davos connect to Wanda? That is saying all American companies are evil because Trump is a president. Crazy logic
This is an issue of intellectual property. In hindsight originators in Hawaii needed a lot more legal counsel.
"Hawaiian Triathlon Corporation" had filed articles of incorporation in Hawaii. Does that give them the triathalon trade name in Florida and other jurisdictions? I can't rightly say. I assume "Ironman" was registered in Hawaii also.
Trade name and trademarks are usually handled by individual states. I wish the authors would have included a modicum of the process, as well as any intersection with the Patent and Trademark Office.
This whole thing grew organically. The founders had no idea of the value of what they started. That is understandable. It is not the NFL or NBA. It is not a big time, televised sport as we know them.
I wish the authors would have included information which explains what makes triathlons and marathons so lucrative for Dalian Wanda and other corporations and hedge funds.
It's about entry fees, advertising, and the data they glean from the contestants. Perhaps there is something else that readers like myself don't understand.
7
I'm not a lawyer, but I've worked with contracts, and it seems to me that the real legal question is: Was Rule #8 maintained in the rules governing subsequent events? If so, everyone who paid an entry fee and was a "participant" (separate debate on that definition) while such a rule was in place is: a member of the Organizing Committee; an event sponsor (i.e., a co-funder); and has agreed to a fiduciary responsibility for the event. Ergo, when all expenses are covered, the OC members can share in any "excess money"; but when not, they'd be responsible for any debts (via an "assessment").
Despite all the work ("heavy-lifting" as some have described) that Ms. Silk put into implementing later events, if Rule #8 was in place for those events then Mr. Dunbar has a case -- a very shaky, narrow one -- but a case nonetheless. Moreover, if, as the article states, in 1984 he made a documented claim to Ironman event rights (i.e., to rights that commenced when he was a participant pursuant to Rule #8), then I believe he acted in a timely manner and prior to the statute of limitations restriction.
All that said, it seems a like a very weak argument to assert that one has enduring rights for the trademark and for any events in which one did not participate. When you join the OC, is it a lifetime membership? For what little I can glean, the original rules don't explictly indicate that.
Hopefully there's a plaque in Waikiki with his and the other original participants names on it.
6
If there was an intact “Organizing Committee”, Collins wouldn’t have needed to turn over that box. No evidence is presented that the “Organizing Committee” significantly helped Silk turn a scrappy event into something with real financial value, so there’s virtually no basis for Dunbar’s claims. Given the lapsed statute of limitations, I conclude that Dunbar wasn’t interested until he saw real money on the table.
9
@DARH
With all the research that was done for this very interesting article the whole truth is still missing regarding the actual sale of the IRONMAN by Valiery Silk to WTC-Dr. Jim Gills. What no one knows and no one was to ever find out is that Jim Gills never paid Valerie for the IRONMAN even after he sold it for a huge profit.
He offered to buy it for $ 3 million and she agreed to sell it for that amount. And then the team of lawyers Gills braged about being on his permanent payroll began their job of recouping the smal down payment she was given initially. Not only did she not make some great profit from the sale of the IRONMAN rather she was sued into near bankruptcy by WTC. Next she was made to promise WTC she would not to return to Hawaii for twenty years and would not reviel the facts of the sale to the public, they left her alone.....but not until she agreed to one more thing ...to allow Dr.Jim Gills to call himself co-founder of the IRONMAN.
9
It was, is, an adventure. It helped establish a lifelong affection for exercise.
5
Great story about a legendary event. Thank you for this excellent piece of reporting and fascinating historical insight!
4
Wow, talk about “goose bumps & chills”... So many wonderful memories related to the Ironman race and triathlete scene during the 80’s and 90’s.
I was a participant in the 85 race, and met Valerie Silk briefly in Kona.. She was quite lovely, and her team, the volunteers, and the community of Kona put on a race that will always be a highlight in my life.
I lived in Boulder, CO. during those years, and the who’s who of the triathlon world all passed through at one time or another... It was an amazing time !!
This year I returned to Kona to volunteer at the 40th running of the race, and it was nothing short of magical to be there... The race has largely grown, the field is more international, but the energy and enthusiasm is more alive in Kona than ever....
I can only thank the early pioneers for their vision, Valerie Silk for her relentless efforts, and the ongoing stewarts who continue to make the Ironman race a lifelong experience for so many... “——— You are a Ironman”....... Amazing !!!!
6
I’ve done some triathlons but not an iron-distance tri, or one with the Ironman brand. People who complete the arduous AND highly branded event have a reputation for being a bit obsessive. This article, which describes a very small, grassroots event that became popular gives much credence to that reputation.
There is a special place in Heaven for race directors and volunteers at smaller, non-corporate events. The families of competitors belong in Heaven too. They really put up with a lot!
People that sue race directors and events because they didn’t get their particular way can go jump in a lake and stay there.
11
I don’t know who deserves the credit, but who ever, thank you. I enjoyed watch the event for. Several years on TV. I have biked many many miles, I have run thousands of miles in my life time, BUT I have never ever swam more then the length of a pool. Swing is a life saving event, not to be waste in a competition.
3
The origin story is compelling and I hope will encourage, not discourage, others to create their own homegrown events. Let sports be for love, not money. Let competitors embrace the small and real, not the glitzy. We don't have to behave like a mob or consumers of a "brand."
7
So sad that Dalian Wanda owns it now. There are so many great grassroots events that gain traction, and end up in the hands of companies that want a "Brand" rather than a great event. It is no longer about providing a great event for the competitors, and some economic benefit for the host community, but selling TV rights, t-shirts and trinkets...lining the pockets of the shareholders, and doing little for the community or the participants.
7
@Laura isn't that we live in a free market? If consumers believe the grassroot events are providing great experience to competitors, then they will sign up for those events. I don't think anyone is coerced into signing up for an Ironman...especially when an entrance fee is $700. You spoke of economic benefits of triathlon events, I would love to hear your calculations.
1
@Thinker - I agree with Laura because people can only buy what is offered. If we were really the ones in charge we wouldn't be at the mercy of Monsanto, Facebook, Google, Starbucks, Amazon, Ironman, and the other big entities in every aspect of our lives.
Yes, some rugged individualists "opt out" of the mainstream options (you might be one) but most people only have certain choices available because the local media, races, stores, etc. have gone out of business. How can I support something that no longer exists thanks to the the systemic advantages of scale that the so-called "free market" favors? The free market favors one thing, profitability but that is not the only criteria for a good product.
1
@Laura - I agree with you because people can only buy what is offered. If we were really the ones in charge we wouldn't be at the mercy of Monsanto, Facebook, Google, Starbucks, Amazon, Ironman, and the other big entities in every aspect of our lives.
Yes, some rugged individualists "opt out" of the mainstream options but most people only have certain choices available because the local media, races, stores, etc. have gone out of business. How can I support something that no longer exists thanks to the the systemic advantages of scale that the so-called "free market" favors? The free market favors one thing, profitability, but that is not the only criteria for a good race or a good product.
1
My brother works in Kona, where each October this event pumps millions of dollars into the local economy, many of whom are hanging on by a thread. They say the Chinese firm may move the Ironman off the Island, which would devastate the locals. If you ask me: competitors compete for the glory and personal validation, and that is all, no matter what they signed in order to get to compete. But it has become a big business, and big global businesses are in pursuit of profit, no matter how impersonally devastating to the local businessmen whose lives are wrapped up in this event.
14
This story gives me the chills. A truly fascinating live to tell story about grit and perseverance, and twists and turns along the way. The reporting is excellent, giving the reader a play by play with enough detail and substance to understand the different moving parts.
Not to mention the pictures, very nice looking men, some in speedos!
The cast of characters is out of a spy novel, strong willed men and smart women. The Ironman story is also is great testament to American ingenuity. Out of nothing, these men and women created a sports phenomena, an international brand and a marketing powerhouse.
In spite of some of the enduring bitterness about what happened and that the founding group of people never made out like bandits, the story leaves you inspired and hopeful. If not for the ideas and willpower of a few who wanted to do something good for themselves and their community of sports folks and fans, the Ironman would not have become what it is today.
The article celebrates that success story and gives the creators of the Ironman all the credit. Thank you for your efforts and for bringing the story to all of us.
5
I am left feeling conflicted after reading this excellent piece. While I can’t speak to this issues at hand from a legal perspective, on the one hand significant credit must be given to John and Judy for their imagination and vision, and for their hard work in organizing the first two events. Without them, it is highly likely that Ironman simply does not exist in the way that it does today. On the other hand, Valerie’s hard work in growing the event (and to some degree, the sport of triathlon) cannot be ignored. Should she have reached back to the founders and at least offered to keep them involved? I think yes. What makes me more sad than anything is that fact that Ironman found itself in the hands of private equity. The Ironman brand has been diluted, and it now feels like a highly commercialized, elitist event, with entry fees to match. It has become so far removed from its roots, and its original vision that had more to do grit and self-reliance and adventure. We long for the romance of the past, but time marches on. I get it. Stories like this one help those of us who love the sport, and have passion for it, remember –and perhaps bring a little of that spirit back where we can, in one form or another.
21
@Laszlo
But the Collins have no beef with Valerie Silk whatsoever. They have never joined in any of the legal suits, never asked for anything other than appropriate recognition (especially for Ms Collins) and have nothing but kind words acknowledging Valerie Silk's contributions..."We will always feel lucky and grateful that Ironman fell into Silk’s hands,” Judy Collins said in an email. “It was good fortune. Not only did Silk keep our long-distance triathlon going, she nurtured Ironman triathlon around the globe.”
5
@Simple Truth I met John and Judy Collins several times when they lived in San Diego (he was the boss of a friend of mine) They were friendly, fun-loving people - nothing but good things to say about them.
1
without knowing any more than what is here, it appears that the court took the best approach by choosing to rule that the 6-year statute of limitations of Hawaii applied. That way, the court didn't even have to address the claims in paragraph 8 of the original race sign-up agreements.
But from outside those claims seems a little silly: If we believe the article, Silk came to run the races after Collins handed her husband the race and essentially said, please run this. She did all the work. Then, 12 years later I think, Dunbar whips up a frenzy? I'm sure it had nothing to do with money.
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@dugggggg
Whenever you hear people going on about how it's "not about the money" - it's about the money.
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@dugggggg It wasn't 12 years later; more like 4-5. The first couple of years, Jon tried to work it out with Val. Jon was a training partner and a friend of 40 years. If you know any Navy SEALs, you know the one thing they all have in common, is tenacity that puts a pit bull to shame. That's Jon, the most stubborn human being I've ever known,
I was 35 when I started running, and just shy of 37 when I ran my first marathon. In the following 16 years I started, and finished, 19 more marathons, but never attempted a triathlon. I was simply not a swimmer. A near-drowning experience in a small lake when I was in grade school did nothing to alleviate my fear of open water swimming, particularly in the ocean. At 54, I ran my final 26 miles, 385 yards, and conceded at last to the arguments by my knees and hips that enough was enough.
I started running to keep from re-starting smoking. It worked, and I came to need a run with as much urgency as ever I needed a cigaret. I did not have the body habitus of a natural distance runner, but that was irrelevant. I had come to love the run for the zen aspect of the activity.
It pains me that the Ironman is what it has become: a phenomenally monetarily valuable enterprise. For the millions of us who participate in running for the same reason(s) I did, the only monetary aspect was what the entry fee cost and what the "free" T-shirt looked like. The ribbon and medal handed out at the finish line was icing on the cake, or, more accurately, the foam on the beer.
I no longer run at all. I walk, several miles a day, and my bunionettes (enlargement and splaying out of the 5th metatarsal head) have joined the knees and hips and actually lead the chorus these days. It is not the zen experience of yore, but then, I'm still not in it for the money.
It's about time for that walk.
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Seems like Dunbar has a long history of finishing second. Silk took a scrappy little event and built it into something of value. Dunbar had nothing to do with any of that.
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@Dan I agree. Silk is a person with big execution. Dunbar capitalizes the successes of the work from others and sell mercahndizes. Nothing wrong with Dunbar trying to be an entrepreneur of his own. But trying to claim a big piece of Ironman shares when he literally didn't do anything other than being a partcioant and didn't do anything for the point #8 until Ironman is rip to age is just purely greedy and money motivated
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It was the hard work and dedication of Valerie Silk that took the rough clay and made it work as an event for competitors, viewers and sponsors - no mean feat! And let's not forget ABC Wide World of Sports and its coverage of Julie Moss's courageous finish in 1982 that turned Ironman into an aspirational event that grew, and grew and grew. Consistent actions and dedication of Valerie and her successors made Ironman what it is today.
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JULIE MOSS!!! I watched that as an 11 year old kid and it left an indelible mark. For me she is and always will be Ironman. 2nd place female finisher to...the name escapes me. More than her lasting legacy in the Ironman competition is how that episode shaped the human interest story in sports.
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I don’t see how Dunbar and the others really have a case against Ironman. All they are doing is broadly interpreting the original rule that stated the entrance fee makes them part of an organizing committee. It doesn’t seem like they were interested in helping it grow besides participating in the races.
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@Cal Dunbar reminds me of cases which parents who gave up their biological babies due to neglect to adopted parents. Then they come back years later to claim they are the real parents all along when the kids grown up to becomibg successful adults and millionaires/billionaires,
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I am a member of the human race, I have the DNA to prove it. I can also prove that at some point my ancestors owned large sections of Europe. Therefore I believe I am entitled to a portion of Europe as my rightful inheritance.
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Fascinating story. Fascinating for me because I'm roughly the same age as the original competitors. If you were the competitive type in those days you had to try the sport. In the early 80s stories like the one from John Branch began appearing in the press and men (mostly) began taking up the sport--to find out how tough they were--though the sport was very crude almost comical when compared to today.
In 1981 an episode of Magnum PI was about the Ironman; Thomas Magnum competed in the race, and surely gave the sport some glamor. In 1983 I was in Hawaii during the race and bought one of those bootleg t-shirts, probably from John Dunbar, which I still have.
In 2007 I gave up triathlons for mountain climbing. In that regard, for the competitive types, you should watch if you haven't the movie "Dawn Wall", about Tommy Caldwell's climb of El Cap. The very fascinating John Branch is prominently featured there and provides some interesting insights into the iron will of one particular young man.
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On a side note, all these former triathletes look amazing for their age. That intense physical fitness seems to have been worthwhile regardless of who got the pot of gold.
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From my experience as an originator of other events, mostly triathlons, a race director for many races and even a competitor including many IM events, Valerie Silk did the heavy lifting. She put the Ironman on the world stage and with her team did a wonderful job at it.
I liked John Dunbar when I met him. I didn’t buy the trophy he was selling though but except for racing, he didn’t do any of the work. Legally it sounds like it was a weak case to begin with.
Valerie worked tirelessly on Ironman. Heck, on your birthday you would even receive a birthday card from her. She was the backbone of the race and I’m sorry that she had to spend her money in court.
I’m not sure the races as they now stand are better than the Ironman races as they were in the 80s. You felt as if you were part of the Ironman Ohana back then and that was largely due to Valerie and your fellow competitors. Now it seems, it’s about the money.
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@Mark
Thanks Mark for the interesting & informative back story.
Having competed in endurance events, it's easier to identify with the competitors than the people & infrastructure that makes everything possible. Your comments add important detail showing how valuable Valeries efforts were.
I can't help but wonder whether it would have been possible in the early days, to include some of the original members in the organization. Perhaps they could have kept the company a bit longer, increasing its value? Certainly sounds like this would have reduced some of the legal fees Valerie incurred. Although given Mr. Dunbars track record with regards to filing lawsuits, perhaps not.
I agree with another comments, remarkable how fit some of the original men appear to be. Isn't that a *priceless* result?
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@Mark Everything about everything these days is about the money.
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@Mark
Helps the story to get direct experience, such as the tidbits you supplied.
Having also competed in endurance events, including Ironman length Tri's, I know how easy it is to take the support & event people for granted. Yet without them...many of us would have never been able to engage in such epic journey's. And thats still my takeaway - I will remember these until the day I die.
As other commentators have said, remarkable how fit some of these gentlemen are. I hope that fact is not lost on them.
I also regret that the two groups couldn't have joined forces, instead of spending tons of $ on legal fees.
Great reporting on an interesting sports/business story.
As is so often the case, there's a legal case that Dunbar has lost, and there's also a moral question (which does not have a statute of limitations.)
Was he really cheated? What if -- instead of going on to become a valuable property -- Ironman had instead been the victim of a costly lawsuit? Would Dunbar have accepted "his share" of responsibility for those costs? I doubt it.
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Great story, who would have known! I can see this being an ESPN documentary.
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Another great piece by the Times, like the lenghty, brilliantly photographed articles the Times ran on ice swimming contests in northern Europe and the “most grueling race in the world” in Central America. The Times is changing the face of the sports section from mere reportage on last night games to fascinating and engrossing journalism. I look forward to more such pieces.
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Having competed in many races in the late 1970s and 1980s, I watched the first televised IronMan competition with great interest. It was on PBS before the multiple channels. Thank you for publishing this important, interesting history. The lawsuits over ownership can be seen as a metaphor for the anguish over the losses accompanying age. None of us get to keep our youth any more than they got to share in future profits of the race. More importantly, they may be losing the enjoyment of the present. As one of the first contestants claimed, the race would provide bragging rights for life. True, and it is for it is for being there at the beginning.
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@Elaine Cress Well put.
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@Elaine Cress Well said. However if you look at the present day photos of Dunbar and Haller, it is possible that Iron Man training actually prevents aging.
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Fantastic story. Obviously none of them could have realized that Sports Illustrated would stumble upon their quirky little event, resulting in attention, and the broadcast of the event soon after. Sounds to me like Silk should have shared the spoils when she sold it, but a lawsuit so many years is strange- in that they certainly knew of the sale, or perhaps I need to reread this long article for explanation of that. But after Silk sold it, it was in corporate hands and the story becomes less human...even though the next sale netted a profit of close to a billion dollars.
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