I am it for now but next it could be you for a tag...

So, here are my responses to the questions I received in a tag from "The Tri Journey's Marz_Racer." Here we go:

1) Describe a memory of your first triathlon.

In 2001 I participated in my first triathlon competing in a team with my wife. I participated in the swim and bike and she did the run. I will never forget what I felt when I emerged from from the water and raced my way to the transition area to get on my bike. That feeling of going from the swim to the bike is what attracted me to the sport for good. Luckily for me ever since I've had the same feeling while racing. I can best described as being a "focused bad ass" as I get my legs going from the swim to the bike. I enjoy that transition every time. There are a few seconds there when I first get out of the water when I am totally in a zone as in a trance from the swim and depending upon the length of the transition I come out of it and I get to look around and be aware of what is around me. Those few seconds are really precious to me and it is what I captured on my very first race.

2) Describe a memory from your most recent triathlon.
2006 Great Lake Escape... we had some terrible conditions that forced the organizers to cancel the swim and make it all a duathlon. I remember greatly having enough juice in my legs to put the hammer down on the last 2 miles of the second run to get away from these group of guys and come up with a nice showing for a race that had some rough conditions out there.

3) What's the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you in a tri?

Looking around the transition area for the location of my spot. Running all over the place until I finally figure it out. I look like an idiot every time... Don't worry if you are at a race with the Clot Buster there is a good chance you will see me wondering the isles in a giving transition looking for my spot. I've tried everything that I can to remember where I am at... I think that next up I will need to put up some sort of flag or something.

4) What's the most thrilling thing that's happened to you in a tri?

Getting the chance to race as much as I do in an attempt to raise funds for NATT is a thrill enough. I think that meeting people after the events and getting the chance to get to know them is thrilling for me. Specially, when they get to know about NATT and what it stands for. Of course, I thought that it was really cool to get my third place award from Karen Smyers at Shawnee Mission Medical Center Triathlon in Shawnee Mission, KS. Talk about someone who has a story to tell... what a women. I hope that I can race like her when I am at that age. I don't even want to go into all of her struggles. I have great memories of that experience.

5) What is something you discovered about yourself by doing triathlons?

That I know a lot more about blood clots and blood clotting disorders than I ever thought. Also, that the mind is so powerful and that it can take you the gratest highs and the lowest of the lows if you let it get you there.

6) What is THE BIG GOAL that you're working towards?

The big goal is to raise as much money as I can for NATT. Racing a total of 300 Miles this summer should catch people's attention and get them motivated to donate anywhere from a nickel, dime, or a quarter for every mile that I race this summer. I would also like to see other people out there taking the time to Thank the volunteers that come out to race. I does not matter how good you are you have to make yourself take a moment and tell as many of those volunteers that you appreciate them being there.

Finally, I really would like to get my mind straight and string together a nice run during the half-iron distance races I am doing this year.

If you get to read this then you are it...wait I know someone I can tag... My friend Deirdre (I hope your foot is doing better) and the Spandex King (I hope that you are not freezing too badly up north).

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster