I always think about getting a tattoo after watching Miami Ink on Tuesday's, but I think I'm a little wimp to actually get it done. If I did get one, and one reason I haven't yet, I'd come up with something that really meant something personal to myself. For Anton the logo is a constant reminder of overcoming struggles in life, not necessarily the day. I would create something that represented that for me as well. While it wouldn't be an Ironman logo, it might be something that incorporated my endurance journey, maybe a bike, the ocean, my bib number, something that could possibly be an ongoing tattoo map.
Anyway, tats are perminent and personal and I'd have to give it a lot of thought, currently Ironman isn't as big enough piece of my life, although as mentioned in the other thread, the Trifuel logo might be more appropriate for myself.
I got mine after I finished the race. I am like anton I got mine because it helps to illustrate my perserverance. It kind of defines the way I look at life as an individual "accept the challenges so you can feel the exhiliration of victory"...
I'd just as soon get a Chiquita Banana UPC sticker tattooed on me as I would the M-dot.
If I made it onto an Olympics team, sure, the Olympic rings would be a cool tattoo. That is not going to happen.
Last time I checked, I'm not training for a symbol or a label. It's just something I do. I also sew quite well; I would say in the upper .05% of the population. Should I get a sewing machine tattooed on my body? Why? I can just wear the stuff I've made. If someone figures out I made it (which I actually hope they don't), I will tell them. If they just admire it, I am happy that they do, and sometimes I will tell them I made it.
Same with training. I "wear" the stuff I made through training and racing by the physique I have and the way I carry myself. If someone figures out that it comes from Ironman training, fine; if not, fine. I enjoy being and looking quite fit, and I don't need a symbol on my body to show people that. Besides, I will always tell anyone who asks that you can have an absolutely awesome physique on 5-7 hours of exercise per week and a good diet. I wouldn't want someone thinking they need to exercise 12+ hours per week to look great!
Nope, the tattoo from my punk rock band days is enough ;-)
Seriously, if I was ever going to get another tat, it would be something more personal to me and completely unique. The M-dot is a corporate logo and as such not something I think I would permanently ink on my body. Plus, there have been many things I've done in my life that were important to me at the time, but I'm glad I didn't commemorate them all in tattoos. Ironman was cool and all, but only one small part of who I am and what I like to do.
I love tattoo's. That being said the first thing I'm going to do after completing my first Ironman, Cour DAlene 08, will be to get the M dot. The thing is, like all of my other tats, they are for me and nobody else. Everytime I look at one it takes me instantly back to the place and time I got it. I can even remember the smells, like the french quarter during Mardi Gras where I got one. I know what I felt like after completing the 70.3 in Oceanside this year, and I can't imagine what a full will feel like, but why not want to relive that forever.
Just my .02 though.
Nice ink kevin!
Nice 'tude Ironmom!
I love it when this thread pops up...
I mean it's your own business so who cares...I just get a kick out of folks who say they won't get an M-dot tat because it's not what defines them but then their blog or their youtube tapes are all about Tri's and IM's..(Not pointing fingers at anyone here).As to being a corporate symbol? Better go yank that Honda/BMW/Benz/Hummer logo off your car and scrape the name of the company off your bike....Oh, stop racing too...when you do you support all kinds of LLC's (sarcasm)..
To each their own and I'm happy I got mine...beats a "tribal" (Like, oh,really? What tribe do you belong to?)
...think i'll go get my ear pierced...
I mean it's your own business so who cares...I just get a kick out of folks who say they won't get an M-dot tat because it's not what defines them but then their blog or their youtube tapes are all about Tri's and IM's..(Not pointing fingers at anyone here)
I think that can still make sense though because what one is interested in at the moment is still not necessarily what they would consider defining themselves as permanently. I was on a champion skydiving team at one time, and I practically lived at the drop zone, all my friends were skydivers, I met my husband through skydiving. Now my parachute has sat in my closet unopened for 2 solid years. It's just not that time in my life right now (too hard of a sport to do with kids in tow, LOL). Maybe someday it will be again, maybe never. But I don't have any skydiving ink either, despite it being my life for quite awhile. Ditto with other things I've been into. Ironman is cool, don't get me wrong, but it's not the end of the universe for me. I totally get though that it means different things to different people.
Anton;66948 wrote:
As to being a corporate symbol? Better go yank that Honda/BMW/Benz/Hummer logo off your car and scrape the name of the company off your bike....Oh, stop racing too...when you do you support all kinds of LLC's (sarcasm)..
But there's a difference between buying a product made by a corporation and tattooing Honda on your calf. Now I know plenty of folks with Harley tattoos so obviously some corporations create enough loyalty among people to do so and I'm sure Ironman is the same and I think it's cool when people are into it enough to get the ink. But having recently been threatened with a lawsuit by the Ironman Corporation and their 37 lawyers ([url]http://ironmom.blogspot.com/2006/12/ironman-attorneys-pull-out-big-guns-i.html [/url]), I am not in any frame of mine to put their corporate logo permanently in my skin. Before that, I thought of the M-dot more as a symbol of the event, after that I thought a lot more about the corporate ownership of that symbol.. I dunno, just changed my mind a bit.
Anton;66948 wrote:
To each their own and I'm happy I got mine...beats a "tribal" (Like, oh,really? What tribe do you belong to?)
I dunno, I like my Tribe tattoo just fine, thank you very much:rolleyes: In my case, it happened to be the name of my band. As for which tribe, the human tribe.
Hey Mom...sorry if you took some offense...none was meant...
My tribe comment was sort of a dig at folks who get ink...for no special reason..."Oh I liked that one!" I feel if you are going to ink yourself...do it for something you believe in,something that meant something to you, for some special reason...If you read my blog about the tat..well hell, it could have been a tree or a stone or a picture of Keith Richards for all I cared...it was a symbol of still being alive.
As a counter culture holdover from the sixties, however, MY feeling is embrace all things corporate or deny them all,as they are as much a part of our lives as air....so I choose to support ones that are good or attempt to do something positive in peoples lives....would have liked to read about your legal dustup...couldn't get the link to open.
I also have to say this..as I seem to have to on a yearly basis..I am NOT a fan of WTC...I prefer Indies and am a big supporter of Fat
A$$ races and "Diets" as some AR people call them...
Have a better one!
Disclaimer: I am doing IMLP this year...but Im also doing an Indie too.
Just for the record, my decision not to get an M-Dot tattoo has nothing to do with pride over my accomplishment, personal validation, or corporate sponsorship. I just don't like them :).
When I see one, I do think they look cool, just not on me. My buddy who did IMAZ in 2005 has one with a sun above it to signify Arizona, which I thought was a neat original idea.
I havent even thought about doing an IM...okay, so I have. I'm just starting with tri's. Anyways, I have two half-sleeves and a big peice on my right calf. If I was to finish one and not die, then yes, I would get an m-dot tattoo.
Hey Mom...sorry if you took some offense...none was meant...
Nope, didn't take offense. I was just trying to explain the other side of things a bit :)
Anton;66969 wrote:
My tribe comment was sort of a dig at folks who get ink...for no special reason..."Oh I liked that one!" I feel if you are going to ink yourself...do it for something you believe in,something that meant something to you, for some special reason...If you read my blog about the tat..well hell, it could have been a tree or a stone or a picture of Keith Richards for all I cared...it was a symbol of still being alive.
Yep, I remember reading your story - very inspirational! And I do understand about getting the tattoo, I have a couple of friends with M-dots that are very special to them and I think that's cool. It's just not my thing. People get ink for all kinds of reasons - whims, decoration, making a statement, commemorating something special. I think all are valid reasons as long as people are okay with it being there for the rest of their lives. I saw an older guy the other day with his squadron tattoo from a WWII fighter group, that was pretty cool!
Anton;66969 wrote:
As a counter culture holdover from the sixties, however, MY feeling is embrace all things corporate or deny them all,as they are as much a part of our lives as air....so I choose to support ones that are good or attempt to do something positive in peoples lives....would have liked to read about your legal dustup...couldn't get the link to open.
I agree, and I support many worthy corporations (like Bike Friday, a local company who we bought our tandem bikes from). I just don't have warm and fuzzy feelings about the IM corporation any more. Some of it has to do with them threatening me with the lawsuit and how they handled that (I fixed the link in the previous post BTW), but I have other reasons as well. I feel like that for the money each athlete spends to compete in an IM, the corporation is making a huge profit and not putting as much into the race as they should. I have been at small indie races where there were many more support boats on the swim course, more race officials (who were actually doing their jobs and handing out penalties!) on the bike course, etc. I was pretty turned off by the $93 sweatshirts and $30 hats in the merchandise tent as well. I think some corporations manage to keep their integrity as they grow big and some do not. I'm not sure if I would ever do an official IM again, unless I was trying to qualify for Kona, for these and many other reasons, and that also plays into how I feel about the symbol and having it be a permanent part of my body.
I dig...I'm in for IMLp because I love the race...wish it was an indie....and actually it's a "B" race for me this year...I'm doing an indie Double in October...so IMLP is a training race. I was shocked when I signed up this year...couldn't believe the cost of everything from entry to hotel since my first IM in '03. It will probably be my last WTC IM...switching to indies and fat a$$ races after that....I'd rather some Mom and Pop operation get the cash and where they won't mind me sleeping in my Element the night before!
Hey Anton are you doing the lake anna double there dude? You are a madman :) I can't believe it that much be hella tough dude. Good luck to you let me know how it goes. My grandparents own a lake house down there so I might drop down just to watch a little. Well that is of course if my assumption is right and thats the double you are doing...
Yeah...that's it. usaultratri.com
I wanted a new challange and this fit...If I can get through the training.
Oh..I'm not that tough...just able to wrap my head around those sorts of things...
Come on down!...you can hang with the frau and stay up all night.
I am nowhere near completing an IM, but I would consider it if I did. I don't think getting a tattoo to commemorate something means you are using that to define who you are.
I have a Maltese cross on my forearm because being a firefighter is something I'm proud of and it is a large part of my life - that doesn't mean I define myself as a firefighter any more than I define myself as anything else I do (writer, dad, Little League coach, etc).
I have two tattoos and a brand - I think of them as memories from different points in my life. I'll definitely get more tattoos as things happen to me/I do things that I think are special.
Of course, those are my reasons for getting a tattoo and i would never assume to understand why other people don't get them, same as I always shake my head at people who assume they know why I do.
when i do an ironman (hopefully) i will not get a tattoo, personally. more because i am not a big fan of pain (it is weird to write that in reference to an IM...). i guess i am not a fan of pain that i do not control. finishing an ironman will be an amazing and personal experience that i really look forward to doing. in the end it is for me and nobody else, and because of that i do not feel the need to broadcast on my body. that pretty much goes for everything, if i had gone to the olympics (not that i was even close) in swimming i would not have gotten the rings tattooed, either.
i support those who choose to get inked, especially when it is as cool as kevins!
I got a small m-dot on my lower right calf after I finished Ironman Florida in 2005.
It was for me.
I have a few other small tattoos that are for me as well. They all represent something meaningful for me.
The journey to IM was a bumpy, painful ride.
The IM was just the icing on the cake. :D
Dont get mad, but i think a IM tatoo is just a lack of a original idea. Why get something that eveyone else already has.
You can get many other tattoos that are original, or create one yourself that include a IM design.
I did a ironman, i really think its sad to go to a race and see all the same people with all the same tattoos, typically all in the same location.
Be original.
:p
It is a personal statement - reflecting the journey each of us made completing an IM. So whether the athlete chooses to get a tattoo or not is fine. And what design selected when getting a tattoo - whether a simple M-Dot or something unique should be fine too.
Personally I wanted only the M-Dot - I drew up several other designs but always came back to the simple M-Dot. (If I make to Kona - then may break those designs back out! :rolleyes: )
You can see mine and be sad - I see it and am proud.
( PrinceofClydes )
What does the Sponsor of the Race have to do with getting an IM tat? I think you just wanted to post a pic of some guys ass :D
Seriously. I have tatoos and tought about if I'd get one after finishing an Ironman. Sometimes I think "Nah", but sometimes I think why not. I'm a Marine for 3 years, did Marine-corps boot camp, been places.. and all that, but didn't feel like getting the tatoo that most of my buddies have.I say; if it means something to you, then you should do it. Whatever it is.
(example: I have Lance's autograph tatooed on my calf.)
This topic reminds me of a saying that I heard a while back;
"The difference between people with and without a tattoo is:
The people with a tattoo don’t care if you don’t have one"
Now I know this sport is dear to us all.
If (example) RV is proud of his IM tattoo, I say: Good on ya!
I respect that, it's not about showing off. He did it for himself, good for you!
I sure as hell didn't get my tat's just so I could please others.
I did it for me.
You like 'em? Cool!!
You don't like 'em? Who cares!!
( PrinceofClydes )
What does the Sponsor of the Race have to do with getting an IM tat? I think you just wanted to post a pic of some guys ass :D
Seriously. I have tatoos and tought about if I'd get one after finishing an Ironman. Sometimes I think "Nah", but sometimes I think why not. I'm a Marine for 3 years, did Marine-corps boot camp, been places.. and all that, but didn't feel like getting the tatoo that most of my buddies have.I say; if it means something to you, then you should do it. Whatever it is.
(example: I have Lance's autograph tatooed on my calf.)
This topic reminds me of a saying that I heard a while back;
"The difference between people with and without a tattoo is:
The people with a tattoo don’t care if you don’t have one"
Now I know this sport is dear to us all.
If (example) RV is proud of his IM tattoo, I say: Good on ya!
I respect that, it's not about showing off. He did it for himself, good for you!
I sure as hell didn't get my tat's just so I could please others.
I did it for me.
You like 'em? Cool!!
You don't like 'em? Who cares!!
( PrinceofClydes )
What does the Sponsor of the Race have to do with getting an IM tat? I think you just wanted to post a pic of some guys ass :D
Seriously. I have tatoos and tought about if I'd get one after finishing an Ironman. Sometimes I think "Nah", but sometimes I think why not. I'm a Marine for 3 years, did Marine-corps boot camp, been places.. and all that, but didn't feel like getting the tatoo that most of my buddies have.I say; if it means something to you, then you should do it. Whatever it is.
(example: I have Lance's autograph tatooed on my calf.)
This topic reminds me of a saying that I heard a while back;
"The difference between people with and without a tattoo is:
The people with a tattoo don’t care if you don’t have one"
Now I know this sport is dear to us all.
If (example) RV is proud of his IM tattoo, I say: Good on ya!
I respect that, it's not about showing off. He did it for himself, good for you!
I sure as hell didn't get my tat's just so I could please others.
I did it for me.
You like 'em? Cool!!
You don't like 'em? Who cares!!
( PrinceofClydes )
What does the Sponsor of the Race have to do with getting an IM tat? I think you just wanted to post a pic of some guys ass :D
..
Noel.
As someone pointed out before in another thread on the same topic,
the M-Dot symbol is the corporate logo of the World Triathlon Corporation which owns the franchise so it's like wearing a t-shirt with the Nike swoosh on it - a product endorsement.
But hey, some people like wearing Nike products 'cos Mikie did.
Be like Mike, wear Nike.
that sort of thing.
and just like the Olympic circles symbol - nobody else can use it without paying a licensing fee to the IOC, you can't legally sell anything with the M-Dot on it, it's copyright infringement.
So I was asking why one would would tatoo a Corporate logo on one's body, and if an M-Dot will do, how about a Pepsi logo?
As for your reasons to get a tattoo in the first place - to commemorate an achievement, say, that's just fine.
My query was about the choice of tat.
PoC
"The logo shown above is a trademark of the World Triathlon Corporation. The WTC has also registered the trademark "Ironman Triathlon"® for its athletic competitions, and the trademark "Ironman"® for a line of clothing, athletic equipment, and souveniers. WTC also claims full trademark rights in the "Iron Distance" and "Ironman Distance" marks. Other organizations may refer to their own triathlons generically as a "Full Distance Triathlon" to designate a triathlon of a similar distance without infringing the WTC trademarks." - Wikipedia
the Trifuel logo might be more appropriate for myself.
just the circle part, that would be a really cool tat!
kevin, i like yours very much.
me personally, i don't think i'd get one. however, if and when i do an IM, i've thought about something with 140.6 in it. i think that would be neat and more obscure. and as noel correctly pointed out it would only matter to me whether or not it's cool.
If I ever get to finish an IM, I will have a tattoo to signify that part (if not the rest) of my life and have it tie in with the rest of my tattoos.
Since my old man first did his marathons, I have always felt that doing these events does allow one "bragging rights" in the sense that 1 day, I will be able to say "yep, I've finished an IM" and that would be the extent of my ego.
I feel that anyone who takes it upon themselves to have the discipline, fortitude, and perseverance to accomplish anything from a 5k run all the way up to IM's and Ultra running is more than deserving of respect.
coming from someone who has more tattoos on my skin than i do triathlons under my belt, i say if you finish and you want one, get it. I read the editorial and all the replies (which im sure all of you did) in "triathlete" and it seems like there is way too much ado about the whole thing. A tattoo doesnt have to be your whole life, a lot of mine are something that was important at the time and are much less of a lifestyle deal then an IM, and i love em all. I admire everyone who finishes an IM and i think you definately deserve the ink. If i ever survive one, i think i'll add to my collection.
To weigh in and despite the rather self centered write-in to Triathlete Magazine last spring, I did IM UK last month and just got my M Dot tatto. Like tbs_craig mentions, it marks an important accomplishment in my life and the tatto is a postive reminder of it - nothing else.
I got the m-dot on my ankle. I think it's nice and subtle and tastefully done. I like it and my wife likes it - and I love the comments that I get about it.
I love Anton's comments about why he got his, and it really hit home for me. Without going into all the sordid details, I, too, overcame a lot of personal obstacles and struggles to get to the point where I could I could even consider accomplishing a feat such as an Ironman.
Like Anton said, for me, it wasn't about finishing, it was about having the strength and courage to just get to the starting line.
No M-dot for me, but I'm planning on getting 140.6 somewhere on my body. I also have plans for another, unrelated tattoo, but I was waiting until post-IM so it wouldn't interfere with training.
Got mine after IMWI 2006 - I'm happy that I got it!
Not even if I beat Norman Stadler on October 13th... ;)
No way. I know I did it. That's all I need.
If you think getting an IM tat is about doing the race...you miss the point. Read this piece from my blog(pic included):
http://anton.trifuel.net/2006/09/12/why-i-have-an-im-tat/
Probably not...the thought crosses my mind once in awhile...but IM isn't what defines me. So why label myself...
I always think about getting a tattoo after watching Miami Ink on Tuesday's, but I think I'm a little wimp to actually get it done. If I did get one, and one reason I haven't yet, I'd come up with something that really meant something personal to myself. For Anton the logo is a constant reminder of overcoming struggles in life, not necessarily the day. I would create something that represented that for me as well. While it wouldn't be an Ironman logo, it might be something that incorporated my endurance journey, maybe a bike, the ocean, my bib number, something that could possibly be an ongoing tattoo map.
Anyway, tats are perminent and personal and I'd have to give it a lot of thought, currently Ironman isn't as big enough piece of my life, although as mentioned in the other thread, the Trifuel logo might be more appropriate for myself.
When i first saw the title of this post all i could think about was Michigan Department of Transportation:D
I got mine after I finished the race. I am like anton I got mine because it helps to illustrate my perserverance. It kind of defines the way I look at life as an individual "accept the challenges so you can feel the exhiliration of victory"...
i'm not in the ironman world yet, but i would definitely get one...probably something subtle and small
I'd just as soon get a Chiquita Banana UPC sticker tattooed on me as I would the M-dot.
If I made it onto an Olympics team, sure, the Olympic rings would be a cool tattoo. That is not going to happen.
Last time I checked, I'm not training for a symbol or a label. It's just something I do. I also sew quite well; I would say in the upper .05% of the population. Should I get a sewing machine tattooed on my body? Why? I can just wear the stuff I've made. If someone figures out I made it (which I actually hope they don't), I will tell them. If they just admire it, I am happy that they do, and sometimes I will tell them I made it.
Same with training. I "wear" the stuff I made through training and racing by the physique I have and the way I carry myself. If someone figures out that it comes from Ironman training, fine; if not, fine. I enjoy being and looking quite fit, and I don't need a symbol on my body to show people that. Besides, I will always tell anyone who asks that you can have an absolutely awesome physique on 5-7 hours of exercise per week and a good diet. I wouldn't want someone thinking they need to exercise 12+ hours per week to look great!
To each their own.
Well, I DO have an Ironman tattoo ... it's UNDER my skin. :-)
Nope, the tattoo from my punk rock band days is enough ;-)
Seriously, if I was ever going to get another tat, it would be something more personal to me and completely unique. The M-dot is a corporate logo and as such not something I think I would permanently ink on my body. Plus, there have been many things I've done in my life that were important to me at the time, but I'm glad I didn't commemorate them all in tattoos. Ironman was cool and all, but only one small part of who I am and what I like to do.
I love tattoo's. That being said the first thing I'm going to do after completing my first Ironman, Cour DAlene 08, will be to get the M dot. The thing is, like all of my other tats, they are for me and nobody else. Everytime I look at one it takes me instantly back to the place and time I got it. I can even remember the smells, like the french quarter during Mardi Gras where I got one. I know what I felt like after completing the 70.3 in Oceanside this year, and I can't imagine what a full will feel like, but why not want to relive that forever.
Just my .02 though.
this is mine. i love it
Nice ink kevin!
Nice 'tude Ironmom!
I love it when this thread pops up...
I mean it's your own business so who cares...I just get a kick out of folks who say they won't get an M-dot tat because it's not what defines them but then their blog or their youtube tapes are all about Tri's and IM's..(Not pointing fingers at anyone here).As to being a corporate symbol? Better go yank that Honda/BMW/Benz/Hummer logo off your car and scrape the name of the company off your bike....Oh, stop racing too...when you do you support all kinds of LLC's (sarcasm)..
To each their own and I'm happy I got mine...beats a "tribal" (Like, oh,really? What tribe do you belong to?)
...think i'll go get my ear pierced...
I think that can still make sense though because what one is interested in at the moment is still not necessarily what they would consider defining themselves as permanently. I was on a champion skydiving team at one time, and I practically lived at the drop zone, all my friends were skydivers, I met my husband through skydiving. Now my parachute has sat in my closet unopened for 2 solid years. It's just not that time in my life right now (too hard of a sport to do with kids in tow, LOL). Maybe someday it will be again, maybe never. But I don't have any skydiving ink either, despite it being my life for quite awhile. Ditto with other things I've been into. Ironman is cool, don't get me wrong, but it's not the end of the universe for me. I totally get though that it means different things to different people.
But there's a difference between buying a product made by a corporation and tattooing Honda on your calf. Now I know plenty of folks with Harley tattoos so obviously some corporations create enough loyalty among people to do so and I'm sure Ironman is the same and I think it's cool when people are into it enough to get the ink. But having recently been threatened with a lawsuit by the Ironman Corporation and their 37 lawyers ([url]http://ironmom.blogspot.com/2006/12/ironman-attorneys-pull-out-big-guns-i.html [/url]), I am not in any frame of mine to put their corporate logo permanently in my skin. Before that, I thought of the M-dot more as a symbol of the event, after that I thought a lot more about the corporate ownership of that symbol.. I dunno, just changed my mind a bit.
I dunno, I like my Tribe tattoo just fine, thank you very much:rolleyes: In my case, it happened to be the name of my band. As for which tribe, the human tribe.
Kevin, love your tattoo. That's really gorgeous!
Hey Mom...sorry if you took some offense...none was meant...
My tribe comment was sort of a dig at folks who get ink...for no special reason..."Oh I liked that one!" I feel if you are going to ink yourself...do it for something you believe in,something that meant something to you, for some special reason...If you read my blog about the tat..well hell, it could have been a tree or a stone or a picture of Keith Richards for all I cared...it was a symbol of still being alive.
As a counter culture holdover from the sixties, however, MY feeling is embrace all things corporate or deny them all,as they are as much a part of our lives as air....so I choose to support ones that are good or attempt to do something positive in peoples lives....would have liked to read about your legal dustup...couldn't get the link to open.
I also have to say this..as I seem to have to on a yearly basis..I am NOT a fan of WTC...I prefer Indies and am a big supporter of Fat
A$$ races and "Diets" as some AR people call them...
Have a better one!
Disclaimer: I am doing IMLP this year...but Im also doing an Indie too.
Just for the record, my decision not to get an M-Dot tattoo has nothing to do with pride over my accomplishment, personal validation, or corporate sponsorship. I just don't like them :).
When I see one, I do think they look cool, just not on me. My buddy who did IMAZ in 2005 has one with a sun above it to signify Arizona, which I thought was a neat original idea.
I havent even thought about doing an IM...okay, so I have. I'm just starting with tri's. Anyways, I have two half-sleeves and a big peice on my right calf. If I was to finish one and not die, then yes, I would get an m-dot tattoo.
Nope, didn't take offense. I was just trying to explain the other side of things a bit :)
Yep, I remember reading your story - very inspirational! And I do understand about getting the tattoo, I have a couple of friends with M-dots that are very special to them and I think that's cool. It's just not my thing. People get ink for all kinds of reasons - whims, decoration, making a statement, commemorating something special. I think all are valid reasons as long as people are okay with it being there for the rest of their lives. I saw an older guy the other day with his squadron tattoo from a WWII fighter group, that was pretty cool!
I agree, and I support many worthy corporations (like Bike Friday, a local company who we bought our tandem bikes from). I just don't have warm and fuzzy feelings about the IM corporation any more. Some of it has to do with them threatening me with the lawsuit and how they handled that (I fixed the link in the previous post BTW), but I have other reasons as well. I feel like that for the money each athlete spends to compete in an IM, the corporation is making a huge profit and not putting as much into the race as they should. I have been at small indie races where there were many more support boats on the swim course, more race officials (who were actually doing their jobs and handing out penalties!) on the bike course, etc. I was pretty turned off by the $93 sweatshirts and $30 hats in the merchandise tent as well. I think some corporations manage to keep their integrity as they grow big and some do not. I'm not sure if I would ever do an official IM again, unless I was trying to qualify for Kona, for these and many other reasons, and that also plays into how I feel about the symbol and having it be a permanent part of my body.
I dig...I'm in for IMLp because I love the race...wish it was an indie....and actually it's a "B" race for me this year...I'm doing an indie Double in October...so IMLP is a training race. I was shocked when I signed up this year...couldn't believe the cost of everything from entry to hotel since my first IM in '03. It will probably be my last WTC IM...switching to indies and fat a$$ races after that....I'd rather some Mom and Pop operation get the cash and where they won't mind me sleeping in my Element the night before!
Hey Anton are you doing the lake anna double there dude? You are a madman :) I can't believe it that much be hella tough dude. Good luck to you let me know how it goes. My grandparents own a lake house down there so I might drop down just to watch a little. Well that is of course if my assumption is right and thats the double you are doing...
Yeah...that's it. usaultratri.com
I wanted a new challange and this fit...If I can get through the training.
Oh..I'm not that tough...just able to wrap my head around those sorts of things...
Come on down!...you can hang with the frau and stay up all night.
Hehe maybe I can talk you through this like you did for me on the IM :) I will make sure I'm free that weekend.
Whoa, madman indeed. That will be intense, but I'm bettin' you can pull it off.
Any plans for a Virginia 2007 tat on the other leg?
Thanks guys and no plans yet for a tat.... have to finish first...No expectations= no disappointments.
I wanna see what a double iron tat would look like.
I am nowhere near completing an IM, but I would consider it if I did. I don't think getting a tattoo to commemorate something means you are using that to define who you are.
I have a Maltese cross on my forearm because being a firefighter is something I'm proud of and it is a large part of my life - that doesn't mean I define myself as a firefighter any more than I define myself as anything else I do (writer, dad, Little League coach, etc).
I have two tattoos and a brand - I think of them as memories from different points in my life. I'll definitely get more tattoos as things happen to me/I do things that I think are special.
Of course, those are my reasons for getting a tattoo and i would never assume to understand why other people don't get them, same as I always shake my head at people who assume they know why I do.
when i do an ironman (hopefully) i will not get a tattoo, personally. more because i am not a big fan of pain (it is weird to write that in reference to an IM...). i guess i am not a fan of pain that i do not control. finishing an ironman will be an amazing and personal experience that i really look forward to doing. in the end it is for me and nobody else, and because of that i do not feel the need to broadcast on my body. that pretty much goes for everything, if i had gone to the olympics (not that i was even close) in swimming i would not have gotten the rings tattooed, either.
i support those who choose to get inked, especially when it is as cool as kevins!
I got a small m-dot on my lower right calf after I finished Ironman Florida in 2005.
It was for me.
I have a few other small tattoos that are for me as well. They all represent something meaningful for me.
The journey to IM was a bumpy, painful ride.
The IM was just the icing on the cake. :D
Dont get mad, but i think a IM tatoo is just a lack of a original idea. Why get something that eveyone else already has.
You can get many other tattoos that are original, or create one yourself that include a IM design.
I did a ironman, i really think its sad to go to a race and see all the same people with all the same tattoos, typically all in the same location.
Be original.
:p
It is a personal statement - reflecting the journey each of us made completing an IM. So whether the athlete chooses to get a tattoo or not is fine. And what design selected when getting a tattoo - whether a simple M-Dot or something unique should be fine too.
Personally I wanted only the M-Dot - I drew up several other designs but always came back to the simple M-Dot. (If I make to Kona - then may break those designs back out! :rolleyes: )
You can see mine and be sad - I see it and am proud.
Sooo like, if Pepsi sponsored the World Champs of Triathlon and you won your AG, would you have the Pepsi logo tattooed on your butt?
How about Bud Lite?
- they did sponsor the Kona Champs during Scott Tinley's era.
:D
PoC
just wonderin'
( PrinceofClydes )
What does the Sponsor of the Race have to do with getting an IM tat? I think you just wanted to post a pic of some guys ass :D
Seriously. I have tatoos and tought about if I'd get one after finishing an Ironman. Sometimes I think "Nah", but sometimes I think why not. I'm a Marine for 3 years, did Marine-corps boot camp, been places.. and all that, but didn't feel like getting the tatoo that most of my buddies have.I say; if it means something to you, then you should do it. Whatever it is.
(example: I have Lance's autograph tatooed on my calf.)
This topic reminds me of a saying that I heard a while back;
"The difference between people with and without a tattoo is:
The people with a tattoo don’t care if you don’t have one"
Now I know this sport is dear to us all.
If (example) RV is proud of his IM tattoo, I say: Good on ya!
I respect that, it's not about showing off. He did it for himself, good for you!
I sure as hell didn't get my tat's just so I could please others.
I did it for me.
You like 'em? Cool!!
You don't like 'em? Who cares!!
Just my 2 cents.
Noel.
That's prolly the best post of this thread.
I agree with you, well said(or written):D
Spot on Noel!
As someone pointed out before in another thread on the same topic,
the M-Dot symbol is the corporate logo of the World Triathlon Corporation which owns the franchise so it's like wearing a t-shirt with the Nike swoosh on it - a product endorsement.
But hey, some people like wearing Nike products 'cos Mikie did.
Be like Mike, wear Nike.
that sort of thing.
and just like the Olympic circles symbol - nobody else can use it without paying a licensing fee to the IOC, you can't legally sell anything with the M-Dot on it, it's copyright infringement.
So I was asking why one would would tatoo a Corporate logo on one's body, and if an M-Dot will do, how about a Pepsi logo?
As for your reasons to get a tattoo in the first place - to commemorate an achievement, say, that's just fine.
My query was about the choice of tat.
PoC
"The logo shown above is a trademark of the World Triathlon Corporation. The WTC has also registered the trademark "Ironman Triathlon"® for its athletic competitions, and the trademark "Ironman"® for a line of clothing, athletic equipment, and souveniers. WTC also claims full trademark rights in the "Iron Distance" and "Ironman Distance" marks. Other organizations may refer to their own triathlons generically as a "Full Distance Triathlon" to designate a triathlon of a similar distance without infringing the WTC trademarks." - Wikipedia
just the circle part, that would be a really cool tat!
kevin, i like yours very much.
me personally, i don't think i'd get one. however, if and when i do an IM, i've thought about something with 140.6 in it. i think that would be neat and more obscure. and as noel correctly pointed out it would only matter to me whether or not it's cool.
If I ever get to finish an IM, I will have a tattoo to signify that part (if not the rest) of my life and have it tie in with the rest of my tattoos.
Since my old man first did his marathons, I have always felt that doing these events does allow one "bragging rights" in the sense that 1 day, I will be able to say "yep, I've finished an IM" and that would be the extent of my ego.
I feel that anyone who takes it upon themselves to have the discipline, fortitude, and perseverance to accomplish anything from a 5k run all the way up to IM's and Ultra running is more than deserving of respect.
But thats just my opinion.:) sorry for ranting.
coming from someone who has more tattoos on my skin than i do triathlons under my belt, i say if you finish and you want one, get it. I read the editorial and all the replies (which im sure all of you did) in "triathlete" and it seems like there is way too much ado about the whole thing. A tattoo doesnt have to be your whole life, a lot of mine are something that was important at the time and are much less of a lifestyle deal then an IM, and i love em all. I admire everyone who finishes an IM and i think you definately deserve the ink. If i ever survive one, i think i'll add to my collection.
To weigh in and despite the rather self centered write-in to Triathlete Magazine last spring, I did IM UK last month and just got my M Dot tatto. Like tbs_craig mentions, it marks an important accomplishment in my life and the tatto is a postive reminder of it - nothing else.
I agree with you , that it is a way to remember a great accomplishment. If you put in the time to do an IM, why not remember it.
I am getting more and more into the idea of the T-Dot, the new symbol for triathlon. It includes everyone.
Have you seen it? tdottriathlon.com
Never seen it but I like it!
I just got home after completing my first IM in Wisconsin....
I get the tatoo on my lower left calf at 12:00pm noon on Wednesday the 12th right after the race. :D
I got the m-dot on my ankle. I think it's nice and subtle and tastefully done. I like it and my wife likes it - and I love the comments that I get about it.
I love Anton's comments about why he got his, and it really hit home for me. Without going into all the sordid details, I, too, overcame a lot of personal obstacles and struggles to get to the point where I could I could even consider accomplishing a feat such as an Ironman.
Like Anton said, for me, it wasn't about finishing, it was about having the strength and courage to just get to the starting line.
Right On, lad.
No M-dot for me, but I'm planning on getting 140.6 somewhere on my body. I also have plans for another, unrelated tattoo, but I was waiting until post-IM so it wouldn't interfere with training.
People always think 140.6 is a radio station.