I finished Ironman Wisconsin in 2004. I have decided that I would like a tattoo to memorialize the accomplishment - albeit a slow accomplishment. But I will only get one if I can think of something I really like. I do not want an Mdot for reasons that have been stated on this forum ad nauseum. I had planned to get a 140.6 with an oval around it. Pretty minimalistic. The artist I saw today said that it would be too intricate to get any real definition in the numbers in the size I wanted it (small, maybe the size of a nickel - or a quarter). He said the numbers would blend into one another after a few years. He said he could do it larger - but I was hoping for something relatively small.
So, any other ideas for something small. I am not very creative.
i wish i could take back my tats, but I’m not going to try to convince you not to do it. however i will tell you that i’ve got a 12 year old tat on the front of my right ankle that looks like a black ink blob now.
if you want it so small, then why get it? if you’re uncomfortable with getting it at a size where it won’t run together over time, then please think about if you really want it.
and if you do, think about getting it across your butt cheek, and don’t forget to post pics.
what about without the oval? i saw a gal the other day with a small 26.2 on her instep. not obvious at all and not visible if she was wearing shoes (she was wearing flip-flops when i noticed). i thought it looked pretty good.
He said the numbers would blend into one another after a few years.
Go to a different place. I have never heard of that before. I have 1 tattoo and it has some fine detail in it. It never changed once it healed.
I volunteer at a tatoo removal clinic. They often don’t come off very well at all. It hurts more to remove them than to put them on. It takes multiple sessions.
In a study a few years ago, the number one risk factor for Hepatitis C was commercial tatoos.
Don’t to the small tattoo thing. Utilize your entire back for an entire Triathlon scene. Have an open water swim on your upper back, a bike with a course on your mid-back and a run on your lower-back. You can use your arms for T1 and T2.
Can you tell that I’m a fan of that new show ‘Prison Break’?
I say if you are going to get one, go larger cause it will blend, otherwise, don’t do it (it will look like crap in a few years) The blending depends on where you get it and how small and what fine details (sharp corners) you want.
John, I have a 26.2 also and it’s about an inch long; did it about three years ago, still looks fine. I often get remarks from people saying, “262?? What’s that mean?” Can’t really see the little dot unless you look closer. I suggest finding a better artist to do it…they can creat beautiful works of art if they’re any good, so don’t settle…you’ll have it for life.
Congratulations by the way!..if you want to celebrate your accomplishment by getting a tat, by all means do it. Only you really know how the training and the race affected you mentally and physically. Don’t worry about what other people think.
What’s wrong w/ an Mdot?!? Seriously - I just got here, but I’ve never heard of anybody bashing the Mdot, (except my sister, the couch potato). All I hear is people who can’t wait to get one. Yeah, I have one. I consider it an honor to have earned one. You worked so hard, celebrate it!!! By the way, congratulations!!! And the Mdot design is so bold, that you can get it small, too. Anyway, just one girl’s opinion…
i have 5 tats and i love them all equally but don’t go small, the detail will run togetheer especially as u get older and your skin isn’t as tight. atleast the size of two quarters would be good…and tahts not very big at all…less than 2 inches long…you can hide that anywhere you want! good luck! i love my tats. they remind me of where i was in life and how i got through it. i can’t wait to get something for my first ironman.
OMG, hang around, you won’t believe the problems people have with various things around here. The general environment is one of combinations of the following:
I’m the greatest triathlete that ever lived, but won’t come out and say it.
Mdot tattoos are cheesy (but most of us have them)
its totally uncool to wear finisher’s jerseys
you’re nobody if you haven’t crossed “THE” finish line or gone “THE distance”
All bikes suck unless they are made by Cervelo
Runners are asswipes
Roadies suck and are mean.
My wife is jealous of my triathlon lifestyle
My husband is jealous of my triathlon lifestyle
I can’t get a date
Am I good looking/skinny/cute/well dressed enough?
Does my bike position match my living room decor?
etc… etc…etcc.
Regardless, its a pretty good place to hang out and talk about swimming and biking. We don’t discuss running other than to argue the merit of running more than 2 hours for a long run.
We don’t discuss running other than to argue the merit of running more than 2 hours for a long run.
Well it all depends on how fast you are running. A 2 hour run at a 5 minute pace is 24 miles! Yeeesh…some people. YOUR SEAT IS TOO HIGH!
Anyway, I say get a henna tat or a sharpie one and look at it. If after a few days when it washes off you wish it were still there, chances are you’ll be happy with it later. Otherwise I’d stay away. Size-wise I’d have to agree with the wisdom here, it needs to be large enough that when it bleeds a bit (mostly dependent on the skill of the artist and the post-tat treatment) it will still look good. And an M-dot is just fine if you want it.
