February Athlete of the Month

Today's technology is amazing.

Who knew that my blog was/is being read all over the world.

Ever more amazing is the fact that my unique Hungarian background provides an additional twist to the power of today's technology.

It turns out that my blog has found it's way to Hungary and sometime back I got a note in Hungarian from a clot survivor very interested in getting the Clot Buster polka-dot colors to Hungary in order to spread the word about blood clots and blood clotting disorders.

In the process of ex-changing emails I got the chance to get to know this person that I am about to introduce to you as FEBRUARY's Athlete of the Month. Please welcome ADAM NOVAK to our group of clot survivor athletes who are willing to share their story with us.

I got the opportunity to ask Adam some questions and here are the answers he shared with me... read on and enjoy!

1) What is you sport/activity of choice? Why do you enjoy it?
Before I had my DVT last year my sport was triathlon. I started swimming when I was 6. Then after swimming in the pool 15 years I looked for new adventures, so I started trathlon. Running was always difficult for me, I was always slow, at cycling I was at an avarage level. I was always best at swimming.
A few weeks after my DVT I sterted swimming again. Then came cycling and runnig was the last. Now, I am not running a lot partly because I do not have time to do that. I ride my bike a couple of times a week but mainly swim again (3-4 times a week.)

2) How did you get started in that sport?I was 6. I was at a high level in my young ages.

3) What is the latest milestone you achieved or plan to achieve?(Long bike ride, some race coming up or that you did)
Now I am planning to swim a lot. I feel it is good for my leg recovery and it is also a sport that I am good at. Currently, I am doing short distances 50-400 m swim races and open water races. A few weeks ago I won 2 national awards at an International Masters Swimming Competetion in middle Europe at 50 and 100 m freestyle.

4) Tells about your clotting episode. Are you on blood thinners now? How long were you out of commission?
It was last winter. I was training, running. I felt that my left leg hurt but I had no idea why. I thought the pain would go away but it actually got worse. I went to the doctors and he said it was a muscle tear. He asked me to go home and rest. I did. After a few days the pain got worse, I could hardy walk and I also got temperature. I went back. He said to be patient and go back home. I did. After two weeks I went back for the 3rd time but this time even walking was a lot of pain. Then he made a scan of my leg and he found a clot. I spent about a week at hospital. Then went home and laid for a few days at home too.

5) When were you able to get back into your activity? How did it feel that first time?
It was about 3 weeks after my clotting episode. It felt bloody good :-D

6) What is your favorite piece of gear for your favorite activity? (Bike brand, running shoes, perhaps a running singlet or the Clot Buster's
Running Polka-Dot Technical Shirt...)
I would like to wear the polka dot shirt but have not donated so far. Naughty :-D I will...
I also like our own bike brand and biking style. www.carbonrecumbent.com These are bikes we manufacture. We actually have a few customers who buy our bikes because they are good for lower extremity circualation issues. It is an interesting intesection in my life...


7) How much are you getting out doing your sport?
3-4 times a week.

8) What is your favorite food? Either generally or after a workout. For me there is nothing better than a Chipotle Burrito...
I like everything. I like vegetables and fruits but meats are also a choice.

9) If you could go some place to visit and explore, where would like to go?
New Zealand. I have been there already but that is the place I loved in my life so far even if I have been to nice other places too.

10) What would like to say to someone who is going through a clotting episode, perhaps very similar to yours? How can people return to
do what they enjoy? Tells about your concerns and what you look out after as you got back.
This is a hard question to answer. I felt very healthy before. I feel healthy now but I know what happened. Now I am taking medications but when I leave them I do not really know what will prevent me from another clotting episode because even doctors do not know why it happened. What I learned is that DVT is unpredictable and basically everyone can get it. I was 27, healthy athlete. I always asked myself before: why? Now, I am not thinking much and do not really care about what people say on the internet about their DVTs and how depressed they are because of their episode and the long-term medication. I had mine. I am over it and I am out there, I am working, racing, having a family and enjoying my life. There is nothing else I expect.

I still can't believe that I was able to make contact with Adam and learn about his story. Reading the blog of his company I need to make my way to Hungary and ride out there. I believe I have a tour guide in place. Even on a recumbent bike he will still smoke me...

Adam, NAGYON KOSZONOM HOGY EL TUDTAT KULDENI A LEVELET! SOKNAK FOG SEGITENI! (In Hungarian - Thank You very much for sending your story. Many will benit from it).

I can't wait to see what other corner of the world this blog will get to. Check back and see from where the next Athlete of the Month will come from.

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster