I was discussing this with my training partner the other day and the question came up about when you can and when you can’t get the M-Dot tattoo.
Is it acceptable within the racing community to get one after any full distance race or does it have to be an actual IM race. My thought is that what you are telling people is that you raced 140.6 miles and that symbol represents that. I know you could get other tats but that isn’t my question. I’m specifically asking about the IM logo.
I am doing an HIM in Austin this year and contemplated a tat after that. I assume the logo will be everywhere at that race which would seem to indicate that the tattoo would be ok. Plus, IM doesn’t seem to use the term “half” Just IM 70.3 and IM 140.6. But I don’t want to misrepresent myself to other athletes. When I see the M-Dot tattoo I automatically assume it represents a full distance race. Is that a fair assumption?
Note: I’m aware that I can get any tattoo I want but my question is about protocol within the racing community. As a military guy, I would take offense to someone with an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor tattoo if they didn’t serve in the Marines.
Wow - this post will attract the anti-M dot Tat folks in spades. My opinion:
M-Dot tat is a generic and has moved beyond the owner. Use it for any 140.6 triathlon.
M-Dot tat for a HIM = poser.
That’s what I was looking for. Thanks.
I know people vary greatly when it comes to tattoos. It was the same in the military. I personally don’t put race stickers on my truck. Others do. To each their own.
Some people will say: “Why get a tat”.
Some people will say: “Why do you want to tell people anything - they don’t care”.
Some people will say: “Do it after a half”
Some people will say: “Do it after a full”
Some people will say: “It has to be a 'real IM event.”
Some people will say: “It just has to be Iron distance.”
Some people will say: “Just do it”
Some people will say: “Why get a corporate logo on your body”
Some people will say things you simply don’t understand.
I say: “Do whatever you want, what do you care what some people think?”
Leaving aside any other issues of corporate logos as tattoos, if you get an M-Dot after a half everyone gets to laugh at you. Even those who embrace tattoos and love WTC will think that is beyond weak.
I’ve always viewed the m dot logo as a full distance badge. But as someone with tons of tattoos, fuck that. It’s your body, do what you want. My wife has an american mensa tattoo. I’ve always thought the logos were very similar. http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/mensa-logo.gif
I’ve seen people get the outline of the IM tat and fill it halfway to show they did a half and plan on doing a full. At that point you kind of have to I suppose.
Before I did my first IM, I would see people with the tattoo and think “wow cool”. I am not particularly into tattoos, but I figure if someone had that on there then it was pretty cool.
After my first IM, I thought to myself that it was a pretty big accomplishment and I can see why people want the tattoo.
After my second IM I started to think it was a bit silly.
After my third IM my thoughts solidified there - it is silly.
I can see it for someone who is one-n-done with IM. It is a huge accomplishment and if you don’t intend to keep going at it, I can see wanting to commemorate it. But after having done 3 IMs, a 4th on the schedule for later this season, and plans to keep trying to improve at that distance, I don’t see it as much of a huge undertaking anymore and now it is just another long distance race to train for. Once I got there in my mind, the idea of tattooing it became slightly more silly to me.
That said - I have no criticism for those who have the tattoo. Everyone does what they want for their own reasons (although I think I would definitely have some criticism if it was done after a one-n-done half).
Before I did my first IM, I would see people with the tattoo and think “wow cool”. I am not particularly into tattoos, but I figure if someone had that on there then it was pretty cool.
After my first IM, I thought to myself that it was a pretty big accomplishment and I can see why people want the tattoo.
After my second IM I started to think it was a bit silly.
After my third IM my thoughts solidified there - it is silly.
I can see it for someone who is one-n-done with IM. It is a huge accomplishment and if you don’t intend to keep going at it, I can see wanting to commemorate it. But after having done 3 IMs, a 4th on the schedule for later this season, and plans to keep trying to improve at that distance, I don’t see it as much of a huge undertaking anymore and now it is just another long distance race to train for. Once I got there in my mind, the idea of tattooing it became slightly more silly to me.
That said - I have no criticism for those who have the tattoo. Everyone does what they want for their own reasons (although I think I would definitely have some criticism if it was done after a one-n-done half).
Someone already said it, but I’ll say it again. M-dot after a 70.3 is weak, a poser.
M-dot, to me, is a 140.6 distance and a lifestyle. That’s what comes to my mind when I see it on people’s bodies. In other words, get one if you have done a 140.6, regardless of which company flag is was done under.
Me? I don’t have the M-Dot, although I have considered getting it in a place that is always concealed. It was a huge accomplishment for me given my swimming struggles and the tattoo would be for me, not for the world to see.
One thing I don’t usually hear people talk about when this topic comes up is how much any IM logo gear is a conversation starter. I own a running hat and a long-sleeve. Guaranteed whenever I wear them, somebody engages me in a conversation. It’s happened on vacation in the cruise buffet line, in the supermarket checkout, and at the Y to name a few. The conversation usually starts with “Which Ironman did you do?” At that point, for me, I would hate to be explaining that it was a 70.3. That’s just me.
Everyone is different. My wife (who is also a triathlete and a frequent AG winner at the shorter distances and usually top 5 OA female had to be convinced by me to even carry the free Ironman backpack I got at check-in at IMMD. She felt like a poser just carrying the bag and hinting that she had done it. I convinced her it was just a bag and that her support played a huge role in my IM completion anyway so she was a legal IM bag carrier. She eventually gave in. Hell, she need a bag and it’s a nice bag. Still, people do ask her which IM she completed.
Again, do what you want. You won’t get consensus here or anyway. It’s really a personal call. You know how you feel about it in your heart. I’d say go with that.
In a similar vein - the closest thing I come to having a tattoo is the M-dot sticker on my car window. I have nothing against showing a logo. I wear shirts with it, my work badge lanyard has M-dots on it. My car has one (and a Challenge logo for that matter).
But I am not going to tattoo it on me. I can scrape it off my car window if I ever feel like I need to.
I’m a big fan of tattoo’s and always thought about getting a triathlon themed tattoo, in the vein of it being a lifestyle. Not really the logo or anything.
Maybe if I do a race in a really cool venue and could incorporate that locale into it, I would do that. i.e. New Orleans 70.3 and doing some kind of triathlon / mardi gras / NOLA theme…
In my experience tattoos are very personal. Get it because you want it, and don’t worry about what others think.
I have a few tattoos. I probably wouldn’t get an M dot personally, but probably will get a tri related tattoo if I ever complete a full ironman distance race. I’m thinking about getting another tattoo after my first half (maybe next year) that I can expand upon if I ever make the leap to a full distance race.
A friend of mine finished her first ironman this year and did get an m dot tattoo. What I think of her tattoo is irrelevant. She likes the tattoo and I am proud of her finishing her goal and completing the race.
I don’t have this car sticker but I love it. Where I live it seems that half of the cars have some kind of distance sticker. Do they want me to stop them and tell them how special they are? I just don’t get it. Obviously, people can do whatever they want, but I think it’s bad form. The real bad asses in this world never advertise. (I’m not one of them, by the way)
Rules get even more complicated when the course is shortened or there’s a cancelled swim
I was discussing this with my training partner the other day and the question came up about when you can and when you can’t get the M-Dot tattoo.
Is it acceptable within the racing community to get one after any full distance race or does it have to be an actual IM race. My thought is that what you are telling people is that you raced 140.6 miles and that symbol represents that. I know you could get other tats but that isn’t my question. I’m specifically asking about the IM logo.
I am doing an HIM in Austin this year and contemplated a tat after that. I assume the logo will be everywhere at that race which would seem to indicate that the tattoo would be ok. Plus, IM doesn’t seem to use the term “half” Just IM 70.3 and IM 140.6. But I don’t want to misrepresent myself to other athletes. When I see the M-Dot tattoo I automatically assume it represents a full distance race. Is that a fair assumption?
Note: I’m aware that I can get any tattoo I want but my question is about protocol within the racing community. As a military guy, I would take offense to someone with an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor tattoo if they didn’t serve in the Marines.
