My sorta tri related tattoo...

[Urlea]

Because I said I would show you... here's my sorta tri related tattoo.

Today I did something I've been thinking about and designing for roughly two years. My first tattoo. It is an honor to mark a piece of the Lord's work in my life on my body.

Did it hurt? Sometimes. Overall it was more irritating than painful. No near tears. It was worth it.

The reason behind the design comes from Genesis 24, the story of Rebekah and how she came to be with Isaac. The man leading Rebekah on the camel is an example of the Holy Spirit. In verse 58 Rebekah is asked a pivotal question that would change her life forever. "Will you go with this man?".

This question has transcended into my own life in a very real way. There are many times in my walk with God where I am asked will I continue to follow His leading or not. I pray I always have Rebekah's answer, "I will go."

Now for how it applies in a physical sense... most people who don't run marathons or do triathlons say "I could never do that." For most of us it's not a question of can, it's a question of "will you". That is where the inspiration for the gears came from.

I plan on going as far as the Lord has set out for me, in spirit and in body. This tattoo is a symbol of that.

[Tri Girl]

Yeee ouch! Looks painful, but it sure is a beautiful piece of artwork that is meaningful on so many levels to you. Congrats on your tattoo. It's really stunning.


Is that a wheel and a chainring I see?

[TrekJeni]

It's very beautiful.

[lph]

Wow! Very beautiful. Very unique. And looks very painful. You're a braver woman than I am!

[Urlea]

It looks more painful then it actually was. I'd compare it to a big carpet burn, nothing more.

Trying not to sleep on it last night was a challenge though.

As to the gears, the far left is what my Cannondale crank looks like (without the pedal attached of course). And the other gears one is meant to look wheelish and the other fill the space between the two.

I'll send closer shots once it heals up a little bit. Thanks for the compliments! I'm really happy with it.

I'll probably end up with primarily racer back tri & running tops to show this off now.

[Aggie_Ama]

Beautiful! Just make sure in those shimmels you wear plenty of sunscreen over this baby to keep it from fading even faster.

When I finally push myself through a marathon I have a tattoo planned but I got to earn it first and design it.

[Velobambina]

I love it. Has so much meaning to you, and the design is unique & simply lovely. Enjoy!

I'm thinking about getting a second one, myself. Have a design picked out (bike-related) and an artist (a female). The tattoo place is within walking distance of my house, to boot. Maybe when I'm burning some more leave this month or over Christmas....

[jesvetmed]

That is a really great design, and I'm glad it has such deep meaning to you. Did you design it all yourself? Very nice. And you were SMILING in the photo while they were doing it!?! Tough one, you are!

[Miranda]

Very beautiful ink, and the meaning that it holds to you.

One of my gym GFs that's a tri gal was going to get the ironman symbol after her last race. I'm not sure if she ever did or not. I went with a diff GF to get a cross put on her low back. It turned out very nice, for a similiar meaning to her life. I was just the photographer for that one.

I have always wanted to get one. But never have. It's always interesting to hear people talk about what their tat art means to them. Thx for sharing.

[Urlea]

Thanks for the compliments. I'm very happy with it!

The design is something I made myself. I can't draw to save my life so it's a compilation of about seven different graphics and photos that were creative commons licensed that I blacked out and merged in photo-shop.

Keep in mind the smiling picture was taken before he started to outline the man leading the camel. That portion of the tattoo was the most painful (near the spine) I had tingling nerves that wrapped under my armpit and into my chest. That made me grit my teeth a little bit.

The realization that I actually have a tattoo hasn't quite sunk in yet, but feeling it healing keeps me from forgetting.

Yay for racer back tech shirts! Right now anything I would wear that could cover it sticks. I've had to take two showers with my shirt on just to loosen up the top enough to peel it off. Yikes.

I think I'll have to wait a week or two before starting up Pilates again.

[teigyr]

It is beautiful

After going through months to design mine (it's a Celtic cross) and another 2.5 hours to get it done, I don't understand how someone can mindlessly put something permanent on their body. I like how there is a story attached to it.

Yours is all black? If so, that is probably good because it won't fade as much. You will love it!!!

When I had mine done, I was in a small type historic hotel near the tattoo person. That night, there was someone in the building who was (for lack of a better term) having quite the romantic night. It was loud. When I went to check out the next day, I went to sit down and kind of eased myself into the chair and looked like I was in a bit of pain. Everyone stared at me

I had to say "no, it wasn't me".

I can't wait to see your tattoo when it's healed. How much did you research your artist? I was positively obsessive.

[Urlea]

Teigyr, that is a hilarious story! Where did you have the tattoo placed?

I shot a wedding the day after I got mine done and was on hug patrol. The bride and a few of the bridesmaids tried to give me a hug and I had to put my arms out to stop them. Thankfully they were ladies I knew, so it wasn't offensive. Unfortunately though, while I was taking photos of the reception toasts the flower girl found me and decided my tattoo should be poked.

As to how much I researched my tattoo artist, my husband has three tattoos (four now, he got another on Sat.) by the same artist here in town and all the people we referred him to have great pieces as well so I felt totally at ease with having him do the work.

It is all black, which I really like. The original design I put together had a setting sun between the camel and the man, but we decided to wait on that part. Right now I'm very content with it just being black so I may not add that in. We'll see.

I'm to the itchy, lotion it up every few hours phase now. So far I've managed not to itch it.

[KSH]

WOW! Sorry, but that looks painful. Mine is way smaller and it hurt so bad. Maybe I'm just a horrible whimp!

Very nicely done though!

Oh, Aquaphor is amazing! My tat healed up beautifully using that stuff. I used for about 2-3 weeks after I got it done. Never switched to lotion, just kept putting that on.

[Urlea]

KSH, you did an ironman and all the training to get you there! Trust me, you aren't a "horrible whimp".

The placement of the tattoo has a lot to do with how much it hurts and some of us just have more of a pain tolerance for that type of pain.

I'm still really fond of your hibiscus IM tattoo. Once I've earned mine I'm sure I'll try to be creative with a design like you were.

[KSH]

KSH, you did an ironman and all the training to get you there! Trust me, you aren't a "horrible whimp".

The placement of the tattoo has a lot to do with how much it hurts and some of us just have more of a pain tolerance for that type of pain.

I'm still really fond of your hibiscus IM tattoo. Once I've earned mine I'm sure I'll try to be creative with a design like you were.

No, really. Even the people in the tattoo parlor were wondering why I was being such a whimp considering I did an IM.

My goal in life is to challenge myself, but to stay as physically comfortable as possible! HA!