IM Nicknames

Apparently, my reference to the newly minted Ironman Louisville as IM The Ville has opened a post can of worms. At least one reader searching for "The Ville" came up with IM France, and started wondering if I was somehow headed there. If you search for Ironman and Ville, that is apparently the most common result.

That raises an interesting question. As a resident of Wisconsin, hearing references to IM MOO is common. In fact, it seems most people know Ironman Wisconsin as IM MOO. Perhaps it is an easy connection. That, and the desire for cow prints on jerseys. Or perhaps it is simply a Wisconsin thing.

Are we the only ones to have this type of nickname for our Ironman event? After all, who ever heard of IM Lava. And let's face it, participants in Hawaii know ALL about lava. Then again, the Ironman World Championship doesn't even have IM placed in front of it. Just mention Kona to any triathlete, and they know the topic.

How about IM Florida. Has anyone ever heard of IM Mickey? Or IM Retired? Or IM Sandbar? Is IM Arizona known as IM Cactus? Is there an IM Resort Town? (I wanted to go with IM Middle of Nowhere for Couer d'Alene, but a quick review of their visitor's guide proves that to be untrue)

So, what other nicknames are out there? Do they exist, or must we conclude that Wisconsinites truly do relate cows to everything?