You can find lots of Ironman triathlon tattoos on the link below.
Many were taken at Ironman Kona 2010 swim start this year.
If you want to add yours to the site just send them in.
They are either discreet or over the top, should give you a good idea from the selection already listed.
http://www.ironmate.info/...red/ironman-tattoos/

This topic keeps coming up, and I just can't help tossing this one out (again)....there are two types of Ironman athletes; those with a tattoo, and those that don't need one....

Hello agegrouptri and All,

Recently I read that WTC exercised closer control over Ironman Expos.

Is a one time fee or a yearly renewable license fee required for an Mdot tattoo?

If so - what is the amount and terms?

Are previous Mdot tattoos grandfathered in?

http://blog.trademarkia.com/tag/disney-trademark/

............. The scope of protection is usually only a matter of degree regardless of whether character protection arises under federal trademark law (Lanham Act), state common law of trademarks or unfair competition.

Don’t believe us? The US courts have recognized trademark protection for graphic characters and have found trademark infringement liability under both trademark and unfair competition law. In Fisher v. Star Co. the cartoon characters Mutt and Jeff were protected by the court under trademark and unfair competition principles which found the Star Company liable for their unauthorized use of the characters ................................

Cheers,

Neal

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Cheers, Neal

+1 mph Faster

Hi
Thanks they are brilliant, lots of different ones, girlfriend thinks they are great although she still does not want me to get a tattoo.

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Just a Triathlete & Ironman finsiher

You raised some good points.
If you fail to pay your levy for the M dot will soemone come along and cut your leg off or ban you from future M dot ironman races?
Think I will wait, that will please the girlfirend.

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Just a Triathlete & Ironman finsiher

Thats good just let people think who is that middle aged in shape man. No tat needed.

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__________________________________________________
Official Polar Ambassador
http://www.google.com/...P7RiWyEVwpunlsc2JtQQ

Before you get any tattoo consider that it is something you will still hve when you are 50, 60, 70 years old. Will you still want it then? If so- proceed. If in doubt, perhaps better to wait.

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Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com

First, to piggy-back off the recent disdain for WTC here as we close out the year, are you sure you want to brand a corporate logo on to yourself? Maybe add the Wal-mart logo or the Golden Arches to go along with it? Unsuspecting viewers might think you just really love the Ironman mattress or treadmill from Costco.

Second, the true weight and measure of being an Ironman lies in the heart, not on the skin. Pass on the tat.

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Todd

DCB Athlete Advocate
powered by Tribe Multisport

Then there's the third: those of us who had tattoos long before we started doing triathlons, so getting an IM tattoo when the time comes is no big deal.

Quote:

)....there are two types of Ironman athletes; those with a tattoo, and those that don't need one....

I would add a third type, those that feel they need to point out that they don't need one... Lots of ST'ers in that catagory.

Thom

You have got a smart girlfriend. I have posted before, those tattoos are tapped and played out. That m-dot means nothing. A triathlon of any distance takes work and the longer distances requires even more work but with so many doing them, they are just races and nothing more. To do and finish and Ironman is an accomplishment but a silly corporate logo inked on ones body should not be the symbol of it.

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DISH is how we do it.

Fail:

Dude there are lots of different types of people, including those who publicly broadcast Bible passages.

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I *heart* weak, dumb ass people...

I was not thinking of having 5 M dots tattoos with different dates like on the link, thinking of just one discreet one like the small one on the site that Ironmate suggested.

If you want to rock at a tatt, roll with it. It's a personal decision, just know some people will think it is cool and some will think it is stupid. It's all up to you. As far as the corporate logo argument, I would like to see these 150 lb Internet triathlon tough guys say that to a big dude with a Harley tatt. Now THAT would be cool.

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I *heart* weak, dumb ass people...

My mom has a tattoo that reads:

"Son"

Just got mine, I'm 54, means more at this age then when I was 30.:)

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Mike

If you can do an ironman then you are not too old for a tattoo at any age

Yet again another "rare" display of inflated self importance on ST. The OP wanted examples to compare and make a personal decision and seems to have received that. Nowhere did I see the OP ask opinions on if the Mdot was cool and if he should get one. As someone said in another thread, if you won't walk up to a guy w/an Mdot at a race and share your view of the world w/o being asked to, why do it here? And no, I don't have one. I just believe that the freedom of speech comes with the obligation to use it responsibly. Get over yourself and realize that it doesn't matter what you or I think.

Boo-hoo-hoo. Why did you reply?????

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DISH is how we do it.

That was a great retort, for a 12 year old. You are a truly value added to this community.

"Get over yourself."

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_____________________________________
DISH is how we do it.

For the record, I have no desire to point out that I don't need one.

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Damn, that's a cold ass honkey.

I'll get right on that Ingrid. Thanks so much for your valuable insight. Maybe between cleaning houses you can post a more thoughful response.

thanks for all your feedback regarding tattoos & Ironmate for the link to a collection of Ironman tattoos, much appreciated.

I think you're right. Why don't you tattoo that quote on your back??? ;)

I take it a reaction from me was not expected an find it interesting how you have scrounged around to find my name. I love you! Let me know if you want a discount because I am willing to help a fellow poster on a deep cleaning. Alright, enough of the crap and hijacking of a thread. Enjoy the holidays and yourself.

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DISH is how we do it.

And then there are the people who need to point out that they don't need to point out that they don't need one. <head shake> sheesh.

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"I can eat 21 plus a deep-fried turkey!"

This thread is GOLD!

Good advice. Maybe it is because I am a Baby Boomer (i.e. old fart) but I have never seen a tattoo which I thought looked good on anyone. IMO, most of them are hideous and they certainly will not get better with age.

Quote:

This topic keeps coming up, and I just can't help tossing this one out (again)....there are two types of Ironman athletes; those with a tattoo, and those that don't need one....

I think you mean there are two kinds of people. People who believe everyone should live by my standards and everyone else. Of course everyone else is wrong.

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Support Crew
This information contained herein has been assembled for your assistance and convenience. It is believed to be reliable, however, its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All opinions shown are subject to change without notice.

Spot on.

I never figured you for one of those persons who just wants to pick on people who need to point out that they don't need to point out that they don't need one.

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Damn, that's a cold ass honkey.

or you can get it when you are 50!

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Randy Christofferson(http://www.rcmioga.blogspot.com

Insert Doubt. Erase Hope. Crush Dreams.

well said

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Randy Christofferson(http://www.rcmioga.blogspot.com

Insert Doubt. Erase Hope. Crush Dreams.

Just a thought.
I raced in Kona this year and race week i estimate less than 10% who were wearing race bands (2010 competitors) had tattoos.
Not sure if those that qualified are a true representation of the 40,000+ who raced world wide.

Brilliant!

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"I can eat 21 plus a deep-fried turkey!"

My compression socks cover up the M Dot tattoo on my calf .... 2 ST fashion faux pas -- however, one gets negated :)

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You never have the wind with you - either it is against you or you're having a good day. ~Daniel Behrman

I fixed it for you.

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"The runner-up John Dunbar, a US Navy Seal, led after the second transition and had a chance to win but ran out of water on the marathon course; his support crew resorted to giving him beer instead." -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironman_Triathlon

http://www.flickr.com/...ironmate/5270995528/

Critique the bike position...

Maybe because you already have :-)

"I have no tattoo's, but if you get one suggest either 1) something that indirectly represents the IM event or 2) if you get the IM logo, do something a little unique with it instead of the straight black or black & red.

On my tattoo, I walked into the shop and started asking about it. It was only going to be $60, but the guy started explaning about going under the skin, not being able to get it wet for two weeks, possible infection, etc. and I said the hell with it. I went on-line and found a Polynesian Warrior sticker for my SUV and am content with that. "

Tattoo and bike position are terrible

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"I play real sports, I am not trying to be the best at exercising." Kenny Powers

if you want to get a tattoo relating to triathlon, why does it have to be the m-dot? be a little more creative

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*******************************
Team RF 2011
http://www.teamrunningfree.com

all damn day

I have scars on my body that are better than tats - they are better because they actually have a story behind them.

Like it or not, that "silly corporate logo" IS the symbol of Ironman. One cannot argue otherwise. The M-Dot is the symbol of Ironman, period.

I do not have an M-Dot, although I do have a lot of ink, including "140.6" with stick figure swim/bike/run under it. But, I see no issue with getting an M-Dot.

Hell, most of us wear our Ironman crap a lot of the time. I use my IM finisher hats as my running hats. How is this any different?

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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. - Will Rogers

Emery's Third Coast Triathlon | Tri Wisconsin Triathlon Team | Push Endurance | GLWR

Given the choice, I would trade my shrapnel scars for an M-dot tat, if it meant I didn't get hit. Not all stories are good.

(Yes, I have done an IM, no I don't have an IM tat)

yeah, because an M-dot tattoo, or any tattoo for that matter, probably has no story behind it. Think about what you wrote. Sense....it makes none. It's sweet when people ask about my chain ring scar and I tell them about one of the hundreds of times I crashed on my mountain bike. Awesome story.

You are the most interesting man on earth.

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I *heart* weak, dumb ass people...

I use my IM finisher hats as my running hats. How is this any different?

Ummm...you can take your hat off?

Did you really miss my point? Seriously? Do I need to type slower next time?

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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. - Will Rogers

Emery's Third Coast Triathlon | Tri Wisconsin Triathlon Team | Push Endurance | GLWR

Hello agegrouptri and All,

My wife colors her hair.

The product 'Garnier Nutrisse' has a warning:

IF YOU HAVE A TATTOO the risk of allergic reaction may be increased.

Something systemic may be going on with a tattoo ..... ?

Cheers,

Neal

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Cheers, Neal

+1 mph Faster

I survived 10 years in the US Navy without getting a single tattoo. One of my friends in college got a tattoo freshman year. Before the end of the year he swore it was the dumbest thing he ever did. This has often made me think, just because something is so cool today that I want to get it inked onto my body will it be cool when I'm 60? What about 80?

I have never done an ironman, so I can't speak from that point of view. But after reading all of the negative comments about ironman tattoos, I'm think this: If that tattoo is the only thing motivating you, and is what it takes to get you over the hump, go for it. If personal pride is your sole motivator, then a tattoo probably won't do much for you.

I've thought about should I ever get a triathlon tattoo of any kind it would be only for 70.3s and 140.6s. It'd probably be a small swin, bike and run icon with dates, distances and locations scripted below it. It would only be visible in shorts also, never in any kind of work clothing.

Of course, after surviving 10 years of naval service without a tattoo, I mostly just think tattoos are definitely not for me.

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You will remain the same person, before, during and after the race. So the result, no matter how important, will not define you. The journey is what matters. ~ Chrissie W.

People with tatoos are just show offs, a status simbol. And a status is when you try to impress people you don't care about. Those you care about know you anyway, with or without tatoos. They just hope that someone will see the tatoo and say "wooooooow, you are an Ironman, soooooo cooooool" and your ego goes up and up and you think "I am sooooooo cooooool"

I have a similar problem.

In year 3 I came 8th out of 10 in the 100m at school. I'm thinking I would like a "I ran in a race" tattoo.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a good one?

:)

For me, there are several types of people, those that need religion, and those that don't need it. . . . .

Though I'm on the "Mdot tattoo is to commercial" bus; I do love tattoos! I tend to lean to the more original and symbolic swim bike run figures etc. I'm considering something myself. I'm fairly interested in the more scientific side of things . . . mixed with my humanist/naturalist/a-theistic side. I thinking of adding a small peridioc table of elements box depicting the designation of elemint Hu (for human) with an atomic number/mass 23/46 (chromosome haploid etc) and of course Fe for Iron . . . with some numbers special to me . . .so FeHu boxes hmmmm

Wouldn't an atheist simply have the absence of a tattoo?

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Damn, that's a cold ass honkey.

Or perhaps a tattoo without meaning, lol

Or maybe as Pascal might put it . . . .It is better to have a tattoo and be wrong, than to live a life without a tattoo. . . .

All people without a tattoo are boring and dull.

Is that logic valid? No.

Don't pretend to know the intentions of everyone with a tattoo.

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I *heart* weak, dumb ass people...

How about a tatto that reads "Top 10 finisher" or one of the examples from this web site?

http://www.ironmate.info/...red/ironman-tattoos/

Is the Lanzarote '08 and Switzerland '09 guy limited to a lifetime quota
of 2 IM due to his tattoo configuration?

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Dream of racing again some day...

Here is the one I got when I finished Lake Placid!

So is that one and done? It looks like you could nicely stack some more names underneath. Hope you have exceptionally long legs as double motivation.

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Dream of racing again some day...

I'm thinking of getting the Nike logo because I have a pair of their trainers.

Yes, because that is EXACTLY the same as the M-Dot. Well done sir! <golf clap> Well done!

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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. - Will Rogers

Emery's Third Coast Triathlon | Tri Wisconsin Triathlon Team | Push Endurance | GLWR

WWJBD?.....ahhh, no tattoo! WWKMD?.....ahhh, no tatoo!....WWCWD.....ahhh, no tatoo!

Umm ... Jack Bauer has a tattoo. Kiefer Sutherland (who has multiple tattoos), got the Jack Bauer tattoo for real so he would not have to go through make up.


When his character, Jack Bauer, got a new tattoo (part of the plot line) for Season 3 of "24" (2001) instead of having to go though tedious make up for each scene which the tattoo would show, Kiefer had a real tattoo inked onto his arm.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/...amp;client=firefox-a

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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. - Will Rogers

Emery's Third Coast Triathlon | Tri Wisconsin Triathlon Team | Push Endurance | GLWR

some i like some i dont, never seen one i like on anyone over 70 though how about you?

How does this make you feel? (Pronaunced in a quiet, concerned voice while you are on a couch in a quiet room)

Can I still use the M dot or should I use the school emblem?

 
After IMFL this year I got mine and I'm 64! My last IM was Kona in 1987 (and, yes, we did have to qualify back then). It's never too late to have fun.

The more you try to be different, the more you are just the same.

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I'm not a complete idiot, some of the parts are missing.

While I was in college, I did a lot of work in the VA Hospital in Lafayette, IN. Many of the (few remaining) WWII vets had tattoos ... and incredible stories that went along with them. Yeah, I liked them. I liked them a lot.

If I make it to 70, I only hope someone cares enough to ask about mine. Granted, it was no WWII, but, my tribute to the 4 guys I lost in the Gulf has some pretty incredible (to me at least) stories attached to it.

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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. - Will Rogers

Emery's Third Coast Triathlon | Tri Wisconsin Triathlon Team | Push Endurance | GLWR

Oh no, you can't even compare a weakass Mdot tatoo to one you got in the military, especially if you saw action. My grandfather had a tatoo of his ships name from WWII on his arm, so dude, you more than earned your tatoo regardless of what war it is from. Good on ya.

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I'm not a complete idiot, some of the parts are missing.

No-no! NOT comparing an M-Dot to an Army/Military tattoo. No way. Specifically commenting on the question of whether I ever saw a tattoo (any tattoo) on a 70 year old that I like.

There have been a number of comment on tattoos, in general, on this thread. Not just the M-Dot.

As I said in an earlier post, I have "140.6" with a stick figure swim, bike, run under. No M-Dot, but, I have no opposition to M-Dot tattoos, or any tattoos for that matter (I have a number, most of which I got during my Army days).

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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. - Will Rogers

Emery's Third Coast Triathlon | Tri Wisconsin Triathlon Team | Push Endurance | GLWR

Here's a good link for ya to ogle some ink:

http://www.everymantri.com/everyman_triathlon/2010/05/photo-gallary-the-art-of-the-ironman-tattoo-or-when-a-boring-mdot-just-wont-do.html


Ben Greenfield

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Ben Greenfield

Nutrition & Human Performance Advice
http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com

to no one poster in particular

there used to be a thread in the LR called "deal breakers." Tattoos are totally on that list for me.

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maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD

That's too bad. You are going to miss out on a lot of really great people that way.

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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. - Will Rogers

Emery's Third Coast Triathlon | Tri Wisconsin Triathlon Team | Push Endurance | GLWR

I agree with JSA - you would be surprised who is/is not "inked"

I am (Army as well) and most are quite surprised (yet don't know my past) ;-)

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Fatigue is biochemical, not biomechanical.
- Andrew Coggan, PhD

X2, Tigerchik. No, just NO.

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DFL > DNF > DNS

If you do decide to get a TAT, just make sure it's only yours and regardless of what the rest of the group may say, its art and its your body. Do your research on your TAT artist too. It will make a difference.

I just read this and almost choked. You are ignorant...period. I have a half sleeve tattoo, elbow to shoulder, covered completely around the arm in all black. It's a soldiers grave with a flag at half mast in the background and the POW MIA flag with the letters "Not Forgotten". One of my old soldiers (I trained him when he was a private) was ambushed in Iraq and he was taken prisoner for 6 months before they tortured him and killed him. I got this tattoo to always remember him, his mother cried when she saw it. Not a day goes by where I don't think what he must have went through, what his family went through, and ultimately the price he paid to help maintain our freedom in America. I was injured myself over there but never lost any soldiers, now a good part of what was my combat team is buried in the ground. These were my men, my friends, my brothers. I could care less if anyone ever sees my tattoo. I got this for me, not for anyone else. I got this to remind myself that good men die and they should be remembered. My ego is non-existent when it comes to my tattoo, in fact when I wear a shirt all you see are the boots at the bottom, and that's all I let people see, I don't display it. Your one sided look on things leads me to believe you live a sheltered life, not everyone is out for an ego driven ride and not every tattoo is a "look at me" symbol. If the OP wants an M-Dot tat, let him. If every time he looks at it he thinks of how hard he worked to "earn" that and it makes him smile, them let him. If you think that is stupid, it's your choice and opinion, but don't think that all tattoos are for everyone else to oogle at. It's taken me a long time have have lenience for people and be more open with my opinions, you should give it a try, some people will surprise you with what they have on the inside and it may not always fit whats on the outside.

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I got nothing.

I agree. It's amazing how upset people can get over something that's none of their business. I don't have any yet, but if I ever do, it will be for me, and nobody else.

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Rusty

When running on the street, if your gum accidentally flies out of your mouth, it's no big deal. But if you lose your gum while running on a treadmill, you're gonna have to dodge that thing like 1800 more times, depending on how many more miles you have to go. Trust me on this one.

I don't need a tattoo to think that.

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__________________________________________________
Official Polar Ambassador
http://www.google.com/...P7RiWyEVwpunlsc2JtQQ

Thanks for this link... Very cool.....

thank you for yours and your "brothers in arms " service to maintain our way of life

You should be really cool and get a WTC tattoo instead. Even better marketing for them.
Been doing these things for 29 years and the "Ironman" mentality wears off. The thrill of competing that far does not.

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Team Zoot So Cal

sure, if you see it before you really really really like that person. I doubt you'd pick up your clothes and walk out of someone's room you were just getting ready to sleep with if they dropped trou and lo and behold they had a Roy Orbison tattoo on their butt....well ok, maybe if it was a tattoo of Roy Orbison on his ass, but you get the point.

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http://www.facebook.com/ReconFoundationTeam
http://www.facebook.com/MarineReconFoundation
http://www.reconfoundation.org

Not an IM tattoo but my temporary tattoo for the day....