My Ironman Tattoo.

I think I read somewhere in the triathlon rule book that once you completed a 140.6 race, that you had to go get the Ironman tattoo. Now I am a rule follower (most of the time), and keeping to the lore of Ironman, I went and got my tattoo last Friday.

Now I did not go for the normal M Dot red tattoo. I wasn't feeling it, and I did not want the M Dot since I did not do a M Dot race. (To me, after you do a 140.6 distance race, you are an Ironman, M Dot or not). So I went a different route.

Before I show you the picture, I will tell you that I have the word "Ironman 2013 Gal 6:14" in a font that matches my initials I have on my bicep. For some reason, I am drawn more to words than I am pictures on my body, and I do not know why.

So I head to my tattoo shop and explain I want the Ironman tattoo. The guy automatically goggles the Avenger character. Shaking my head I say NO!!  Then  I explain to him what an Ironman is and what the race consist of. I then have to listen to him state that he could do the swim, because he likes to swim, but everything else would be hard. Whatever yo!

So we get the design, the size, the font and everything just right and then he puts on the stencil and Jford is happy. I look him in the eye and I say, "Let's do this"

I guess now would be a good time to warn everyone who reads this that a tattoo on the ribs hurts really, really, really bad! Yeah, I was shocked also. It hurt worse than my other two tatts combined, but hey, I'm an Ironman right? I can handle it right?

Well, all I can say is that he could not get done fast enough. every time the needle dug into my flesh I tensed up, it felt like he was tattooing my lungs! Luckily, since it was only one color, it did not take as long as it felt like it did.

So without further adieu, here is a picture of my Ironman tattoo!

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14