WHAT IS COOLER THAN BEING COOL…?

ICE COLD!!!

For some strange reason that is the song I had stuck in my head much of the ride at the Portage Lakes Triathlon this past Sunday. Don’t ask me why but I am sure it had something to do with the fact that it was around 47 freaking degrees when we got on our bikes! That my friends was brutal out there. It took the better part of the 25 Miles of the bike to be comfortable. I was riding as hard as I could to keep the engine going and feel some relative warmth. I was in awe of the lady riding in her bathing suit or the dude riding without a top on. Those would be perfectly acceptable any other weekend but this one. If I had a hard time with a top on plus arm warmers and gloves I don’t even want to imagine how it felt for them.
So, the theme for this race was “Let’s freeze the polka-dots off!” I don’t know how I managed to get through the bike portion of the race. I just had to keep the legs moving even if I could not feel my toes towards the end of the ride. The first few steps on the run were rather strange but soon I was able to get my feet to return to a normal state and keep up with the course. And keep up is what I did because this time around for this 10K course I was able to post MY BEST TIME EVER during a triathlon… 43:24, I can’t really believe it!

So, freezing my polka-dots off must have been a good thing as I had a rear end kicking swim of 21:37 good enough for 9th best in the whole race and a total time of 2:19:35 for a NEW PR! So, after all that I was 5th in the 30-34 age group and 37th overall.

I could not done it without the support of Mrs. Clot Buster and of Melissa and Adam. I am very thankful for your support and encouragement. Seeing smiling familiar faces gives me such a boost that I can’t really describe.

So, this is it for triathlons for 2007. The Clot Buster has accomplished his goal of racing well over 300 Miles, now it is time for you to step up and give the Clot Buster the extra hand to continue to raise funds for NATT. Please consider matching a small donation of a nickel, dime, or a quarter for every mile that I raced and donate that total towards NATT. If you are interested in making a donation drop me a line and I can let you know how!

Looking ahead to 2008…

How many miles should I race next summer?

Should I instead concentrate one or two races and have people match donations through those miles raced?

How did you like the auctions and the items up for auction?
Should I continue to do them? What would like to see up for auction more often? I know the Spiuk Kronos Helmet was a hit with people and Thanks to Spiuk-USA’s support I may able to do this again next year.

Do you know of any races that The Clot Buster should do?

Would you be interested in supporting NATT if you can support the Clot Buster movement with a polka-dot technical shirt?

All of these questions and so many possible answers. For now, I need to concentrate in getting as many wristbands out there as possible along with looking for some more donations to round up this year's fundraising. This year is been great so far but we can always do more!

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

Racing… one more time!

Here we are at the end of another week getting ready for my last triathlon this season. I am looking forward to going all out on Sunday and see what time I can come up with at the end. It is been a season of several personal bests so I am hoping to hammer out this race and set a new best time. I don’t know how the weather will influence my performance I just need to prepare for it. So, I need to double and triple check my list of goods so that I don’t forget anything important that could be essential on race day.

I am also looking forward to visit a new city in Akron, OH which is one I hear a lot about but I have not had the chance to visit and explore. Would there be a lot to see? I don’t have a clue and I really don’t care, I just want to see what I see and enjoy the experience. In my opinion it is always as good as you want it to be. So, Akron here I come with Mrs. Clot Buster ready or not. While I am thinking about it, I need to give a HUGE THANK YOU to the Casebere Family for hosting us this weekend. Melissa, Adam THANK YOU!!!

Not likely that I will be checking out the course as I rather not know what is coming up. In this race in particular I have loops on both the bike and the run that should give me the preview I need. I am interested in seeing how my training these last few days will impact my effort. Stay tuned for my report after the race.

Speaking of reporting I wanted to make a point to highlight some more the accomplishments I learn about from people who has clotted and they are back at it doing what they love. In one of my last posts I got the chance to talk to you about Joan Perry, well today I wanted to highlight the performance of another inspiring story in Janine Swiatkowski.

Janine participated in the Disneyland Half Marathon on September 3rd and she was able to get through the 13.1 Miles without any trouble enjoying every step of the way. She says that she was able to finish quicker than she thought she would.

JANINE CONGRATULATONS!!!

I look forward to hear what your next challenge is going to be. Whatever it is I know you will be able to make it through and continue to inspire us all. Please read more about Janine's story through the link above.

Well, sounds like this weekend I will be freezing my polka-dots off big time... I better get prepared.

Oh yes! One more thing. Please consider making a donation to my fundraising effort for this summer. The 300 Miles of racing are all done. Now it is up to you to come forward and help out in the cause of educating and create awareness about blood clots and blood clotting disorders. There is nothing to it just pick a value of a coin and multiply it by the number of miles I raced. Here is the breakdown:

$0.05 per Mile x 300 Miles = $15.00

$0.10 per Mile x 300 Miles = $30.00

$0.25 per Mile x 300 Miles = $75.00

Please contact me if you are interested in making a donation. Please make your check payable to "NATT" and let me know so that I can send you my address!

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

Rainy Sunday

It is been a long time since I looked forward this much to a swim workout. This week, I trashed my legs so I need some time in the pool to give my two pistons some time to rest.So, tomorrow I will be heading to the pool and swim away nice and easy to get my arms back in business after 2 weeks of inactivity. I know that it will be slow, I just hope to get good enough workouts this week so that when the Akron race rolls through next weekend I can at least come out of the water in a respectable time. We will see how things shake out.

You probably remember that a few posts ago I talked about Joan Perry who last year suffered from a serious blood clot, was successfully treated, and last weekend she participated in the ITU World Triathlon Championships in Hamburg, Germany. In her age group Joan finished 20th in a time of 2:43:00 in the Olympic Distance race. I have not had a chance to talk to her about the experience or the results. However, I am nothing short of IMPRESSED and EXCITED for her after what she went through last year. TRULY AN INSPIRATON to anyone who is dealing with a blood clot episode and the treatment that follows the discovery.

JOAN CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I hope to be able to get her story on my blog or on NATT's website very soon, so stay tuned!

Well, looks like I will continue the trashing of my legs this afternoon with a quick lifting session. It seems like the perfect day to go to the gym and do it.

In the mean time I am already pondering my strategy for next season. The Clot Buster will be back in full force trying his best to raise funds for NATT. If you are a reader of this blog and you have any suggestions about any races that I should do or other ideas for fundraising PLEASE, PLEASE let me know.

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

Debating NO MORE!!!

Finally I was able to make up my mind about racing in Akron. I could not resist the calling for one more race this season so I am going for it! Although it is been hard to train and get motivated I am getting around it and I am looking forward to close out my 2007 triathlon racing schedule with a good race.
How was the Labor Day weekend?

I was fortunate enough to do many things. Mrs. Clot Buster and I make sure that we pack long weekends like this one all the way to the top with things to do. We started with the Columbus Greek Festival on Friday. Saturday, we headed to Cincinnati but this time around we did it a little differently. We packed our bikes and drove west from Columbus to the village of Yellow Springs from which we know there is a bike trial that travels all the way down to Cincinnati. Since. Liz likes Yellow Springs a great deal with its unique shops and book stores we decided that she would ride with me for a while and then turn around and I would go on and ride all the way to my mother in law’s house in Cincinnati. It was a perfect day to ride so off we went. I rode 64 Miles and met my wife in Cincinnati about 3 and half hours after we stated riding. It was a great experience just riding away on the trail. Going through town after town. It was a really neat experience for sure. I enjoyed it a great deal. I have to tell you that after the 60 some mile on the saddle I was pretty beat up.

But rest was soon to come as we prepared to go down to the Ohio river and enjoy the Labor Day fireworks special. As always it was a great show. One that I recommend to anyone if you happen to be in town for the weekend. My fater in law Bill was able to take some great pictures that I am sharing with you in this post. Check them out below.

The training otherwise is going well. The pool at out rec-center has been closed for the past 2 weeks and I can't wait to get in the pool and get some swims in. I will never understand why they schedule this maintenance work around the labor day weekend. But it seems to be the case every year so I just have to buy my time and hope that I get enough swims in before my last race coming up on September 16th. In the mean time I will continue to train my bike and run especially the run as I need to get some miles under my belt for good measure.

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

Debating...

There are some thoughts going through my head at the moment and I know that for some of you out there is also a debate going on about helping NATT or not through my Triathlon Mileage fundraising.

All you need to do is determine if you would like to donate a nickel ($0.05), dime ($0.10), or a quarter ($0.25) for each of the 300 Miles I ended up racing this summer. It could not be simpler. Just go ahead and write your check out to "NATT" and let me know so that I can send you my mailing address.

There is always something going within the blood clotting community. This past week I learned that someone I know through this Clot Buster effort, who suffered a clot less than a year ago and was successfully treated, will be comepeting in the World Triathlon Championships in Hamburg, Germany! Can you believe that! JOAN PERRY from North Carolina the Clot Buster is rooting for you all the way. She even has a Clot Buster jersey that she will be taking for a spin in Hamburg she promised. As soon as I get some fotos of the polka-dot jersey in Europe I will let you know!!! GO JOAN PERRY!!! Make us proud!

Well, back to my debating... there is one more triathlon that I can do on September 15th in Akron. At this moment I am 60% sure that I want to do it but the training is not coming as easy as I would think. I really enjoy racing, no question about it but at this moment I know that I completed my goal of 300 Miles for the season so the motivation is fading a bit... I will think about it some more and make a decision for sure after the holiday weekend. People in Akron get ready because I may be coming and I am bringing the polka-dots with me...

So, if you have something to say that can guide me towards the right decision please feel free to drop me a line.

Well, I've had some marathon posts lately so I want to keep this one short.

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

IN TRANSITION…

WAY TOO LONG!!!

Sad but true. My Great Lake Escape experience last Sunday had a lot to do with spending too much time in the transition area. Without a question the course at this race is one of my favorites ever, even when it’s pouring down rain. Somehow every time this race pushes my limits farther than I ever thought possible. Not because the course is changed every year but because the weather has been very different the last three years I found my way to Lakeside Marblehead to take on this race. The first year it was a picture perfect day with sunshine and clear skies, last year the wind and the cold made for a duathlon instead of the planned race, and this year we had some heavy downpours we had to deal with. All things considered I am VERY LUCKY to have the chance to race so I am going at it regardless of the conditions out there.

This year, Mrs. Clot Buster and I decided to give camping a try before the race. We went up to Lakeside Marblehead on Friday night and met up with our friends Sara and Donovan at the East Harbor State Park and started our camping experience. We had a good time hanging out Friday night and all day Saturday. We explored a great deal of the park both on land and water. We brought our kayaks along and we spend a number of hours out in the water just paddling around. Liz had a rough start to the paddling experience when she turned over her kayak but thanks to Donovan’s help we were able to get her back above water and let her continue with our exploration. Sara and Donovan were the brave ones on Saturday as they fought their way through the access channel (they had to contend with some heavy boat traffic that day) to reach the waters of Lake Erie. They were rewarded for their efforts with a serious pre-race Clot Buster style dinner and of course a well deserved s’mores dessert. I even had my share of dessert by the campfire, I could not resist!

So, with my stomach full and a light rain falling off and on I packed in. At around 2:30 in the AM the rain beating down on the tent woke me up along with Liz. It was really coming down and I thought to myself that in these conditions I would not race. I just did not think it was worth my while to put myself through this. After falling back to sleep my alarm went off and to my surprise it was not raining so it was time to go. Sleeping on the ground made me a little stiff but I was able to get my act together and ride my bike to the transition area without waking too many of my fellow campers. But as soon as I got to transition the skies opened up and it did not stop until the next day… Luckily I has some trash bags with me so I was able to keep most of my gear relatively dry under the circumstances.

I had to hurry a little to get on the bus and get going to Port Clinton to get on the Jet Express. I felt very relaxed as we watch the rain come down and shore get pretty small on our way out. Talking with people through the ride helped the time go by fast. My friend Ryan Fugate (who also moved from Kansas City so that he could continue to beat me…well, not exactly, we met in Kansas City while racing in triathlons and he just moved to Columbus because of a job transfer. I don’t appreciate having more competition around but I do enjoy having him around to make me better) was pretty excited about jumping of the ferry which is a really cool feature of the race. Everyone who gets to do this race enjoys jumping off because the rush is like nothing else out there. Especially when you see the shore so far away.

Once in the water you only have one choice, swim to shore. That of course if you can figure out which way shore is. All of us were aiming for the white beach house between rock piles 1 and 2 from the left. Well, good luck with that! If you have the misfortune to time your sighting when you are the bottom of the waves you are not going to see much other than water and sky. I wish that I could have a video recorded from above me so that I could see my “true” route on this swim. So, after a 28:38 split I was finally touching bottom and running towards transition on the knee deep water that lead us towards the beach. Here is where I started my championship fight with my wetsuit in route to an ALL TIME SLOW 3:13 T1!

As I was attempting to get out of my suit I could hear Liz’s encouragement turn into concern and wonder, what is taking him so long she asks Sara and Donovan. Before I continue I need to give Liz, Sara, and Donovan A HUGE THANKS for their support during this race. They were out there enduring the down pour from the start and I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH for words of encouragement and the cheering. I can’t say much when I am flying by but I DO APPRECIATE IT very much! Same goes to all the volunteers who probably are still drying off from all the rain THANK YOU!

Yes, usually my transition times are well under 1:30 if not under 1 minute but during the race I was going for a world record in slowness. Finally, after much struggle I get on my machine and head out telling my self to watch my turns because in this rain anything can happen. Although the rain was coming down I was able to be as aggressive as possible. All together, the bike split came out to be 1:12:06 but once again I had to go into transition. After spending the time on the bike my fingers and arms were more less locked in place and I could not move them fast enough. So, once again this transition time came to be one of my slowest ever clocking at 2:23. It was frustrating not be able to put on my running shoes. So, after a grand total of 5 minutes 36 seconds worth of transition times I had to go on the run.

I never know what to expect from this run course. It is a lot of fun because of the different terrain. Amazing enough my legs felt good and I was able to keep a faster than normal pace for this course and I clocked the 10K distance in 47:46 which is more than a 2 minute improvement from my previous results on this very same course.
Coming across the finish line on this particular day was a great experience. All of us who were out there under those conditions will have some fond memories of this race. So a time of 2:34:06 was good enough for 28th place overall and 7th in my age group. The results would have been different if my time in the transition was to be shorter. I guess that is something I will need to improve upon next year.
As the mercury around these parts is reaching for new heights our tent and the rest of our gear are finally drying.

Hard to believe that I COMPLETED my 300 Miles of racing for the year. It is been a blast having the opportunity to do it and tell you about it as well. The polka-dot colors have been everywhere this season spreading the word about NATT and looking to raise funds. Please consider matching a donation to the total number of miles I raced this summer so that together we could help NATT. A nickel, dime, or a quarter per mile can go a long way as we continue our work to spread the word about blood clots and blood clotting disorders. Please think about it! If you decide to participate, please make checks payable to “NATT” and let me know so that I can tell you my mailing address.

Well, what to do next? There is one race in Akron coming up in September that I would like to do. In many ways, I want to improve my transitions times. More less I have a thorn on my side that I need to get out.

Thank you for reading,

The Clot Buster

I am still drying off...

from my race at Great Lake Escape in Lakeside Marblehead, OH.

300 Miles of racing COMPLETED!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!?!?

Now, that you have all season to think about it, this is your time to match a donation to the number of miles I was able to race this season. There is nothing to it just pick a value of a coin and multiply it by the number of miles I raced. Here is the breakdown:

$0.05 per Mile x 300 Miles = $15.00
$0.10 per Mile x 300 Miles = $30.00
$0.25 per Mile x 300 Miles = $75.00

Please contact me if you are interested in making a donation. Please make your check payable to "NATT" and let me know so that I can send you my address!

In the meantime please checkout this fun pictures from the Greater Cleveland Triathlon... The SPIUK Kronos Time Trial Helmet was a hit at the raffle...

Soon enough I should be able to write some more about the Great Lake Escape. We will see how soon.

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

BOOYAA!!!

5:19:01 – CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!?!?!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen at the Greater Cleveland Triathlon I was able to turn in MY BEST TIME ever at a half-iron distance event. I think that all of the events of the weekend inspired me to keep my pace on the run, even through the dreaded miles 9, 10, 11, and 12, to get across the finish line and setting a new PR at this distance by more than 16 minutes!

I don’t even know where to begin… I remember setting out in the run and thinking to myself that I needed to stay steady and find a pace that I could keep the entire length of the 13.1 Miles. So, off I went knowing that in my Fuel Belt I would have a little pick me up for the dreaded miles 9, 10, 11, and 12. Having Coke in the little bottles kept my mind at easy for some reason. I used the combination of water with coke during my last long brick and this time around I decided to give it a try. Of course, I learned during my training that I needed to let the fizz out otherwise I would have the little bottles exploding left and right during the run. So, I had my secret weapon with me but during the first loop the sun was cooking and I was concerned about how would I complete the second loop. Luckily the triathlon gods were looking after me and a cloud cover rolled over the run course so it was manageable. I have no doubt that my mile splits got larger as I went but I never stopped running outside of the aid stations. I can’t even begin to describe how good it felt to be well inside the 5:30 mark and even sweeter to be inside the 5:20 threshold. I think that Cleveland provided me with enough support get through and set a new PR. RUN TIME = 1:59:01.

The Greater Cleveland Triathlon was a very well organized race. So well, that I almost missed my swim start as I set out on my mile walk from transition a little bit later than I should. I jumped in the water with my heat but I had just enough time to zip up my wetsuit and fit my goggles in place before the gun went off. I could not believe how calm Lake Erie was that day. It made for a very enjoyable swim out there for sure. SWIM TIME = 28:57 (6th fastest I believe).

Next on the bike it was difficult to get in a good pace because the first part of the bike course took us through some rough roads. I have to say that because due to the bumpy ride both of my bottles from my saddle rack flew off leaving me without fluids very early on the bike. Once we got past the rough section the roads were smooth and it was time to fly. I am fortunate that the first aid station was about 10 Miles in which allowed me to keep drinking and get my head back in order. After that mishap the ride went well. I tried to keep an even pace on the up hills and be relatively aggressive on the flats going back towards the lake. So all together we had two large loops (25 Miles) and then two small loops (3 Miles) to contend with. I enjoyed seeing all my competitors at the different turn around points. My friend Bill McIntosh with his 6’10’’ frame was coming after me. The first time we got to the smaller loops a buck with a pretty sizeable rack (Bill will say 5 or 6 pointer) came out of the woods to run along us. Unfortunately, this guys some other business on the other side of the woods so he crossed the four lane run plus median about 10 yards in front of me. That was scary as I was going pretty fast at this point and stopping would have been rather difficult. That encounter pumped some additional adrenaline to get me through the rest of the bike. I was very pleased with the effort and the ISM saddle worked like a charm keeping me free of numbness. BIKE TIME = 2:46:53 (20.12MPH).

I was more than thrilled with the results of this race. So, here we are one last race away from completing the 300 Miles challenge I set out to do way back in May. It is been great fun to train and race but also very inspiring to work to raise funds for NATT and meeting some great people along the way. NATT is helping a lot of people by raising awareness about blood cltos and blood clotting disorders but we can't really do it without your help. So, I am one race away from putting down my 300 Miles, it is now your turn to step and match a donation for the tolal miles that I raced. Here is breakdown for you so that your decision is even easier...

$0.05 per Mile x 300 Miles = $15.00

$0.10 per Mile x 300 Miles = $30.00

$0.25 per Mile x 300 Miles = $75.00

Please contact me if you are interested in making a donation. Please make your check payable to "NATT" and let me know so that I can send you my address!

To everyone involved in the Greater Cleveland Triathlon THANK YOU! The Clot Buster and Mrs. Clot Buster had a blast!

Next up, Great Lake Escape Triathlon in Marblehead, OH. I don't have a clue how my body will react ahead of this racing. I went for a 25 Mile ride today and I was flatter than flat. No power in the legs at all. My stretching afterwords was great so we will see how it goes on Sunday. My Lovely wife and some friends are going to spend Saturday kayaking in Lake Erie and East Harbor State Park. It looks like it will be an amazing weekend weather wise so it should be fun. Second swim in a row in the big lake up north. Last weekend it was nice, let's see what we get this weekend.

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

THANK YOU!!!

I don’t even know where to start since we had such a successful weekend at the Greater Cleveland Triathlon.
First off, I need to give THANKS to everyone who stopped by our booth and participated in our raffle. Not only you bought yourself a chance to win any of the superior prizes we had available but you helped raise funds for NATT. Every dollar that we were able to raise this weekend will allow NATT to continue their mission to educate and create awareness about blood clots and blood clotting disorders. If you get the chance don't forget to take some time and read more about what NATT is doing at their website http://www.nattinfo.org/

Secondly, I could not continue without giving a HUGE THANKS to Mickey Rzymek - GCT's SENSATIONAL Organizer, Deirdre Callahan and her family - for hosting the Clot Buster and being a POWERHOUSE fund raiser, Bill Deiter from 2nd Sole - for giving us the chance to have two ZOOT Zenith Wetsuits available for the raffle, and DPM Sports -for the great products they provided for the raffle.

All together we were able to raise a grand total of $659.00 THANKS TO ALL OF YOU who participated in the raffle.

Of course all of the goods found a good home and here is the list of all the winners. I have to apologize in advance if I mess up your name. There is a chance that I did not understand it from the ticket stub so I am sorry!

** Polka-Dot Socks - EM MONTENGANO

** Polka-Dot Socks - LIAM McINTOSH

** Box of SNICKERS Marathon Bars - LARRY McGAIN (?)

** Box of SNICKERS Marathon Bars - UJCIC (?)

** Box of SNICKERS Marathon Bars - JEN COLLISTER

** 2 Gatorade Water Bottles - JAMIE CLANCY

** 2 Gatorade Water Bottles - JUAN

** Hammer Gel Goodie Bag - ERIC DOMBBROWSKI

** Hammer Gel Goodie Bag - EDDIE POLICE

** Gatorade Hat and Shirt - B. MARUT

** Gatorade Hat and Shirt - KEN BEECH

** Case of Gatorade (Berry Flavor) - KATIE SPEAR

** Case of Gatorade (AM) - MATT RICHARDS

** Gatorade Cooler - J.R. EYLER

** Ritchie's Goodie Bag - MARK DURNO

** Ritchies's Goodie Bag - SUSAN DOMBROWSKI

** AquaSphere Goggles - TRICIA (?)

** SPIUK Tri Top - MATT LUCK

** SPIUK Tri Top - UJCIC (?)

** SPIUK Tri Top - DEREK MARQUARAT

** SPIUK Tri Top - KATIE SPEAR

** SPIUK Winter Vest - DAN PIERCE

** SPIUK Yara Sunglasses - MARIE JO McELYEA

** SPIUK Kronos Helmet - JOANNE COLLINS

** ZOOT Zenith WetSuit - KEVIN KERWIN
** ZOOT Zenith WetSuit - NICK SPIRTUS

To all of the winners CONGRATULATIONS!!! If you are any of the people above mentioned and we have not contacted you yet please get in touch with me at polka40@hotmail.com so that we can make arrangements to get your prize on its way.

Sometimes after fundrasing so hard you need to try and recover...

So, all together it was a great weekend for racing and fund raising. For now, you need to sit tight and wait for my race report coming up on my next post.

Thanks again for helping NATT on this event and hopefully next year we can aim a little higher and reach above the 4 digit mark. I am already working on getting with my contacts to secure better goods for next years's raffle. So don't forget your money when you come to expo. You never know if you are going to get that lucky ticket number.

Thank your for reading,

The Clot Buster

Cleveland Here I come...!

I am very excited that the weekend is almost here.

We have been planning for this weekend for a long time now. You are not going to believe the items we have been able to collect and we will have to offer for the raffle on Sunday. If you are going to participate in the Greater Cleveland Triathlon you have to allow yourself some extra time at the packet pickup on Saturday and stop by the polka-dot tent and check out what NATT and the Clot Buster all about. Of course if you stop by you will need to participate in our raffle and get your chance to win some really cool prices.

I am not sure if I should give anything away but I can't resist so here is a little something to peak your interest...

Yes, you too can have an aero-helmet like the one the Clot Buster wears. However, the one we are offering for the raffle will not have any polka-dots but I will have them available if you would like to "decorate" the new helmet that you could potentially win!

So, how am I feeling three days before the race? Well, I am ready to rock and roll. I have done everything that I can to put myself in a position to complete the run without my usual walk during the last 4 miles of the half-marathon. I am also keeping an eye oy my salt consumption as I think that it may be the source of some of my problems. I am very pumped to get going on this race. The new ISM Saddle from Blackwell Research is also something new I am trying out in a race for the first time. I have some miles on it but no race miles yet. This should be interesting for sure.

GCT is my second to last race of the season. That much closer to complete my 300 Miles of racing for this summer. Have you thought about matching a donation to each mile that I race? It is not too late to help NATT to continue their mission in spreading the word about blood clots and blood clotting disorders.

I hope to be smiling like this before the race on Sunday.

See you in Cleveland on the shores of Lake Erie!

Thank you for reading,

The Clot Buster

Preparations Continue

A week from today I will be racing at the Greater Cleveland Triathlon Half Iron Distance race. This is a race is one I am very excited to because of what we have planned for both Saturday and Sunday. I don't want to tell you too much about it because if you happen to be around the Cleveland area next weekend you need to come out to Headlands State beach and check it out for yourself.

My preparation is going well. This weekend I had a good brick workout on Saturday that may put me over the edge in terms of my troubles coming off the bike and going onto the run. Stay tuned because I may able to do a first on my half iron distance racing. We will see how it turns out. I am looking forward to it.

If you are in Cleveland don't miss your opportunity to meet the Clot Buster and learn a whole lot about NATT and their mission.

Of course not all is workouts... I do get the chance to do an array of other things, especially on my days off so tha I can recover and begin my tepering. Today we got the chance to the Dublin, OH Irish Festival. Bring on the Irish Stew and a Killian's Irish Red before noon! I do love Irish Festivals. The Irish Music is one that I enjoy a great deal . It is always a treat.

So, we go on to the last week before the Greater Cleveland Triathlon.

Has anyone seen a helmet like this out there for sale?

I keep trying to find one of these at a reasonable price but they keep avoiding me. I am going to find one someday. In the mean time I need to find some red paint to paint my aero helmet with the "Clot Buster" colors. I hope that I stay within the lines...

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

Tour Over, 10 Mile Road Race, Blood Clots and Blood Clotting Disorders

Well, the Tour is over and I have to say that despite all the drama I think that it turned out very well. How cool was that Time Trial on Saturday? Levi almost took the whole enchilada, Evans rode "a magical" last 5Km to stay ahead, and Mr. Alberto Contador rode a perfect time trial to stay on top. I have to confess that while riding on my trainer at home I watched the entire last 2 hours of coverage while "ticking over" the pedals. I set a new record of trainer riding that day. I could not believe it when I was done...


I have not been able to find anything about the sponsor that will take over for Discovery Channel. Who would it be? How about the new American Cycling powerhouse team Splistream? Will Chipotle continue to sponsor them? Man, a Chipotle burrito sounds good right now...

Sunday, I had the chance to race in a 10Mile road race that is part of the training series for the Columbus Marathon in October. Although a marathon is not in the horizon for me I decided to take on this 10Mile course to test the legs ahead of the Greater Cleveland Triathlon - Half Iron distance race coming up in a couple of weeks. To my surprise the race went well. I was able to keep a nice pace of 7:10 per mile which I did not think I could do at this distace. I tried hard but I am still paying for the effort today. The legs are very sore but this is a pain that I don't mind at all. I was able to place second in my age group, that was a nice icying on the cake. Liz also ran on Sunday and on the 10K she came in as the fourth lady overall and of course dominated her age group. She always keeps me honest with her results.

Don't forget that all of my efforts doing these triathlons is to get NATT's name out there and hopefully peak your interest about the dangers about blood clots and blood clotting disorders and possibly inspire you to help this worthy organization with a donation that could match the number of miles I am racing this summer (300 Miles all together and I am only two races away from completing my goal). Here is a breakdown for your if you are interested on how you could match a donation...

$0.05 per Mile x 300 Miles = $15.00
$0.10 per Mile x 300 Miles = $30.00
$0.25 per Mile x 300 Miles = $75.00

Please contact me if you are interested in making a donation.

For the last few rides I've been testing out this new ISM Seat from Blackwell Resarch and I have to tell you that there is a big difference when compared to regular saddles. I am still testing in out but so far the numbness that I used to experience is gone. Although my sit bones are not used to their new line of work on the bike I think that this a switch that I am gladly coming around to do. Does anyone have some experience with this saddle? What did you like or dislike about it?

Time to catch some Z's. Track workout tomorrow AM and ride in the PM. Following up my effort from Tuesday with the same double.

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

What do you think about the Tour this year?

I need to ask the question because I don't know what to think. It is very dissapointing to see a big name like Vino's tarnished because of doping. What drives these guys to put everything on the line? Does that momentary success of winning a stage of the tour really matters that much over ALL of your career? Of course, we don't know about his B sample but he will never be the same. We will always question his ability from here on out. I wish that it did not have to be that way but unfortunately it is. Maybe he will come back but if he get's the two year I don't believe he will be able to do it. Part of me wishes that his B sample comes back negative but will only prolongue the agony as they will try to figure out why the A sample was positive. All together not a good situation at all.


In regards to Rasmussen, I can't make any heads or tails about this. Could his team punish him after the race? He has never tested positive in this tour so on that respect he can't be judged. However, breaking the rules is breaking the rules but if I was his team and he is leading the Tour fair and square then I would try to figure out some sort of punishment after the event. Of course I don't know the amount of pressure the team was under with the information they had so they get the benefit of the doubt from my end on that respect. But, could there be any other way to go about this? Would he return to professional cycling? Do you think that he would have won the race after the Time Trial? Should I go ahead and watch the two mountain to finishes that I have DVR'd? Right now I am hesitant. What should I do?


Well, this training week is going well. Good swim sessions so far where I felt really strong and smooth in the water. I had the chance to ride a couple of times this week as well and on Sunday I am will be runnig a 10 Mile race so after a week off running we will see how that is going to go.


Pretty exciting that my vegetable garden is producing some goods already. We started our pretty late in the spring but I am thrilled with my first batch of Hungarian Peppers.

These guys may look small but they sure pack a punch...

Be careful eating them alone... but they are great in salads!

So, let's see how this 10 Miller turns out on Sunday.

By the way, if you are coming to the Greater Cleveland Triathlon on August 11th and 12th be sure to stop by the Clot Buster's Tent and check out the INCREDIBLE stuff we will have available for raffle to benefitting NATT. Stopping by the polka-dot tent is almost as important as picking up your packet. Don't miss this chance of potentially scoring some great products.

Huge Thanks to Mickey Rzymek for his help. Also, BIG THANKS to 2nd Sole of Rocky River for their support on this raffle. Your local age-group super star Deirdre Callahan and her family have been a great help and I can't them enough.

Please come by on the weekend of August 11th and 12th.

We look forward to see you.

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

The Weekend It Was

Dear readers,

What a blast I had this weekend. I have no idea about where should I begin. Very exciting to have the chance to be able to go to Cleveland and hang out with my good friend Deirdre and her famliy so that she could take me to the practice run of the Greater Clevelant Triathlon. How cool is that you get to prepare for a race on the course that the organizer sets up for you just like it would during the race. Swimming in lake Erie was an experience that morning. There were some serious waves that morning. It was intimidating at first but when I saw Deirdre and her husband jump in the water without any care in the world I had to put my fears away and jump right in. We got tossed around pretty good but it was fun. I got the chance to preview the bike course as well. It should be a fun time on the bike while we make our way through the 56 Miles around Mentor, OH. There is a little bit of everything out there so I need to get my bike in time for sure.

Even cooler was to see the Kids Race practice run. I was blown away by the interest of the 6 to 12 years old so eager to do the swim, bike, and run. I got to meet to girls (no more than 10 years of age) who were so into the sport that each had their own trek bike with clipless pedals! I could not believe my eyes. I was told by them that later on their father will let them graduate to aero-bars. But all together, I really enjoyed the kids running around and listening to the race organizer/director Mickey Rzymek tell them all of the instructions so that they can be race ready. I can't wait to Saturday August 11th to watch the race in full force.

It was a great pleasure to meet all the folks from the Cleveland Triathlon Club (CTC) who came out for the practice day. I look forward to race against you guys on Sunday August 12th. I also look forward to meet a number of you during the expo on Saturday before when you will have the chance to participate in the CLOT BUSTER RAFFLE @ THE GREATER CLEVELAND TRIATHLON.

So, that was Saturday, on Sunday I lined up to participate in the Columbus International Triathlon which is part of the Clot Buster's races series this summer. Surprisingly enough I did not feel tired at all from Saturday's fun. I went out there and the swim went well. I was able to get the two lap swim course done in about 25 minutes which is not a bad time considering the traffic we had in the water once the sprint distance people got in the water. The bike course at this race is one my favorites ever. Getting the chance to ride on a major highway within the city is REALLY COOL and VERY FAST. I am always amazed at the speeds I can go during this bike leg. I was able to average a speedy 22.8 MPH for 25.5 Miles which is one of my fastest bike splits ever. Very pleased about that I have to confess.

Look closely and you can see me with my fancy helmet heading out from T1. Should I get some polka-dots painted on that helmet? What do you think?

Here you go working on my 22.8 MPH...

From there we went to the run. Believe it or not I have the Olympic distance run of a 10K pretty much down these days. I know that 45 minutes for a 10K is far from world class but for the Clot Buster this is very good and very motivating because I know that I have what it takes to bring it down some more. I know of some speed workouts I need to do to get this time to come down some more. It is getting better and that is all I can ask for.

BIG CONGRATULATIONS to my wife's cousin Brian Jones who came out on Sunday to try his hand at his first duathlon. He even placed SECOND in his age group, how about that!!! BRIAN CONGRATULATIONS! Now give me my bike back!

Brian and his father Tim... CONGRATULATIONS Brian! Well done!

So, after all this I had only one more thing to do this weekend. Get showered and rested so that I could head to downtown Columbus and take part in the Jazz and Ribs festival. This is one of my favorite festivals in the city. The music is great but the ribs are even better. Oh! I can't even begin to explain how good they were. Although, I had difficulty walking I enjoyed the chance to go and enjoy some of the food.

So, I've been writing this post for several days now. During this time, so much has happened I can't believe it. Will there be any people left at the Tour before it gets to Paris? You have to be kidding me about the doping going on here... I am blown away. But I can write about on a later post.

For now, HUGE NEWS for the CLOT BUSTER RAFFLE @ THE GREATER CLEVELAND TRIATHLON. I am so excited about these news that I need to wait a little while before I let you know about just so that I can peak your interest. But I can sure that it is good, VERY GOOD!!!

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster