TrainingPeaks Member Profile: Claire Oliver, Triathlete for Charity
Friday, January 29, 2010 at 3:02PM 
In the same year that Jon Blaze competed in the Ironman World Championships, he was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. Also that same year, Claire Oliver's grandfather died of the same disease. This year, Claire is fundraising for the Blazeman Foundation to fight the disease by racing for charity in Ironman Arizona. With the help of TrainingPeaks and her coach, she is preparing to cross the finish line an hour faster than she ever has before, and continue with her long tradition of racing for charity.
Clair Oliver, Triathlete for Charity
I'm an old pro at fundraising for charities. I raised probably close to $100,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through Team in Training- which is how I got my start in triathlons. My step dad died from Leukemia, which is how I got connected to that cause.
This year I'm trying something new! I'm raising money for the Blazeman Foundation. If you have seen any coverage of an Ironman race in the last few years, you have seen the story of Jon Blaze. He was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and competed in the Ironman world championship that same year. What an inspiration! There are many inspirational stories that come along with Ironman. Everyone has their own battles they are fighting, some are just bigger than others.
My granddad was so much fun when I was growing up. It is time for me to do something to honor him. I am competing in the Arizona Ironman in November and I would like to raise $10,000 to fight the disease that took his life. If you are so inclined please click here to make a secure donation on my fundraising page.
I have always seen the stories of Jon Blaze and been incredibly motivated by his spirit. My grandfather died from ALS the same year that Jon did his Ironman... and I felt a connection. The Blazeman foundation is fantastic. I have had phone calls from both of Jon's parents. They also send out personal emails to every person who donates through my website. Pretty neat charity that takes the time to make that happen.
ALS is a terrible disease. It leaves the mind intact while the muscles and the rest of the body deteriorate. About 5600 people are diagnosed a year, and it is a death sentence. Once diagnosed the life expectancy is 2-5 years. ALS can strike anyone the disease occurs all over the world knowing no racial, ethnic or socioeconomic boundaries.
You may not know anyone who has been affected with ALS, and I hope it stays that way. I however lost someone I loved dearly to this disease and will swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 and then run 26.2 on November 21st, 2009. I will finish this race so that others may live. When I cross the finish line I will be honored to wear my team Blazeman warrior jersey and do the warrior roll over that finish line. I'm sure I will have tears streaming down my face!
I would like to cut an hour off my last Ironman race- which shouldn't be too hard to do. I'm really shooting for 12:30, but I don't want to put too much pressure on myself. I like to remember that this is my hobby and I LOVE to race triathlons, but it should be fun. When I stop letting it be fun then it's time for me to pack it in.
I have an awesome coach, Ron Tribendis, who tells me what to do for training. I'm still healing from a broken rib right now so I am waiting on that to feel great before I can get into a normal training schedule. As soon as I am back to normal it will be 5 or 6 days a week!
I LOVE using TrainingPeaks both as an athlete and as a coach. As an athlete, getting the email in the middle of the night makes it top of the list of things to do for the day. I make training my priority plus its like a game. I like to see my time or distance match what was given to me by my coach. As a coach I like to use it because I get immediate feedback from my athletes on how things are going.
Racing for charity makes what you are doing so much more meaningful. It gives me energy to get to the finish line. I've told all of these people that I am doing this race and come hell or high water I am going to finish this! When you cross the finish line the wave of emotions that comes over you is so strong. It is fun to do races that there is no pressure of raising money, but it is really nice to be selfless and raise money and do something for those who can't.
Reader Comments (5)
Way to go, Claire! Good luck with your training and I bet you will exceed your fundraising goal and your race goal time!
Claire...thank you for being a "Blazeman Warrior",
fighting the battles that must be fought and won in War On ALS..."so others may live"
Claire, all the PALS(people with ALS)they, their families and their friends thank you for caring and for being there for them and for us...as Jon said, " you are a true Blazeman Warrior...you have placed the cause before yourself".
Claire, when you cross the finish line, rolling for awareness and a cure...remember the word FREEDOM...Freedom from ALS.
In Strength, Honor and Freedom
"Believe...Pick a stronger word than Hope...Cure".
-blazeman.
God bless...train hard and be safe,
blazedad...jon's dad.
Way to go Claire. You're an amazing athlete, fundraiser and coach!
You're an inspiration, Claire. With everything you have done in the past and everything I know you'll do in the future, I can only hope to have a heart half as big as yours. Keep up the amazing work.
Claire -
Great to run into you here!
Dabney