Dear Charlie Yu:

I am really sorry you feel the way you do, but how dare you make a claim about my Ironman performance without first checking your facts.  Not only have I 'finished' Kona 8x, but I believe my sub 9 hour performance from last year, fastest US amateur and 4th American overall allows me to claim to have 'finished Ironman'. 

I do not wear a tattoo of the Mdot on my body, but I applaud anybody that has finished or even attempted an Ironman distance.  If they want to put an Mdot tattoo on their body, so be it since they are part of what Ironman calls 'the family'. 

I am quite proud to be associated with ANY triathlete - whether a complete beginner attempting a Sprint or the Professional winning the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.  If you are insulted about how you perceive the title 'Ironman', then you are participating in this sport and endurance events for completely the wrong reasons.

Triathlon is about the challenge, the fitness, the lifestyle, the health and the journey.  It is NOT about being able to thump your chest at the water cooler about your own selfish achievements over the weekend.  While completing a triathlon does make you feel proud and alive, for you or anybody to judge what makes an Ironman an "Ironman" is not fair.

For you to make claims like you did about my own performance is a joke.  I think you need to look at the history of this sport a bit closer - if it were not for the Ironman and it's original finishers willing to share the good vibes of this triathlon you would not be participating in any Olympic distance races, nor be able to claim you won your age group. 

Stop taking yourself and triathlon so seriously and show a little sportsmanship - you know the modern Olympic creed that I CAN quote since I took part in those too...:  "The most important thing is not winning but taking part".

 Chris Hauth

Read Charlie Yu's Letter