Few hobbies lend themselves as well to body ink as running—the Boston Marathon logo; the internationally recognized symbol of the Ironman finisher, a mantra or a phrase written down on an ankle: “Long May You Run,” these are just some examples of the great running body art of the iRun Nation.
Seems like more and more runners are getting running-specific work done, from hobbyists to Canadian Olympians. Two-time Olympian Lanni Marchant says her newest tattoo helps tell her story.
Many readers inked their mantras, both as a reminder to themselves when they’re racing, and when they’re just living life. Phrases like, “Never Give Up,” “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop,” and “Here’s to New Finish Lines,” repeatedly pop up. Below is one reader’s mantra.
Some running tattoos aren’t immediately clear on their messaging, but that’s OK. All that matters is that you find motivation in your body art.
“I wanted to show darkness and the light that running gives me in my life,” she said. “I also find running helps me focus which is why it’s in a diamond shape to show structure and attention.”
Tattoos help us tell our story and, for many of us, running is central to our narratives on how we see the world. We can call out our heroes like this reader has done:
Do you have a running tattoo? Would you like one? Let us know and we’ll publish your photo and help share ideas for other interested runners. For some of us, a running tattoo can help tell our story. Brett Foland shared this with iRun magazine: “I was always a fairly slow runner however I L
VED running,” he says. “Most often I’d be running with a smile on my face or when the endorphins hit I’d be singing, telling jokes or waving hello to people! I was told by someone I was the Happy Turtle—I was totally okay with that—so I Googled some clip art and went to work in Photoshop and made this tattoo, pictured below. I ran my 50-miler in Vienna, IL at the Tunnel Hill Ultra. It was right around the age of 65 on November 11, 2017. I just turned 70 and I’m still running.“
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I am recovering from Breast Cancer and prior to that “intrusion” was an avid runner as well as “all round athlete”! It has been difficult for me to get back into running, and I am so, so sad about that! Running was my life, but, life changes us as we go forward. I am doing the best that I can, but I “keep praying for the miracle” that will make me “all better and ready to run”. Any ideas, suggestions or thoughts that folks have would be greatly appreciated! Happy Running to all the runners out there!