Monday, August 8, 2011

Mourning fading body markings

My race #176.
I hate to admit it, but I become a little sad when my body markings from a triathlon begin their inevitable fade.

After all of the race belts, heart rate monitors and ball caps have been stripped from us, clean, dry clothes have replaced our damp, sporty tri suits and we've moved on to watering the vegetable garden instead of a state park lake watering us, those markings continue to serve as that last reminder that can still cling to us of what we've just accomplished.

During my post-race shower, I do lather-up my arm and calf where a race volunteer painted my race number and age, respectively, on my skin at 6 a.m.; I just don't work hard to completely remove the ink, scrubbing a little less on those spots than on the rest of my body.

Me speaking at a Chamber seminar.
Then, I make sure to at least wear a sleeveless top - a skirt, too, sometimes - to the office the following Monday. "Oops. I thought I got all of that off," I'll say with feigned alarm and indignity after a coworker will have pointed out "some black stuff" on my arm.

They'll now, of course, know to no longer do that.

What that temporary, numerical, black ink does for me after I've switched back to news girl Monday morning, is remind me of something unique and cool I did over the weekend. It reminds me of how different I am in this regard than most people I know; a state of being I used to be frightened of, but one I now warmly embrace in large part because of this sport.

20 comments:

teacherwoman said...

Well said. I know that when I completed my first triathlon, I barely washed my body in the areas that consisted of said body marking. I wore my faded numbers with pride to work, and loved telling people of my wonderful weekend experience!

Lora Abernathy said...

So, it's not just me? Ha ha. Glad I'm not the only one who loves these things! Have a great Monday night! (Love the profile pic, by the way.)

ONEHOURIRONMAN said...

Sillly me...and I thought the medal hanging around my neck on Monday was the give away......

Lora Abernathy said...

LMBO, Bob! If you really do that, I'll do it next time, too. :)

RockStarTri said...

The other way to have the same effect is to get sunburned all around the number. It can last for months!

Lora Abernathy said...

Ooo, yeah. The sunburn approach. Nice. Thanks for that tip.

Tony Van Helsing said...

Nice honest post, following.

Big Daddy Diesel said...

I agree with Joe, you can tan it on.

We think alike. Though, they body marked you differently, you got the short end of the deal, my race, my number went down onto my forearm

M said...

So well said - I always try and leave some of my marker in hopes someone will notice :p hee hee

Lora Abernathy said...

Thanks, Tony.

Lora Abernathy said...

I am so, so SUPER jealous, BDD!

Lora Abernathy said...

M, glad to hear another chime in that they do it too! :)

ciro foster said...

Well written, the same to me. Ciao.

Lora Abernathy said...

Thanks, Ciro!

Ransick said...

Haha, I do the same thing. On the way home from races, I often stop at a grocery store to pick up food for a cook out. I get some funny looks from people that have no idea what I just did.

Lora Abernathy said...

Yeah, I've had that happen too, Mike. Well, I was just grabbing some post-race drinks for me and my husband, but the looks still happen.

Unknown said...

Glad I'm not the only one! The habit still hasn't sparked any random conversations, though.

Lora Abernathy said...

Di Tri-ing: Maybe your next post-race could be your lucky day... Happy training and racing this summer!

Unknown said...

Just starting cycling, I love your blog it is inspirational.
Follow me to success
http://ismanthyhere.blogspot.com/

Lora Abernathy said...

Hey, Manthy. Thanks for stopping by and best wishes on your cycling journey!

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