What about when you're old and wrinkly!!

Strange name for a blog you may be thinking...

But a question I've been asked a couple of times recently! Why have I been asked 'what about when you're old and wrinkly?' Well because I had a tattoo...

So why at 41 did I feel the need to get a tattoo, well I have a phrase/mantra whatever you like to call it that I have used for a long time...

Train Hard, No Excuses

When it's cold and dark at 6am and I have to go run, or after a hard day at work and I'm going out to boot camp it pops into my head. It gets me out there as it reminds me not to make excuses, too tired, too wet, too cold, too hot, whatever, training is a big part of my life and I don't (often) make excuses not to do it (I'm not perfect, I'm human, sometimes I do), but most of the time I'm out there training hard, preparing for the next event.

So after one of my boot camp instructors had his mantra, Take No Days Off, tattooed onto his arm I was inspired to do the same. So two weeks ago I did it, now it's there forever, not just in my head but when the alarm goes off and I put on the light, I look at it, how can I not get out and train, how can I make excuses now, it will help me realise my dream...

...Next year my plan is to attempt the big one. A 100 mile ultra marathon, it's been there since I first read Dean Karnazes, Ultramarathon Man, my ultimate running goal. So 2014 will be the year, the training will be tough, it will probably mean cutting down on other stuff, sleep etc ha ha, but I will do it, and my tattoo will help.

So back to the original question, though have to say I have had very few negative comments, but those couple that I did get got me thinking. Will I regret it when I'm old and wrinkly? I don't think so, hopefully I'll still be pounding/shuffling the trails!! But if I'm not, that wrinkly, unreadable tattoo will be the best reminder of some of my proudest achievements, some of the best times, the training, the events, the places I see, and definitely a reminder of all the amazing running, boot camping friends I have met a long the way, some of them literally met along the way! 

So whatever your opinion, mid life crisis, coolest Mum (yes my teenage children think it's great!), fruit loop runner or anything else, I love my tattoo, I love running, boot camp and pushing my body to it's limits, I'll continue to live by those four simple words and never will I regret a single moment of all the amazing fun I'm having.