So This Just Happened…

Well actuality, it happened yesterday! LOL
Yep, a Tattoo! Like running a Marathon, if you’d of asked me 5 years ago If I’d ever get a tattoo, I’d of said “Hell No”. But, things change, right? Your outlook on things change. Same here with the Tattoo.

So why now you ask?

One thing I learned during this process, is that most of the tattoo’s people get are not just random images. The majority of them have deep meaning in some way. The same is true for me. At the end of 2016, I set a personal goal to run my first Full Marathon. Something I never in a million years thought I could ever do. I choose the Glass City Marathon to be my first. I started a 16 week training program the first week in January 2017 with Dave’s MIT and finished at the end of April on Race Day. During the training, I “averaged” 4.02 miles per day or 28.14 miles per week or over 450 miles. So my tattoo is to be a daily reminder of all of the hard work I went through and more importantly, that I can do anything if I set my mind to it.

What does it mean?

There are three components to it.

First is the runner symbol. This symbolizes that running is what I love, especially on those days when I have a crappy run or when injuries occur. This is a life long sport and I plan to be doing it for a very long time and sometimes we all need a little reminder. Right?

Second is the “Red” heart. This is a daily reminder that “Heart Health” has to be a priority, especially for me. Why? Well, my Father, Grandfathers (on both sides), and all of my dad’s brothers DIED young of Heart Disease. I plan to break that trend by running, eating right and living a healthy lifestyle. Again, it’s just a daily reminder.

Lastly the numbers! For you runner types, it’s pretty straight forward. The 13.1 represents the distance of a Half Marathon (13.1 miles). The 26.2 is the distance of a Full Marathon (26.2 miles). As of this writing I have ran 7 Half Marathons and 1 Full Marathon. I’ve left room below to add 50k, 100K or another distance. But like these first two numbers, that addition will not happen until I actually complete those distances.

Who did it?

This is the cool part. My cousin Kitty Dowding, now retired, was a Tattoo Artist for over 25 years. She was a pioneer in the industry, especially for female tattoo artists. She started Living Arts Tattoo Studio in Holt, Michigan, which is near Lansing. About 15 years ago, her son Dan “Dan Wade” apprenticed under her and has now taken over the business. He is super talented, be sure check out some of his work HERE.

I was in Lansing this past weekend for a family gathering and one thing led to another and Dan offered to do my “Tat”. See, I even picked up some of the lingo! lol.

Anyway, on Sunday afternoon he opened the studio and with his mother Kitty Supervising, LOL not that he needed that, but it was super special to have her there and for her Son to actually be doing my first Tattoo. This is something I will always treasure.

One-and-Done or will there be more?

What I’m told is that most people say before they get their first Tattoo, that once they get one, it will be One-and-Done, but after their first one, then it’s Game On and they usually get more.

Me? I’m one-and-done…but I might be lying! Guess you’ll have to wait to find out!

Thanks for listing.