August 2009 Tat of the Month

Heather Whiteside -  Endurance Pain Seeker

We present to you Heather Whiteside verbatim, and her fantastic tattoo:

I got this tattoo to memorialize my first Ultra event, the Delano Park 12 Hour Run in Decatur Alabama which I participated in on March 14, 2009.

Blah blah back story: I'm 48 years old and have been an off and on runner since my teens. I've done a handful of previous marathons and other race distances, mostly when I was in my 20's. This past year or so, gotten back on track (and trail) again.... and have lost 85 lbs along the way with my return to running for fun.

The number "46" on the key refers to the number of miles I completed in the 12 hour event. The idea of the fanciful clockwork gears and windup key is "wind me up and I'll keep going!" The design is on my left calf; I figured it made sense to put a running tattoo on my leg!  I got the artwork done (from an original concept design) by Greg Ross at Blue Rose Tattoo in Huntsville AL. Freshly inked just last night in a six hour session; I think the tat hurt worse than the ultra race that inspired it! Lol..just a different kind of endurance event, but you get the same endorphin rush!

Oh, and I reading a good book WHILE I was getting tattooed: McDougall, Christopher. BORN TO RUN: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen. Knopf: 2009.

Love your site!  - Heather

That's the perfect way to end your submission, Heather.  Great job on the running and the tattoo.

Congrats to Heather on earning some fine CRC merchandise!

Do you want to be the running tat of the month? Send us a picture at info@columbusrunning.com or stop by the store. Please let us know why, how, and when you got the tattoo...

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