I Finally Did It!

I've been planning my running tattoo for well over a year, but it wasn't until Christmas when I started to get really serious about it. Once I decided to get it as a gift, instead of just shelling out the cash for no reason, it was easier to wrap my mind around it.

I wanted a tattoo that could be running-related but would also be relevant otherwise...something that encompassed both my running story and my vision for my life. I wanted something meaningful to me, romantic but not sappy, not trite or overdone. (Can you tell I was a tattoo newbie? If I had known how much of a non-issue it would turn out to be, I don't know if I would have chewed on it for so long.)

Sometime last year, I finally chose a quotation from an essay-turned-song written by Mary Schmich, which I play for my students every year as they prepare to leave the small pond of middle school for the high school ocean. It has always resonated with me; it's a lesson that speaks to the runner in me while also illuminating a much bigger picture.

 A few weeks ago, Kristin (from Ragnar) took me to her tattoo artist so I could check the place out and make an appointment, which we set for March 4.

So, Tuesday rolls around and I'm not the least bit nervous. In fact, all I felt was moderate excitement of the "finally!" kind. I'd been waiting for this for so long that I didn't even really have butterflies! It just felt right.

No, I'm not white-knuckled; my hands were loosely clasped here, I swear.

I was only in the chair for about 15 minutes. Charlie was professional, fast, and efficient. Actually, it didn't hurt at all! (I made the mistake of asking, "Is this it? Is it even in?", a comment which Matt, Kristin, and Charlie found pretty hysterical.)

It's coming along!

This is my first-ever tattoo. It felt like I was being bitten by a mosquito. It only turned into a "bee sting" kind of pain when the needle came close to my bone. Still, I didn't even break a sweat.

All done!

I'm really happy with the results. In a way, I feel like I've had the tattoo forever, maybe because I've been planning it for so long. It doesn't seem like some weird, foreign writing on my body, which I was afraid it might.

Archie approves!

I can't wait for it to heal completely so I can put sunscreen on it and wear tank tops again when I run. For now, it has to stay out of the sun completely, which means it won't make its race debut until April. It will have to be covered for my 5k this weekend.

But I know it will give me an extra boost internally on race day; it will be there always, reminding me of how far I've come, how far I have to go, and that this race - and every race I run - is mine, and I should run it accordingly.

Do you have, or would you get, a tattoo? 
Is it running-related?

ABK