October Athlete of the Month (#StopTheClot #MarathonTraining)

Less than 4 weeks to go as I write this post...

Hard to believe that it is almost here and that I've been training all out running for well over 3 months...

Can't wait to toe the line in NYC and carry with me in each polka-dots the memory of a clot survivors that are not only an inspiration for me but to many others fighting their clotting incident.

There will be SEVERAL of us running on November 3rd which means a whole lot of polka-dots will be seen throughout the course.

Over the years some of the members of Team STOP THE CLOT have been featured on this blog.  Amongst them you have =

August 2012 - KAREN KHODADI

October 2012 - ERIC O'CONNOR

January 2012 - DAVID PIETRANGELO

And now October 2013's CRYSTAL GORDON!!!

Through the magic of the internet, once more, I've been able to cross paths with Crystal and even through email you can feel the contagious energy that a blood clotting incident could NOT bring down.  Her drive and enthusiasm certainly has allowed her to recover and be training for the NYC Marathon.  I am looking forward to finally get to meet her in person and maybe get some of that energy and drive rubbed off on me so that I can finish the 26.2 Miles close to when she finishes as I am sure she will leave me in her dust...

Please read on below to learn more about Crystal's background, her clotting incident story, and her inspiring words of wisdom she is so kindly sharing with us...

 

1) What is you sport/activity of choice? Why do you enjoy it? Running. I love all that running has to offer: an escape from the daily grind, the mental and physical challenge, the training, the races, friendship and that feeling you get when you cross the finish line. It has helped me to escape all the thoughts that goes through ones mind post PE.

2) How did you get started in that sport?

I've ran off and on for over 10 years now but what really got me to become a runner is when my father was diagnosed with colon cancer over 5 years ago. After getting that news I decided to raise money and run my first 5K in his honor. After that first race I was hooked. 

3) What is the latest milestone you achieved or plan to achieve?(Long bike ride, some race coming up or that you did)  

I've been training for the NYC Marathon to run along side you (she means me The Clot Buster) and the rest of Team Stop the Clot at the end of this month.  Post PE I said I'd never run another marathon and well now here I am getting ready to run my first marathon since that day.

4) Tell us about your clotting episode. Are you on blood thinners now? How long were you out of commission? 

My clotting episode happened after returning from a vacation out west with my husband. I had just ran the Bryce Canyon Half Marathon and had been feeling weak since. After a few days of not being able to return to my normal workout routine I decided to visit my doctor who suspected the pulmonary embolism. I was diagnosed with bilateral pulmonary emboli with infract. I had over 8 blood clots in my lungs.

I have blogged my experience from that day here:

http://therunningbox.blogspot.com/2012/08/running-saved-my-life-true-story.html

Here is my story one year later:

http://therunningbox.blogspot.com/2013/07/25-july-year-later.html

I was out of commission for quite a few months. My doctors really gave me no limitations and just told me to listen to my body. So from the very start I'd push myself as much s I could. The first 3 weeks it basically took me everything I had just to walk from one point to the next. I was slow but never gave up. I noticed doing nothing made my mind wander. I disliked very much yoga and pilates but because it was something I could do I started there then slowly built my way back.

After 6 months on blood thinners they took me off and discovered that I have a severe from of protein S deficiency (a clotting disorder). I was placed back on blood thinners and will be on them indefinitely.

5) When were you able to get back into your activity? How did it feel that first time?  

About 2 months post PE I went out for a small run with a group of friends. I struggled and knew I wasn't quite ready but just being back out there for the brief period of time gave me hope. It was really this past Jan-Feb I was able to up my mileage and gradually add speed. I'm still not as fast as I was but I'm working on it.

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...) 

Asics running kicks, my compression socks and my Bryce Canyon tech shirt. My tech shirt reminds me that no matter how strong we think are in the end we are still flesh and blood. We can break. Our support systems (family, friends, fellow clot busters) and inner strength are what carry us through.

7) How much are you getting out doing your sport? (Everyday you do some training, 2, 3, 4 times per week) 

I run 4 times a week. a long run, tempo, speed and recovery run. I also have a great trainer/bootcamp classes and include weight training multiple 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...

Gosh thats tough I like all food! Post run I like avacado and eggs. In general my fav is pretty much anything that has Nutella , peanut butter or pumpkin in it.

9) If you could go some place to visit and explore, where would like to go?

Australia. I'd love to run the Sydney Half Marathon do some off road exploring in the outback with my husband.

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.

To anyone going through a similar experience I would say stay strong it gets better. You will come back to the strength and endurance you once had and you might just come back better than ever. Reach out to support groups they help. Facebook, The Clot Buster blog, Blood Clot Recovery Network, National Blood Clot Alliance and so many more sights have great stories, advice, and tips on recovery, blood thinners and more. I've never been an emotional person so for me learning that I almost lost my life brought me to tears many times. Once I realized that I needed this breakdown before I could become stronger, I stopped feeling weak. Realize that this is serious and your body has been through a great deal. It takes going to take time, even years to heal both physically and mentally.

After getting back into my sport and life in general things I make sure to exercise, eat right (vitamin K balance), stay on top on my INR, and stay very well hydrated.

I am so THANKFUL to Crystal for her willingness to share her story and perspective.

Without a doubt she brings a great deal of inspiration to all of us and I am rooting for her to make it to the finish line in NYC, Australia, and anywhere else she wishes to race. 

I know that she will be fast on November 3rd and SHE WILL SMILE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

I am truly honored to be racing alongside Crystal and all the other clot survivors in the STOP THE CLOT 2013 Running Team.

Get inspired!

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

If I am not training for the marathon...

... I am playing around in magical places.

There is plenty of walking and standing around to satisfy the need for training fatigue...

 

Great times all around!

 

Now, slowly returning to the swing of life here at home and to running form... hopefully.

 

Thanks for reading,

 

The Clot Buster

 

#STOPTHECLOT #MarathonTraining

The count down is on...

Can't hardly believe it but the NYC Marathon is just around the corner.

I am VERY THANKFUL for all of the donations I've been able to receive so far.

THANK YOU!

 

THANK YOU!

 

THANK YOU!

I am racing with the thought that Every Single Polka-Dot On My Jersey Represents a Blood Clot Survivor.  That inspiration gets me out of the door, in my running shoes, gets me to track, and up or down the stairs with sore legs after a long training run..

If you know of anyone else who may be interested in donating please pass along the link below...

http://www.crowdrise.com/teamstoptheclot/fundraiser/rolandtheclotbusterv

Just this past week I learned that I co-worker of mine who I've known and worked with for years is a multiple blood clot / PE survivor...After seeing some of the literature around my desk he finally opened up to me about his story and I was blown away that someone I would have never suspected was in fact a survivor and on blood thinners for life...

Just one more polka-dot to designate on my jersey as additional motivation...

Not much left now.

A few more short weeks.

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

September Athlete of the Month

Sadly the summer is coming to an end...

As Labor Day is coming around next Monday all of our outdoor pools in Ohio will be closing and with them closing I will lose the chance to continue to work on my tan...

But seriously it is sad that coming up fall is almost here and after that the dreaded winter... I simply cannot warm up to the cold of the winter...

Now, not everything is doom and gloom.  Definitely for SEPTEMBER's Athlete of the Month every day is a new opportunity that he will take and enjoy to the max.  The perspective of this individual after his own blood clotting incident is a true inspiration to all who is going through a similar issue.

Please allow me to introduce to you ROLF ARANDS who is making his own come back and sharing his thought with all of us...

Please READ ON and GET INSPIRED!!!

1) What is you sport/activity of choice? Why do you enjoy it? 
This is a hard one to answer but today's answer is swim/bike/run although I am not doing tris at the moment. Stay tuned though :-) 

2)  How did you get started in that sport? 
I swam recreationally in college, starting freshman year to relieve stress and also because the pool was conveniently right across the street. I met a triathlete and jumped into tris, did them through 2000 or so. After 3 Ironman races within a 12 month span, I burned out, hung it up and did a little running over many years, a race here or there but nothing worth writing about. More recently, after my mom passed away a few years ago, I cleaned up my diet, lost a lot of weight and began to run really well, setting new lifetime PRs 10-20 years after I first set them. 

In recovery from my surgery, DVT and PE issues, I have resumed swim/bike/run and realized I love all 3 and there is a reduction in injury risk this way. 

3)  What is the latest milestone you achieved or plan to achieve?(Long bike ride, some race coming up or that you did) 
After losing so much weight and really focusing in on my diet specific to an unrelated disorder I have (reactive hypoglycemia), I began to run really well. I started taking down lifelong PRs set some 10-20 years ago, at age 45-46, and beating speedsters I was never even close to before. I don't know if or when I can get back there, but that was pretty cool. The coolest was running a smart race at a 10K, making a decisive move at mile 5 to pass a guy, and ended up that pass got me first ever 10K age group win!

4)  Tells about your clotting episode.  Are you on blood thinners now? How long were you out of commission? 
I tore two ligaments in my left ankle in June 2012, running trails. I did what any runner would do … ignored the pain until it literally dropped me to my knees. An MRI confirmed the tears in October 2012. While the northeast was recovering from Superstorm Sandy and power was being restored, I was having surgery on said ankle in Somerset, NJ on 11/2/12. I had a cast from kneecap to toes for 4 weeks thereafter, the immobilization being the primary cause of my DVT/PEs. 

 My trouble began on Tuesday, Nov 13, 2012, 11 days after surgery and in the high risk window for DVT from lower leg surgery. I felt something funny in my calf under the cast, but couldn't get my fingers to it to check. The blood was surging much like water shoots past a finger blocking a running hose. That of course was the initial DVT. 

Later that day, I was supposed to have a conversation with a friend by phone, but canceled because I started feeling pretty crappy. I had a new odd back pain, very low on right side, and writhed around overnight trying to get comfortable but couldn't.

On Wed, Nov 14, by mid-morning, things got worse in a hurry. Suddenly, moving around got difficult, I could only gasp a word or two on a breath, small efforts had me panting for air, and the pain became sharper in my lower right back. I called my doctor, and he directed me to the ER. He knew from my voice … pulmonary embolism.

The memory of the rest of that day is fuzzy, like being between two worlds. I had to get my basic stuff collected (ID, keys, phone), and waited for help. I was home alone, and we had left the front door unlocked every day specifically for this type of emergency, but today it was locked for some reason. It took me about 15 minutes to crawl about 10 feet to open the door, and then back. 

Fast forwarding to the ER, the DVT had hit both lungs and I was now facing very large bilateral pulmonary embolisms. The first hours in my 3-day hospital stay were fuzzy (morphine fog?) but I recall hearing … "lucky" … "few more hours and" … "oxygen good despite how bad" … and "big". 

Had I not gone to the hospital when I did, just hours later would have been it. Lung cancer took my mom in about 2 years. The PEs could have taken me in less than 2 days. Unreal how serious and fast these things move. 

I could only pull about 1.5-2 liters of air at full breath that day. Today, I can draw about 6 liters … gives an idea of how far these things reached. 

I did 2-a-day Lovenox injections from 11/14 to 11/24, and Warfarin from 11/14/12 to ~May 1. I was on leave from work from 11/2/12 to essentially 1/2/13. 

5)  When were you able to get back into your activity?  How did it feel that first time?   
I was able to weakly pedal a stationary bike by mid December, was overjoyed and in tears at doing SOMETHING aerobic again. My first solo walks took 1/2 an hour over a distance I now cover in less than a minute running. I was back in the pool in January 2013, somewhat comical as I hadn't been in a pool in 10+ years plus the loss of fitness. Running took a while, as I fractured a bone in the other foot on the day I was cleared to run. Oy! 

More to the question, I ran my first 5K since all this happened in late July 2013. I never fist-pumped and smiled as big as I did finishing a 5K as slowly as I did. Nope, the last time I did that … I finished my first Ironman!

Anyway, resumption of activities have slowly phased in since January 2013. 

I just felt slow and out of shape, but the excitement of exercise kept me encouraged. Swimming was instrumental in really pushing air through the lungs, a key element in PE recovery. 

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...) 
Compression socks … I didn't start using them until many weeks passed into 2013, but they have been a godsend to keep the lower leg swelling down (man it was bad early on) and easing my worry of another DVT (although my risk is low). And they look rather comical above my rainbow New Balance running shoes :-) 

Outside that, my Barracuda swim goggles. I wore them for my 6 Ironman races and most of my swimming days. They are large and clunky, and make a statement!

7)  How much are you getting out doing your sport?  (Everyday you do some training, 2, 3, 4 times per week) 
Running is back to about 4 days a week on average, varying from 20-30 miles a week (down from my typical 45-50 mostly due to ankle, but hey I am alive!). Biking is a couple hours a week, and swimming is usually 2x a week, 2000-3000 yds each time. The ankle is the primary limiter of activity, not the lungs. I don't have my former aerobic capacity, but that is coming around steadily as I work through each week. 

8)   What is your favorite food?  Either generally or after a workout.  For me there is nothing better than a Chipotle Burrito...
Salmon with avocado, quinoa on the side and a Corona beer with lime. Doesn't get any better than that!

9)  If you could go some place to visit and explore, where would like to go? 
Sweden … spent many days there long ago, but really want to see more of that beautiful country and my extended family there. Next summer we're going!

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.
Guilt and self doubt … deadliest enemies. I mentally ran myself into the ground day after day, feeling like I did something wrong, that I let people down, let myself down, blah blah blah. 

I didn't do anything wrong. Sometimes, bad things just happen and that day, my number happened to be called.

When all this happened, I got home from the ER on a Friday after 3 hellish days. Barely two days later, my wonderful and incredible sister Lisa dropped her life in Washington, flew cross country and was here to make sure I stayed out of trouble. She sat in this house with me for 5 days, bored out of her mind but just amazing. 

People are amazing in times like these. People will be there, and you can trust them. Learning to ask for help is one step. People won't get angry and they will help.

Learning to trust yourself, that's a biggie. 

DVT/PE is fatal 33% of the time the two come together. Unbelievable. But I am still here. My body has cleared out the clots in my lungs, my ankle is healing. I am running, swimming and biking and living life still. How cool is that! On Nov 14, I faced death and today I can do all these things. 

When these clotting events occur, it's easy to compare today to how you were before the clot occurred. When these events happen, there is a new starting point. Yeah, I ran 19:34 for a 5K and now run 7 minutes slower. Who cares! New PRs ahead!

On 11/29, I couldn't even walk. I couldn't draw much air. Now I can swim 3000 yards, bike 40 miles and run 8 miles in a stretch again. 

Trust yourself, your body. It will heal, and if you listen to it carefully, it will not let you do anything beyond what you should be doing. That for me is a huge takeaway. Being more attentive and careful in training, backing off more often if I get worried or feel the need. 

Finally, victories and recovery come a little at a time. Focusing on the daily ups and downs will frustrate you, but as long as the overall big picture is showing improvement, riding the little ups and downs gets a little easier. 

What else is there to say!?!?!

Other than, I  have a sneaky suspicion that Rolf will be back to racing triathlons sooner than we think...

Rolf - THANK YOU for your willingness to share your story and provide very much needed inspiration to many others out there.

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

Making Progress

Slow and steady...

Slowly I am reaching my fundraising goal.  Steadily climbing to make it to the goal line.

If you would like to donate please check out the following link...

http://www.crowdrise.com/teamstoptheclot/fundraiser/rolandtheclotbusterv

Also slowly I am gaining endurance to endure the 26.2 Miles that are just around the corner.  Almost less than 2 months to go...

Last weekend I got the chance to run in the Emerald City Half-Marathon in Dublin, OH and much to my surprise I ran pretty well.

It did not feel that good specially after Mile 12 in which I slowed down considerably but all things considered I felt fast... Well indeed I was fast! Last Sunday I was able to clock my fastest Half-Marathon EVER and I beat my old best time y 7 seconds... I could not believe my eyes when I was comparing times last night.

So, following my training program is working.

Feeling very positive about where I am right now.  Need to keep working and following the stepping stones on my program.

Now, let's see how positive I will be tomorrow morning after I attempt 20 Miles...

Here is hoping that this next step on the program goes well.

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

August Athlete of the Month

How is your summer coming along?

Having a good time whenever possible?

Squeezing every ounce of fun you can get out of every weekend?

There is no question that we are doing that each and every day simply because there is no reason to stay inside.

Speaking of staying inside I know someone else who I've had the pleasure to meet just recently who is more than willing to find herself outside doing everything that she can to return to form as she went through her very own clotting incident. 

Please allow me to introduce to you LAUREN WOOLEY who has been kind enough to share her story with all of us and provide us with an enormous amount of inspiration to get us through the "dog days of summer" and finish up the summer getting everything out of it that we can.

Go ahead read on and get inspired...
 

             1)    What is you sport/activity of choice? Why do you enjoy it? 

I’m a runner and triathlete. I like the energy I feel after a good run or race.

             2)  How did you get started in that sport? 

I started running with my dad when I was 13 years old. We would run a mile to the gas station, turn around, and run a mile back home. Now we run marathons together.

3)  What is the latest milestone you achieved or plan to achieve?(Long bike ride, some race coming up or that you did) 

The last large milestone I achieved was completing an ironman distance triathlon and coming in second place in my division. I’m hoping to run the Boston marathon again in 2014.

4)  Tells about your clotting episode.  Are you on blood thinners now? How long were you out of commission? 

My blood clotting story starts with training for the 2012 Boston marathon. While training, I injured my hip and a year later decided to have surgery to repair my torn labrum. Following hip surgery, I noticed what felt like a bad cramp in my calf. I first felt the pain going up and down the stairs on crutches, but over the next three weeks the pain got worse and moved into my hamstring. The pain was intense and I mentioned it to several of my doctors, but no one recognized the signs of a blood clot. I was unable to stand up without pain or lift my leg to get into the shower without using my arms to physically lift my leg up. A month after surgery I attended a conference for work and was considering skipping my physical therapy appointment by the end of the 3^rd day because I was so tired and in pain. Luckily I went to my appointment and my physical therapist sent me to the ER where I discovered I had a DVT that ran from my ankle to my upper thigh. I was put on heparin that evening and transitioned to warfarin about 10 days later. I was advised to stop taking hormonal birth control immediately and a month later I learned I’m homozygous for Factor V Leiden, which also put me at increased risk of blood clots.

I have been on blood thinners for about 6 months.

I still have a residual clot in my thigh and ongoing pain that runs down my leg. I’ve been diagnosed with deep venous and superficial venous insufficiency. Although the venous valves in my groin and behind my knee are permanently damaged, allowing blood to flow in the wrong direction, I’m hoping to decrease the pain by determining if I’m a candidate for stents to unblock the veins.

 

5)  When were you able to get back into your activity?  How did it feel that first time?   

I was able to return to running and biking short distances about 3 months after my clotting episode. It feels great to be back outside on the road, but I also feel like I have a long way to go to get back to running marathons and completing triathlons. As I returned to physical activity I quickly realized that my other hip was in pain, so in a few short days I am starting the process all over again by having surgery on my other hip to repair the labrum. I’m hopeful that the lessons I’ve learned about the signs of a blood clot (swelling, pain, and discoloration) and risk factors (hormonal birth control, hip surgery, and Factor V Leiden) over the past six months will make the second surgery go much smoother and be blood-clot free.

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 am a big fan of anything made by Lululemon because it is so darn comfortable.

7)  How much are you getting out doing your sport?  (Everyday you do some training, 2, 3, 4 times per week) 

I am out on the road a few times a week running and have going to yoga about once a week. I find that any more frequent than that and the pain in my leg starts to creep back up.

8)   What is your favorite food?  Either generally or after a workout.  For me there is nothing better than a Chipotle Burrito...

My mom’s spaghetti is the best pre-race food and chocolate ice cream is a good reward.

9)  If you could go some place to visit and explore, where would like to go? 

I’m still a little nervous about travelling, so right now I am content exploring Boston and taking advantage of all the fun local events and activities.

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.

One doctor told me I would have to give up training and racing completely. My advice is to always get a second, third, or even a fourth opinion and surround yourself with supportive friends and family who you can turn to when you hit bumps on the road to recovery.

 

Lauren - MANY THANKS for your willingness to share your story with all of us.

Here is WISHING YOU ALL THE LUCK on your upcoming hip surgery to get you all evened out... For sure with the knowledge that you already have about blood clots and blood clotting disorder and all of your previous symptoms you can be on the lookout and be able to react.

The CLOT BUSTER community out there will be looking forward to hear from you and learn about the success of yoru surgery and that your recovery is on track and that soon enough you will be racing again and keep making those polka-dots look AMAZING!

Here is wishing everyone some more fun during the summer.

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

Marathon Training Here I go...

Can't hide anymore...

My triathlon season for 2013 is all complete... well, there still a chance to do one more but highly unlikely...

So, it is time to lace them up! Get my compression gear from www.PROCOMPRESSION.com on! And head out...

Can't miss anymore long runs as the building IS KEY!

I am slowly catching up to where I need to be but amazingly the track workouts have been spot on which is a pleasant surprise.

As I am getting ready to face long runs over 14Miles (like the one I just did today...) I need to continue to focus on the CLOT BUSTER polka-dots that I will be carrying with me.  Simply because each and every one of those polka-dots represent for me a blood clot survivor with an inspirational story that can help me get through the many training miles and of course the marathon event in November.

Read more about those inspirational stories right here on my blog just lookover to the right... surely you will find a story that will hit it home for you.

Once more see my fundraising page @ =

http://www.crowdrise.com/TeamStopTheClot/fundraiser/rolandtheclotbusterv

If you can spare it your donation is VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.  We need to continue to spread the word about blood clots and blood clotting disorders... STOP THE CLOT!!!

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

DNF...

DNF...

Strange combination of letters that I never had to use before.

But there is a first time for everything and last weekend it was my first time with a DNF.

 

Have to confess that Sunday I was disturbed because I did not cross the finish line and I could not find my place.

 

I was going well and in contention better than anticipated.

 

Until the mechanical...

 

But so it goes.

 

By Sunday afternoon at the community pool my focus had change and I was in full on pool enjoying bliss.

 

This coming Sunday and I am stepping to the start line again to see where my body and mind can take me.

 

There is no time to dwell in last's weeks failure... All the grease, dirt, and grime from last Sunday has been washed away  and the CLOT BUSTER polka-dots are ready to head out again and catch peoples eye about the STOP THE CLOT message that we need to continue spreading.

 

Say Hi if you see me crossing the city from north to south and all over downtown.

 

Thanks for reading,

 

The Clot Buster

 



July Athlete of the Month

For a while I was concerned that following up the June Athlete of the Month blog-post celebrating 5 years worth of inspirational blood clotting survival stories was going to be difficult.

But it turns out that is not the case.

Last month I had the great fortune to get in touch with this individual and learn about his clotting background that shook me to the core.

Please read on below and find out for yourself as to what I am talking about as you read JIM SPENCER's story which he was so gracious in sharing with us...

1)  What is you sport/activity of choice? Why do you enjoy it?
I love cycling.  It is hard to beat the thrill of riding fast in a pace line.  I also enjoy the challenge of struggling to get up a hill.  Nonetheless, triathlons are my favorite activity.  I have played sports my entire life and have always enjoyed competition. ( I played on the golf team in college.) Triathlons offer the ultimate in competition. It is the hardest thing I have ever done.

2)  How did you get started in that sport?  
I started cycling after my son, Jake, passed away in 2003 from complications due to blood clots from an injury he sustained playing junior high football. (Coincidence only since neither Jake nor I had a clotting disorder). I had to find some outlet to help deal with the loss. My friend and law partner, Clifford Ammons, encouraged me to get out and ride bicycles with him. I bought a cheap road bike and got started.  Through cycling, I met Charles and Nicki Shepard, both of whom are a lot younger than me. I learned how to climb hills on my bicycle by trying to keep up with Charles.  Charles and Nicki are also very competitive triathletes who win or place in their age groups. They have completed multiple Ironmans.  Charles and Nicki really encouraged me to give triathlons a try.  I finally did a beginner triathlon in 2010 and I was hooked. I have done 15 triathlons since 2010.

3)  What is the latest milestone you achieved or plan to achieve?(Long bike ride, some race coming up or that you did)
I competed in the Heatwave Triathlon on June 1, 2013 in Ridgeland, Mississippi. It is a ½ mile swim; 24.5 mile bike and 10k run.  I still don’t have my stamina back to the pre-clot levels; but I was very happy to be out there 3 months after my clotting episode. My time was 2:44, about 7 minutes slower than last year. The Mississippi humidity was a bear that day, or in any event, that is my excuse.

4)  Tells about your clotting episode.  Are you on blood thinners now? How long were you out of commission?
I was training for the New Orleans Half Ironman in April of 2013.  As a part of that training, I ran in the Mississippi Blues Half Marathon in January of 2013.  After the half marathon, my right calf began to bother me when I ran. I took some time off thinking it was just a strained muscle that would heal with time; however, it didn’t get any better.  In late February of 2013, I had to fly to Wisconsin on business. When I got off the airplane in Wisconsin, my leg hurt so bad I could barely walk.  It seemed to get better as the week went on but it still hurt, especially at night. I returned to Mississippi on Saturday and went out with the Sunday afternoon cycling group for a 50 mile ride.  I had a hard time keeping up with the group due to shortness of breath.  I went to a Monday morning spin class and I could not catch my breath.  I called my doctor that day, but I didn’t tell him about my shortness of breath.  He worked me in on Tuesday.  Once he saw my leg and I told him about my shortness of breath, he immediately suspected a blood clot, which was confirmed by an ultrasound of my leg. The blood clot is located behind my right knee. He also suspected a small clot in my lung because of my shortness of breath. I never had any chest pains. He gave me five days of Lovenox shots and a prescription for 6 months of Coumadin.  I was cleared to start back exercising at 4 weeks as long as I promised to go slow. (I might have taken some liberties with that promise.) I was tested for a clotting disorder, but the test came back negative.

5)  When were you able to get back into your activity?  How did it feel that first time?  
I rode for the first time at 4 ½ weeks after the diagnosis. For the first 10 miles or so I was actually scared I was going to die.  After I made it that far, the fear went away. I still have some pain in my leg but nothing that they are concerned about.

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...)
Without a doubt it is my bicycle, which is a Cervelo S5.  

7)  How much are you getting out doing your sport?  (Everyday you do some training, 2, 3, 4 times per week) I usually do some form of exercise 6 days a week.

8)   What is your favorite food?  Either generally or after a workout.  For me there is nothing better than a Chipotle Burrito...
 We have a lot of good food in Mississippi but my favorite is a steak from Shapley’s Restaurant in Ridgeland, Mississippi.  

9)  If you could go some place to visit and explore, where would like to go? I  would like to go Kona for the Ironman.

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. A clotting episode is a serious and potentially life threatening condition.  I was very fortunate to have a good doctor who caught my clot early.  A clotting episode is not the kiss of death. You can still compete and eventually back to your pre-clot activities.  Now that I know the symptoms, I watch out for any reoccurrence of those symptoms. For example, I still check my leg for swelling after running.  If I had one word of advice it would be to pay attention to what your body is telling you. I almost waited too late myself.  A leg ache that won’t go away needs to be examined by a doctor.

Get inspired because if Jim can come back you can and will as well.

Some day I am looking forward to the chance to get to ride and race with Jim and together display our CLOT BUSTER Stop The Clot polka-dots and after that dive in to some of that steak he mentioned above.

THANK YOU Jim for your willingness to share you story.  Amazing what the power of cycling and triathlon can do as you went through your clotting incident and the life altering event that also resulted from blood cots. 

Keep hitting the road as your story can motivate others to get through and overcome.

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

June 2013... One Busy Month...

Full of racing and fun...

3 triathlons and one ride of 8 Miles down the Ohio River...

Placed on the podium either overall or in my age group for all 3 triathlons...

1 - 3rd Place Overall...

2 - 3rd Place in my respective category...

What is up with the Third Places?

Need to lift the CLOT BUSTER Polka-dots out of that spot for sure.

In July I still have two more triathlons to make something happen...

Not sure how they will work out while getting under way with my marathon training...

But one thing is for sure my run should improve... right?!?!

Now kayaking down the Ohio River was an outstanding experience specially when the downtown Cincinnati came into full view.

I don't know if we can keep this pace up for the rest of the summer but we will sure try...

But I can't stop writing this post without mentioning the thrill that it was to actually be on the field of the Horseshoe for the end of the race.  I never thought I would make it down to the field on that venue but it happened much sooner than I thought...

That is the closest I would ever be to big time "football" as I am still stuck on the other kind of football as my first sports love...

Enough rambling and on with the summer as there is much more playing that I need to do...

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

June Athlete of the Month - SPECIAL EDITION

5 years ago during a bike ride this idea came to me...

Why not make it a point to share inspirational stories of individuals who have been able to overcome their very own blood clotting incident and returned to do what they love to do...

I can't hardly believe it...

After 5 years I've managed to write about 60 individuals all with very different stories but all with the very same message of inspiration of hope that can in fact help others get through the very difficult time which to have a clotting incident.

For that very reason the Athlete of the Month June 2013 edition belongs to ALL 60 INDIVIDUALS I've been able to feature of the years!

Personally, it has been a pleasure to come across all of the stories I've been able to share and I look forward to the many more I will get to do over the next years. 

Every story can cause a tremendous impact in getting the fire going on someone facing the challenge of a clotting incident.

Over the years I was able to write and share about...

Mothers...
Fathers...
Sons...
Daughters...
Ironman Finishers...
Marathon Finishers...
Half-Ironman Finishers...
Half-Marathon Finishers...
10K Runners...
5K Runners...
Professional Athletes (Baseball, Cycling, Tennis, Soccer, Basketball, NASCAR, etc)...
Weekend Warriors...
Weekday Warriors...

I am ETERNALLY GREATFUL for the willingness of this folks to share their stories on this forum.  Without their participation I would not have any material to share.  THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES OVER for participating and letting me share your story.

IF YOU NEED INSPIRATION MAKE YOURSELF GO TO THE RIGHT HAND BANNER OF MY BLOG AND READ ANY AND ALL OF THE STORIES.  YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPOINTED!!!

Here is looking forward to meet many more individuals to learn about their story and what they are capable of.

Before posting this "special edition" post I asked many of those featured to provide their impressions on the blog so here I am sharing them with you...

FROM Rebekah Bradford >>> MARCH 2013
"What dedication for you to be running that blog for five years! Congrats. You are providing courage and inspiration around the world.  It was a breath of fresh air when I stumbled upon your blog looking for answers while I was trying to deny my diagnosis in the ER.  I read about another Olympic athlete who persevered through her pulmonary embolism and was successful in the London Games.  She, and the others on your blog, were my pioneers and gave me hope throughout my recovery process. I am now 8.5 months out and am starting to feel more like myself. They were not lying when they said this will be the most exhausting year of your life!  I was diagnosed with a bilateral pulmonary embolism and a portion of my lung infarct. Such devastating news and pretty upset after being misdiagnosed. Since my recovery I was able to set three World Records in my age division and placed first and second numerous time in the American Cup series. Right now I have my sights set on the Sochi Games and am confident I'll be able to achieve my goal.  I am still tired and get upset sometimes, but the main thing is to not focus on the bad. You need every ounce of energy to heal and
eventually life will get back to normal. I hope this encourages whoever is reading this and am available to answer questions directly on the fan page on Facebook or Twitter."

 FROM Dierdre Callahan >>> NOVEMBER 2008
"Hi! Goodness, I can't believe it's been 5 years. I haven't had any further issues with clotting since my original DVT in 1997. I used the shots through my pregnancy with Conor and a month after. I believe my training and fitness helped. I do remember that the first 2 years, my left leg would swell to about 2 inches bigger than my right. I used to lay on my back with my feet against the wall for 20 mins after a run or bike.
When I did my figure competitions, I actually forgot about the former discrepancy -- symmetry is a big deal in the body building world and you cannot tell that I ever had a clot."

FROM Kristine Hinterkopf >>> APRIL 2012
"Congrats on the 5 year anniversary - that's awesome!
After my clots, I would have to say I'm a stronger person both mentally and physically. Mentally, you feel like you can accomplish anything after surviving something like that. On days when I don't feel like I can finish a long run, I remind myself what I've been through and how lucky I am to be here and to still be running. Physically, it took me a while to get back to where I was prior to my clotting incident, but I worked hard and ended up getting a PR in my first race back. Can't even begin to describe how amazing that felt.
I'm feeling great. I'm currently training for a Half-Marathon in July and am hoping to PR again this year. If all goes well, I'd like to run a full marathon next year!
Your blog is so inspiring to me. After my clots, I went through a pretty rough time. Like a lot of people, I was angry and didn't understand why this happened to me. But being able to read your blog and see so many incredible stories about athletes who were able to get back to doing what they love and come back even stronger really helped me. What you're doing with your blog is truly amazing. It inspired me when I needed it most and know it has helped countless others as well."

FROM Carla McAdam Stewart >>> MAY 2013
" I think the blog is amazing and so happy you started it 5 years ago as it helped me through some hard times, once I found it is what made me feel positive about returning to normal and helped relieve my anxiety. When I was having a hard time I would always go back and read a few stories. I found it so inspiring to read about fellow clot survivors returning to the sports they love after blood clot. I couldn't wait for each month to read about the next one. Where am I now well a year and 4 months later I am feeling great, training hard and feeling like I did pre clot, with still some occasional bouts of anxiety."

FROM Becs Williams >>> JULY 2011
"It’s just over 2 years since I had my second blood clot. I’ve been on warfarin ever since and having not had a follow-up scan I can only assume the clot has now dispersed. Taking the drugs has become part of my life and in many ways it’s been beneficial; if nothing else it’s a good excuse to not drink as much as I used to! The downsides are the fear of bleeding, slight hair loss, and the bruising – much of which is unexplained, particularly on my legs.

I have gradually increased my exercise levels over the last 2 years and now feel I am getting back to where I was before my clot. I can go out on my bike without having any clot-related pain in my leg, and whilst my running still causes discomfort, I can be out for runs that last for over 2 hours and still be ok. I’m therefore largely happy with my physical progress; it has been as good as could be expected.

I struggle more with the mental side of recovery, I still find myself getting anxious and whilst I have developed ways of calming myself down, I feel this is something that will be more lasting and something I need to continue to work on. To help I have started doing yoga more regularly; I try to do it at least 4 times a week, and I feel this has made a huge difference in my recovery – both physically and mentally – and I would recommend it to anyone.

Being an ‘athlete of the month’ on the ClotBuster blog was a great boost for me and helped me realise that I wasn’t alone. Blood clots are an odd thing, often dismissed as something rather insignificant, but at the same time affecting so many peoples’ lives – it’s so good to have an online community to connect with. As well as the blog, I also keep in touch with people through groups on facebook in the UK and the US, and it’s great to have people to discuss things with and to hear how other people are coping. The blog really opens up your eyes to what people can achieve when they put their mind to it – I have gotten so much inspiration from reading other peoples’ stories, and it helps me ‘dig deep’ when things are painful! I also loved wearing my polkadots – what an honour and what a great response I had from people as I ‘raced’ by. I’m looking forward to seeing pictures of my brother wearing his when he gets it.

I want to say a huge thanks to the ClotBuster – it’s been so great having you around and following my progress, keeping my spirits up and being a great support. Keep up the good work! J "

I am very lucky to have cross paths with some very impressive stories including Olympians who are at the top of their sport.  Some day one of those "Professional Athletes" will in fact respond to my requests and help this cause gain even more traction.  I don't ask for money just the acknowledgment that they are in fact blood clot survivors and that they too have a story that is worth sharing.  Brian Vickers - NASCAR driver featured on July 2010 - has gone the extra mile to place the anti clotting movement on his car allowing for the exposure we need in order reach new heights in our awareness efforts.  Someday it is my hope that we will break through!

Once more, I am honored to have this opportunity to feature all of this inspiring stories.  My hope is that they can in fact allow others to get through a difficult time and provide the spring board for them to start down their very own come back trail.

Here it is wishing for another 5 years!.

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

June Athlete of the Month

After 5 years...

 

After 60 "athletes" posted...

 

After 60 INSPIRING STORIES shared...

 

June's Athlete of the Month post will be a celebration of all the inspiring stories and a commitment to continue posting stories of individuals who have been able to OVERCOME their clotting episode and return to do the sport they love.

 

Here is hoping for another 5 years and 60 more other inspiring stories...!

 

Stay tuned for the next post which is currently under development...

 

Thanks for reading,

 

The Clot Buster,

Next Sunday...

The first race of the season is upon me and all of this week I am looking to keep my legs fresh thanks to the fine folks at

PRO COMPRESSION - #keepittight

Morgan's Little Miami Triathlon - Lebanon, OH - June 2nd, 2013

I am very much looking forward to this race.

This one is different beacuse instead of swimming we will be kayaking the first leg of the event, from there we are running, and close things up a bike ride.  This is still a triathlon and not an easy one at all.

Last year I got to place 2nd Overall in the Kayak division so naturally this year I see that I only have one place to improve on... Let's see if I can get the Clot Buster polka-dots up one more rung on this ladder...

Stay tuned to see how things turn out.

Also, follow my updates on Twitter @clotbuster.

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster