Running+Tattoos

I’ve always been somewhat fascinated by the idea of tattoos.  By the time I got to college I wanted one, but I couldn’t think of something monumental enough to get inked on my body. Even after I graduated and I figured out what I wanted my first tattoo to be, I spent the better part of two years waking up and asking myself  ”How would I feel about that design in my skin today?” The answer was always, “Awesome!” and eventually I pulled the trigger. Subsequent ink has been much easier to decide on….

Running, on the other hand, has been an on and off part of my life ever since I started playing sports as a little kid. However it wasn’t until the end of high school that I realized I could run for for the sake of running–by myself–and enjoy it.

Recently I found myself comparing the two activities and their similarities. You’re asking yourself right now “How could running around outside and sitting in a chair getting a tattoo be similar?” For starters, they are things that people are–for the most part–either into or they’re not, with little to no gray area. There are other similarities as well.

Tri Swim Bike Run

1. Both involve a certain amount of pain that one must, on some level, find enjoyable.
With tattoos it’s obvious, that’s not a massaging needle they use to put ink in your skin. With running, I’m not talking about the pain from an injury (that’s just bad). It’s the pain you feel right before the runners high takes over and you stop thinking about moving your legs and just let them rhythmically churn. It’s gritting out the last half mile of a race, and kicking your pace up even though your muscles are about to issue a cease and desist order.

And when you’re done with a tattoo or a race, there is a great sense of accomplishment and relief. Which leads me to my next point.

2. Both are meaningful experiences that stay with you for life.
You’re never going to forget the experience of sitting/laying in the chair at the tattoo parlor getting a tattoo. And if you do somehow forget it, the tattoo will be there always to remind you.

Now I’m not saying I remember every run I’ve been on. But I remember all of the races. I remember the important runs where ‘something clicked’ or I was able to work through an important issue in my life. I look through the collection of routes I have and I think about the places I have seen and things I have discovered while running–it’s all a big part of who I am today. I once read an article about how to motivate yourself to run on vacation. I laughed–to me running on vacation is almost a necessity. Not only do I want the exercise, I want to see my surroundings and find new paths that I would otherwise leave unexplored.

I was recently in Maui with some friends, staying at a resort we had been to two years before. Last time I couldn’t run, so I was excited to explore more of the resort strip with my Nikes propelling me along the way. I ended up making my way farther north than I expected, and found myself looking back south over Black Rock and down the line of stately beachside residences. A glance up north showed a view of untouched beach that beckoned me to explore. And while I don’t remember every step of that run, I’ll never forget the feeling of rounding the corner to that lookout and marveling at where I was.

Editor’s Note: I realize this post drifts off at the end with no real conclusion. There is a follow up article in the works. But it kind of fits, because I drift off during good runs, and good tattoo sessions.