Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Successful New Year's Resolutions

Chris Wodke at 2012 Boston Marathon

"Dreams without goals remain dreams and fuel disappointment.....goals cannot be achieved without discipline and consistency." -Denzel Washington

 Lot's of new year resolutions will be made in the next few days. Many good intentions will last a few weeks and slowly fade away.  A resolutions is a sort of goal, but many are not successful because they are vague dreams ending in frustration.

There are a few steps you can take to help make your resolutions successful.  The first step is to set SMART goals.

S-Specific
M-Measurable
A-Attainable
R-Realistic
T-Timely

Specific
Be as specific as you can when setting a goal. Losing weight is a vague goal. Running the Boston Marathon in April of 2015 is specific.  If you have a weight loss goal, attach a number to it or better yet, don't make that your goal. Set a goal like running a specific race. The training will help you to lose the weight.

Measurable
The goal should be measurable. A few years ago I set a goal to run the Boston Marathon in 2012. That is specific and measurable. Better yet my coach last year set a goal of completing the race in 4 hours 51 minutes. How is that for specific? I hit it exactly.

Write a goal where you can measure success. Try to break the goal down into smaller pieces, then celebrate success each time you achieve a part. To get to Boston I first had to set a goal to run the Madison marathon in a qualifying time of 6 hours.  Making progress toward the goal can keep you energized when you see your progress. Maybe you decide to be more active and lose 2 pounds a week. A weekly weigh in will tell you how you are doing.

Attainable
This is a really important piece. Aim too high and you will just get discouraged and quit.  Setting a goal you know you cannot reach is kind of pointless. Pick something that is a bit of a stretch, but is possible. Setting a tough but obtainable goal can force some personal growth.

Last year I set the goal of qualifying for the World Championship in Aquathon as an age group athlete. The swim part of the race was 1500 meters, twice as long as I had ever done in a race. So I set the goal of competing that distance in practice. When I did it in practice, I celebrated by signing up for the race. Be sure to celebrate the success of achieve a step that will bring you to your overall goal.

Realistic
Set a goal that does not depend on anyone else or anything that is not under your control.   Make is something you have a chance of achieving. If you set a goal to run a marathon in a few months but have not run a step or done a race in years, you may be setting yourself up for failure.

Do you have the time to do the steps needed to reach your goal?  Do you have the discipline?  Can you be consistent in doing the things you need to do?  Do you have the desire to make the changes needed?  Do you have the resources?  Take an honest look at your situation. If you have a couple of kids and a busy career you may not have the time and money to train for an Ironman race or a marathon.

Timely
Put a time on your goal. When I decided to run my first Boston Marathon, I set April 2012 as the date.  If I had not put a time to it, running Boston would have remained some vague goal or dream. By putting down that date, I started to take the steps to get me to Boston. I signed up for a qualifying race, I training, and I applied for my spot in the race.

I take an additional step when I have a goal, I write it down and I post it on my board at work. Writing down a goal is very powerful. There was a study down in the 1950's of a group of Ivy League graduates.  A group of 10 percent of the class was asked to write down their goals. The others did not. The group was tracked for 10 years. It was found that the 10 percent out performed the other 90 percent.

Your mind will begin to focus on your goal when you write it down. Try it and see.

Then also write out all the actions you need to take to make your goal happen.  Let's say your goal is to lose 20 pounds by the time of your class reunion in June 2015. That meets the criteria of a SMART goal.

What do you have to do to make that happen?   Do you need to take up running or some other daily activity? Do you need to start taking your lunch to work instead of eating out at lunch?  Do you need to join a gym?  Do you need to sign up for a race to stay motivated.  Do you need to track your progress each week in terms of activity or weight loss? These steps will be personal. Pick things that will work for you and move you toward your goal.

I found when my goal was to run the Boston Marathon I had a whole list of things I needed to do. I had to pick my qualifying races and come up with an 18 week training plan once I picked my race. I also picked a back up race in case I didn't qualify with my first race.

 I logged my training every day. I signed up for my race and made the travel arrangements.  I knew what time I needed to hit to qualify.I did lots of 10K races to gauge my progress. That kept me motivated.

There were plenty of times when it was tough to get my workouts in. Achieving a goal is not easy. You have to have the desire and discipline to do the planning and the work. But I promise it is worth it.  I hope you have a year of successfully achieving your resolutions.

Sometime in the next week perhaps I will share some of my athletic goals for 2015 and some of the things I will be doing to get there.  I know how important goal setting and planning can be.

You will have your greatest success in your life with a little goal setting and planning!
********************

Chris Wodke
Founder & Manager Team CMT
www.run4cmt.com

Chris is a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a three time participant of the Boston Marathon.  In 2012 she finished 2nd at Boston in the Mobility Impaired Division. She was on the course in 2013 when the bombs exploded.

She has appeared three times at the Paratriathlon National Triathlon Sprint Championship. She was the 2012 and 2014 National Champion Paratriathlon Open Division Champion.

In 2014 she was the PC Open Champion at the Duathlon National Championship. She has qualified to represent Team USA at the Aquathon ITU World Championship in Chicago in 2015.  

 In 2014 she represented  the U.S. as a paratriathlete at the Pan-American Triathlon Championship in DallasTexas.

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that details her experience as a CMT affected athlete.

You may visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6


Team CMT is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness and to find a cure for CMT. We have 159 members in 30 states. We also have members in AustraliaScotlandCanadaVietnamTurkeyFinland and Iran. If you wish to join us visit our web site; www.run4cmt.com or www.hnf-cure.org


CMT or Charcot-Marie-Tooth is the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathy. It affects over 155,000 Americans (as many as MS).  It is a disease of the nerves that control the muscles. It is slowly progressive, causing loss of normal function and or sensation in the lower legs/feet and arms/hands.

Symptoms include; muscle wasting in the lower legs and feet leading to foot drop, poor balance and gait problems Atrophy in the hands causes difficulty with manual dexterity.

Structural foot deformities such as high arches and hammer toes are common.

Poor tolerance for cool or cold temperatures and many people have chronically cold hands and feet.

Additional symptoms may include fatigue, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties and hearing loss.

Additional Link
Follow CMT affected Paratriathlete Timmy Dixon
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, paratriathlon, challenged athlete, Team CMT, Running for My Life-Winning for CMT. Hereditary Neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth.
CMT and running, CMT and triathlon, CMT and athlete, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and running, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and triathlon, Team USA and Team CMT, Running for my life-Winning for CMT, CMT athlete, athlete and CMT, triathlete and CMT, Boston Marathon Bombing



Tuesday, December 30, 2014

2015 Race Schedule

Chris Wodke competing for Team USA Dallas PATCO 2014


" In the race to be your best there is no losing."- Amby Burfoot

I know it is not event the end of 2014 yet, but I already have a tentative schedule of races for next year.  I'm sure I will also be adding a couple of more duathlons and Olympic distance triathlon races as well.

It looks like it is going to be another busy year of racing and raising awareness for Team CMT.  I wish I could say I was going into the year healthy. I have injuries to both ankles, a result of the progression of my CMT. I am confident I can keep racing through the pain. I'll do a mix of paratriathlon and age group races.

 I will also try once again to get classified at Austin. I don't expect I will, but keep showing up to plead the case for a better system to assess those of us with neuromuscular conditions. If I do classify in, the I will race at the Duathlon World Championship in Adelaide, Australia in October.  I qualified for the race with my win in the PC Open Division last year. It will be my fourth appearance in Austin. I've won the division twice, including last year.

It will be a year of first's for me. I will do my first nordic ski race, first winter triathlon, first National Senior games and first appearance at a World Championship.

I qualified for the National Senior games with a state championship in triathlon and the 20K road race. I finished 2nd in the 10K time trial. With these finishes I qualified for all the cycling events. I am looking forward to seeing Team CMT Louise Gehardt who has qualified for tennis.

I will be in Chicago for the ITU World Championship in September. I qualified at the National Championship in El Reno, Oklahoma last year as an age group athlete. It will be my second time competing as a member of Team USA.  Chicago is close to home and I've raced the course several times. It will be just like a hometown race.

For any of us with CMT, just getting out there is a victory. I also get to meet team members  as I travel around the country. Looking forward to more of that this year and having a great year of racing!


2015 Race Schedule


January 10- Trail Assail 5 K classic Ski Race, Minooka Park, Waukesha Wisconsin
February 14-   Trail Assail 8 K classic Ski Race Nashotah Wisconsin
February 22-    Winter Wonderland Triathlon, Verona Wisconsin
February 27-    Winter Triathlon National Championship, Boise, Idaho ( 4 K run, 12 K bike, 8K ski)
April 25th-       Kettleman Duathlon
May 25th-        Paratriathlon National Championship, Austin, Texas
June 6th-          National Duathlon Championship, St. Paul, Minn. (3 K run, 23 K bike, 3 K run)
June 21st-        Pleasant Prairie Olympic Paratriathlon
June 27th-        Xterra Dairyland Sprint Off-Road Triathlon
July   5th-        National Senior Games Sprint Triathlon, Minneapolis, Minn
July 8th-          National Senior Games 40 K cycling road race
July  9th-        National Senior Games, 20 K cycling  road race
July 11th-        National Senior Games 10 K TT  Minneapolis, Minn
July 12th-        National Senior Games 5 K TT, Minneapolis, Minn
August 9-        Age Group National Championship Olympic Triathlon, Milwaukee, Wi.
Sept. 16-         ITU Aquathon World Championship, Chicago, Illinois
Sept. 26-         National Championship Long Course Triathlon, Oklahoma City (1.2 swim, 56 mile                               bike, 13.1 run)
October 4-      Aquathon National Championship, El Reno, Oklahoma or Duathlon
Nov. 15-         National Championship Long Course Duathlon, Dallas, Texas ( 5 mile run, 32 bike, 5                           mile run)

*********************************






Chris Wodke
Founder & Manager Team CMT
www.run4cmt.com

Chris is a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a three time participant of the Boston Marathon.  In 2012 she finished 2nd at Boston in the Mobility Impaired Division. She was on the course in 2013 when the bombs exploded.

She has appeared three times at the Paratriathlon National Triathlon Sprint Championship. She was the 2012 and 2014 National Champion Paratriathlon Open Division Champion.

In 2014 she was the PC Open Champion at the Duathlon National Championship. She has qualified to represent Team USA at the Aquathon ITU World Championship in Chicago in 2015.  

 In 2014 she represented  the U.S. as a paratriathlete at the Pan-American Triathlon Championship in DallasTexas.

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that details her experience as a CMT affected athlete.

You may visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6


Team CMT is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness and to find a cure for CMT. We have 159 members in 30 states. We also have members in AustraliaScotlandCanadaVietnamTurkeyFinland and Iran. If you wish to join us visit our web site; www.run4cmt.com or www.hnf-cure.org


CMT or Charcot-Marie-Tooth is the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathy. It affects over 155,000 Americans (as many as MS).  It is a disease of the nerves that control the muscles. It is slowly progressive, causing loss of normal function and or sensation in the lower legs/feet and arms/hands.

Symptoms include; muscle wasting in the lower legs and feet leading to foot drop, poor balance and gait problems Atrophy in the hands causes difficulty with manual dexterity.

Structural foot deformities such as high arches and hammer toes are common.

Poor tolerance for cool or cold temperatures and many people have chronically cold hands and feet.

Additional symptoms may include fatigue, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties and hearing loss.

Additional Link
Follow CMT affected Paratriathlete Timmy Dixon
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, paratriathlon, challenged athlete, Team CMT, Running for My Life-Winning for CMT. Hereditary Neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth.
CMT and running, CMT and triathlon, CMT and athlete, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and running, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and triathlon, Team USA and Team CMT, Running for my life-Winning for CMT, CMT athlete, athlete and CMT, triathlete and CMT, Boston Marathon Bombing

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Soup Sunday- Creamy White Chili

Today's recipe also comes from Texas, this time from my sister-in-law Cindy.  It's was cold and rainy the day she made this for dinner. She served it with a salad and a hot loaf of crusty french bread. A perfect hearty meal for a cold winter evening.

She made this in her brand new soup pot. It is enamel over cast iron, which is perfect for soup and stew.  It is a Cooks brand pot from J.C. Penney's.  Le Creuset also makes a much more expensive version. I made a meal in this pot last night and it is really great to cook in.   I want to get one when I get home.


Creamy White Chili

1 pound skinless chicken breasts, cut into ½ inch cubes
1 medium white onion, chopped
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 cans (15 ½ ounce) great northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14 ½ ounce) chicken broth
2 cans (4 ounces) green chilies
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup sour cream
½ cup heavy whipping cream

In a large saucepan, sauté the chicken, onion and garlic powder in the oil until the chicken is no longer pink.  Add the beans, broth, chilies and seasonings. Bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat; simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes.  Remove from the heat and stir in the sour cream.

7 servings

*****************


Chris Wodke
Founder & Manager Team CMT
www.run4cmt.com

Chris is a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a three time participant of the Boston Marathon.  In 2012 she finished 2nd at Boston in the Mobility Impaired Division. She was on the course in 2013 when the bombs exploded.

She has appeared three times at the Paratriathlon National Triathlon Sprint Championship. She was the 2012 and 2014 National Champion Paratriathlon Open Division Champion.

In 2014 she was the PC Open Champion at the Duathlon National Championship. She has qualified to represent Team USA at the Aquathon ITU World Championship in Chicago in 2015.  

 In 2014 she represented  the U.S. as a paratriathlete at the Pan-American Triathlon Championship in DallasTexas.

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that details her experience as a CMT affected athlete.

You may visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6


Team CMT is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness and to find a cure for CMT. We have 159 members in 30 states. We also have members in AustraliaScotlandCanadaVietnamTurkeyFinland and Iran. If you wish to join us visit our web site; www.run4cmt.com or www.hnf-cure.org


CMT or Charcot-Marie-Tooth is the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathy. It affects over 155,000 Americans (as many as MS).  It is a disease of the nerves that control the muscles. It is slowly progressive, causing loss of normal function and or sensation in the lower legs/feet and arms/hands.

Symptoms include; muscle wasting in the lower legs and feet leading to foot drop, poor balance and gait problems Atrophy in the hands causes difficulty with manual dexterity.

Structural foot deformities such as high arches and hammer toes are common.

Poor tolerance for cool or cold temperatures and many people have chronically cold hands and feet.

Additional symptoms may include fatigue, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties and hearing loss.

Additional Link
Follow CMT affected Paratriathlete Timmy Dixon
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, paratriathlon, challenged athlete, Team CMT, Running for My Life-Winning for CMT. Hereditary Neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth.
CMT and running, CMT and triathlon, CMT and athlete, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and running, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and triathlon, Team USA and Team CMT, Running for my life-Winning for CMT, CMT athlete, athlete and CMT, triathlete and CMT, Boston Marathon Bombing

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Super Food Saturday-Turkey Pasta Bake

This is a little bit of a departure from my usual super foods. Technically with the pasta it may not add up as super healthy food on some peoples lists.  Still with all the candy and sweets around during the holidays, this is still relatively healthy and is a great way to use left over holiday turkey. I used turkey I froze after thanksgiving.  It make enough for two dishes like the one below.  I froze one. That will be nice to have because my training is going to be ramping up now, leaving little time for cooking during the week.  Hope you enjoy it!



Turkey Pasta Bake
8 ounces penne pasta, cooked
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 10 ounce package of fresh mushrooms
1 medium yellow onion chopped
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
1 tablespoon flour
½ cup white wine
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
4 ounces cream cheese
Juice and zest from one lemon
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (4 ounces)
3 cups shredded turkey or chicken
1 cup frozen peas
½ cup parsley roughly chopped
salt and fresh ground pepper

Heat oven to 375 F.  Lightly grease a casserole with olive oil.  Heat oil in a large skillet or medium heat. Sauté the onions and mushrooms for 4 to 5 minutes.  Add the celery and cook until tender about another 5 minutes.
Sprinkle the flour over the mixture. Stir until well coated.  Stir in the wine and broth.  Reduce the heat and simmer until the mixture thickens.  Add the cream cheese, lemon juice and zest.  Stir in the cooked pasta, parsley, half of the cheese and peas. Salt and pepper the mixture to taste.  Transfer to the prepared casserole dish.  Put the remainder of the cheese on top.  Bake for 15 minutes and cheese is melted.
Serves 6

Adapted from Woman’s’ Day November 2014

***********************
Tri Rock Lake Geneva with Team member Kevin Klein

Chris Wodke
Founder & Manager Team CMT
www.run4cmt.com

Chris is a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a three time participant of the Boston Marathon.  In 2012 she finished 2nd at Boston in the Mobility Impaired Division. She was on the course in 2013 when the bombs exploded.

She has appeared three times at the Paratriathlon National Triathlon Sprint Championship. She was the 2012 and 2014 National Champion Paratriathlon Open Division Champion.

In 2014 she was the PC Open Champion at the Duathlon National Championship. She has qualified to represent Team USA at the Aquathon ITU World Championship in Chicago in 2015.  

 In 2014 she represented  the U.S. as a paratriathlete at the Pan-American Triathlon Championship in Dallas, Texas.

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that details her experience as a CMT affected athlete.

You may visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6


Team CMT is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness and to find a cure for CMT. We have 159 members in 30 states. We also have members in Australia, Scotland, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland and Iran. If you wish to join us visit our web site; www.run4cmt.com or www.hnf-cure.org


CMT or Charcot-Marie-Tooth is the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathy. It affects over 155,000 Americans (as many as MS).  It is a disease of the nerves that control the muscles. It is slowly progressive, causing loss of normal function and or sensation in the lower legs/feet and arms/hands.

Symptoms include; muscle wasting in the lower legs and feet leading to foot drop, poor balance and gait problems Atrophy in the hands causes difficulty with manual dexterity.

Structural foot deformities such as high arches and hammer toes are common.

Poor tolerance for cool or cold temperatures and many people have chronically cold hands and feet.

Additional symptoms may include fatigue, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties and hearing loss.

Additional Link
Follow CMT affected Paratriathlete Timmy Dixon
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, paratriathlon, challenged athlete, Team CMT, Running for My Life-Winning for CMT. Hereditary Neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth.
CMT and running, CMT and triathlon, CMT and athlete, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and running, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and triathlon, Team USA and Team CMT, Running for my life-Winning for CMT, CMT athlete, athlete and CMT, triathlete and CMT, Boston Marathon Bombing

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Making Progress



"It's not about speed and gold medals, it's about refusing to be stopped."- Amby Burfoot


My latest project has been to learn to ski on my new roller skis.  I picked up a used pair about a month ago.

I've wanted a pair for a long time. Roller skis are used by Nordic skiers to do dry land training.  I would sometimes see them rolling along the lakefront in Milwaukee when I was out for a run or ride.

It looked like fun. Since I have a Nordic track at home and I do a bit of Nordic skiing I thought this would be a good skill to add to my fitness regime.

I never quite got around to getting a pair until this year.  The final incentive came when I signed up for the USAT Winter Triathlon National Championship in Boise in February.

Winter Triathlon is a 4K run, a 12 K bike and a 5K Nordic ski race. I signed up because I am looking to transition into other types of racing. My CMT is progressing. Many mornings I wake up with completely numb hands. My right ankle has an injury on both sides. The left one is starting to hurt as well all the time.

I was leaving for a run a few days ago and my left ankle rolled when I was about 3 steps out the door. My left ankle has never had a problem, another sign of CMT progress. I know my time to able able to run without aid may be limited.

I won't let a little thing like the progress of my CMT, keep me from competing.  When my CMT makes it too hard to run, I'll be ready to race by bike or cross country skis.  My first Nordic race will be a 5K event on January 17th.. Just a bit of prep for Nationals in February.

But I needed to train, We had no snow in Milwaukee. The roads have been full of salt and it has been too cold to use my roller skis. So I brought them to Dallas with me for the holidays.

I've been able to get out every other day. They are a little tricky to use and take a bit of balance, something that is a bit of a challenge with CMT.  I've learned a few tricks of using them like holding onto the mail box when I am putting them on so I don't fall.

They attract attention every time I go out, especially from runners. They all tell me they look fun.   I had a little fall the first day onto the tree lawn and a pick up stopped and asked if I was OK and if I could get up.

I'm getting pretty good at it. I've been doing classic style and my goal is to skate with them so I can skate in a race. I do a bit of that every workout.  So I'm making progress toward my goal of being ready to race.

I heard about some more progress last week. The HNF and Pharmax announced the successful trial of a treatment for CMT Type 1A.  They used a mix of existing drugs. I hope that means it will be on the market soon. It can't come too soon for those of us with CMT, even with a mild case like mine.

Now that is progress worth celebrating.

****************************

Chris Wodke at 2012 Boston Marathon

Chris Wodke
Founder & Manager Team CMT
www.run4cmt.com

Chris is a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a three time participant of the Boston Marathon.  In 2012 she finished 2nd at Boston in the Mobility Impaired Division. She was on the course in 2013 when the bombs exploded.

She has appeared three times at the Paratriathlon National Triathlon Sprint Championship. She was the 2012 and 2014 National Champion Paratriathlon Open Division Champion.

In 2014 she was the PC Open Champion at the Duathlon National Championship. She has qualified to represent Team USA at the Aquathon ITU World Championship in Chicago in 2015.  

 In 2014 she represented  the U.S. as a paratriathlete at the Pan-American Triathlon Championship in DallasTexas.

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that details her experience as a CMT affected athlete.

You may visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6


Team CMT is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness and to find a cure for CMT. We have 159 members in 30 states. We also have members in AustraliaScotlandCanadaVietnamTurkeyFinland and Iran. If you wish to join us visit our web site; www.run4cmt.com or www.hnf-cure.org


CMT or Charcot-Marie-Tooth is the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathy. It affects over 155,000 Americans (as many as MS).  It is a disease of the nerves that control the muscles. It is slowly progressive, causing loss of normal function and or sensation in the lower legs/feet and arms/hands.

Symptoms include; muscle wasting in the lower legs and feet leading to foot drop, poor balance and gait problems Atrophy in the hands causes difficulty with manual dexterity.

Structural foot deformities such as high arches and hammer toes are common.

Poor tolerance for cool or cold temperatures and many people have chronically cold hands and feet.

Additional symptoms may include fatigue, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties and hearing loss.

Additional Link
Follow CMT affected Paratriathlete Timmy Dixon
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, paratriathlon, challenged athlete, Team CMT, Running for My Life-Winning for CMT. Hereditary Neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth.
CMT and running, CMT and triathlon, CMT and athlete, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and running, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and triathlon, Team USA and Team CMT, Running for my life-Winning for CMT, CMT athlete, athlete and CMT, triathlete and CMT, Boston Marathon Bombing

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Soup Sunday- Tony's Chili


Today we have a guest contributor. I am spending the Christmas holidays with my brother and his family in Texas.  My brother Tony is a really good cook. I guess it runs in the family. Last night he made chili for us. I've had his chili many times and it is always awesome.

He claims the secret is the cast iron pot he uses. He says it tastes and looks different if made in another pot. I've made it in my own anodized aluminum stock pot at home and it still tastes wonderful.

Tony's Chili

1 lb beef stew meat
1 lb. ground beef
1 large white onion chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
8 ounces spicy V8 tomato juice
1 8 ounce bottle of beer
1 ( 15 oz.) can tomato sauce
2 T chili powder
1 T cumin
1 T oregano
1 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1 T paprika ( smoked variety really good here)
1 ounce chocolate or 1 T sugar
1 T corn flour
2 T corn meal
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 can plain diced tomatoes
1 can red chili beans
1 can black beans
3 stalks celery
1 red bell pepper chopped


Add all the ingredients except the beans to a stock pot. Bring to a boil and then turn down the heat to a simmer.  Simmer for 1 hours. Add the beans and heat for 30 minutes.  Serve in bowls with sour cream and grated cheddar cheese.

Serves 6

*****************************

Chris Wodke at 2012 Boston Marathon

Chris Wodke
Founder & Manager Team CMT
www.run4cmt.com

Chris is a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a three time participant of the Boston Marathon.  In 2012 she finished 2nd at Boston in the Mobility Impaired Division. She was on the course in 2013 when the bombs exploded.

She has appeared three times at the Paratriathlon National Triathlon Sprint Championship. She was the 2012 and 2014 National Champion Paratriathlon Open Division Champion.

In 2014 she was the PC Open Champion at the Duathlon National Championship. She has qualified to represent Team USA at the Aquathon ITU World Championship in Chicago in 2015.  

 In 2014 she represented  the U.S. as a paratriathlete at the Pan-American Triathlon Championship in DallasTexas.

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that details her experience as a CMT affected athlete.

You may visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6


Team CMT is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness and to find a cure for CMT. We have 159 members in 30 states. We also have members in AustraliaScotlandCanadaVietnamTurkeyFinland and Iran. If you wish to join us visit our web site; www.run4cmt.com or www.hnf-cure.org


CMT or Charcot-Marie-Tooth is the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathy. It affects over 155,000 Americans (as many as MS).  It is a disease of the nerves that control the muscles. It is slowly progressive, causing loss of normal function and or sensation in the lower legs/feet and arms/hands.

Symptoms include; muscle wasting in the lower legs and feet leading to foot drop, poor balance and gait problems Atrophy in the hands causes difficulty with manual dexterity.

Structural foot deformities such as high arches and hammer toes are common.

Poor tolerance for cool or cold temperatures and many people have chronically cold hands and feet.

Additional symptoms may include fatigue, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties and hearing loss.

Additional Link
Follow CMT affected Paratriathlete Timmy Dixon
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, paratriathlon, challenged athlete, Team CMT, Running for My Life-Winning for CMT. Hereditary Neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth.
CMT and running, CMT and triathlon, CMT and athlete, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and running, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and triathlon, Team USA and Team CMT, Running for my life-Winning for CMT, CMT athlete, athlete and CMT, triathlete and CMT, Boston Marathon Bombing

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Super Food Saturday- Pumpkin Pasta

Another pumpkin recipe. I could not resist. It is really easy to make, is healthy and is really good.
I used cheese filled ravioli because the cheese flavor blends well with the pumpkin.  I finished off the dish with a sprinkle of sunflower seeds. You could use pumpkin seeds or any nut you happen to have on hand.  I hope you enjoy it.


Pumpkin Pasta Sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large shallot peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary chopped
1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
1 cup white wine
1 can pumpkin puree (15 oz.)
1 tablespoon honey
¾ cup whole almonds
1 lb. pasta prepared
Add oil to frying pan. When hot add shallots and sauté until soft.  Add the herbs, wine, pumpkin and honey.   Place in blender with almonds.  Puree until smooth. Return to saucepan and cook until heated through.  Add a bit of olive oil or more wine if the sauce is too thick. Add salt and ground pepper to taste.
Serve over prepared pasta.

Serves 4



*********************
Chris Wodke at Chicago Triathlon 2013


Chris Wodke
Founder & Manager Team CMT
www.run4cmt.com

Chris is a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a three time participant of the Boston Marathon.  In 2012 she finished 2nd at Boston in the Mobility Impaired Division. She was on the course in 2013 when the bombs exploded.

She has appeared three times at the Paratriathlon National Triathlon Sprint Championship. She was the 2012 and 2014 National Champion Paratriathlon Open Division Champion.

In 2014 she was the PC Open Champion at the Duathlon National Championship. She has qualified to represent Team USA at the Aquathon ITU World Championship in Chicago in 2015.  

 In 2014 she represented  the U.S. as a paratriathlete at the Pan-American Triathlon Championship in Dallas, Texas.

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that details her experience as a CMT affected athlete.

You may visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6


Team CMT is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness and to find a cure for CMT. We have 159 members in 30 states. We also have members in Australia, Scotland, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland and Iran. If you wish to join us visit our web site; www.run4cmt.com or www.hnf-cure.org


CMT or Charcot-Marie-Tooth is the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathy. It affects over 155,000 Americans (as many as MS).  It is a disease of the nerves that control the muscles. It is slowly progressive, causing loss of normal function and or sensation in the lower legs/feet and arms/hands.

Symptoms include; muscle wasting in the lower legs and feet leading to foot drop, poor balance and gait problems Atrophy in the hands causes difficulty with manual dexterity.

Structural foot deformities such as high arches and hammer toes are common.

Poor tolerance for cool or cold temperatures and many people have chronically cold hands and feet.

Additional symptoms may include fatigue, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties and hearing loss.

Additional Link
Follow CMT affected Paratriathlete Timmy Dixon
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, paratriathlon, challenged athlete, Team CMT, Running for My Life-Winning for CMT. Hereditary Neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth.
CMT and running, CMT and triathlon, CMT and athlete, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and running, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and triathlon, Team USA and Team CMT, Running for my life-Winning for CMT, CMT athlete, athlete and CMT, triathlete and CMT, Boston Marathon Bombing



Friday, December 19, 2014

Fair Friday- Scent Bath Oil

Scented Bath Oil


1 cup olive oil
½ cup almond oil
1 tablespoon vitamin E oil
30 drops essential oil or fragrance oil of choice (Lavender and rose are good choices)

Add together all the ingredients and mix well.  Pour into glass bottle and seal. A few rose or lavender buds can be added to the bottle.

To use put 1/4 cup in bath.

*******************
Chris Wodke representing Team USA at PATCO 2014 Dallas

Chris Wodke
Founder & Manager Team CMT
www.run4cmt.com

Chris is a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a three time participant of the Boston Marathon.  In 2012 she finished 2nd at Boston in the Mobility Impaired Division. She was on the course in 2013 when the bombs exploded.

She has appeared three times at the Paratriathlon National Triathlon Sprint Championship. She was the 2012 and 2014 National Champion Paratriathlon Open Division Champion.

In 2014 she was the PC Open Champion at the Duathlon National Championship. She has qualified to represent Team USA at the Aquathon ITU World Championship in Chicago in 2015.  

 In 2014 she represented  the U.S. as a paratriathlete at the Pan-American Triathlon Championship in Dallas, Texas.

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that details her experience as a CMT affected athlete.

You may visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6


Team CMT is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness and to find a cure for CMT. We have 159 members in 30 states. We also have members in Australia, Scotland, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland and Iran. If you wish to join us visit our web site; www.run4cmt.com or www.hnf-cure.org


CMT or Charcot-Marie-Tooth is the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathy. It affects over 155,000 Americans (as many as MS).  It is a disease of the nerves that control the muscles. It is slowly progressive, causing loss of normal function and or sensation in the lower legs/feet and arms/hands.

Symptoms include; muscle wasting in the lower legs and feet leading to foot drop, poor balance and gait problems Atrophy in the hands causes difficulty with manual dexterity.

Structural foot deformities such as high arches and hammer toes are common.

Poor tolerance for cool or cold temperatures and many people have chronically cold hands and feet.

Additional symptoms may include fatigue, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties and hearing loss.

Additional Link
Follow CMT affected Paratriathlete Timmy Dixon
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, paratriathlon, challenged athlete, Team CMT, Running for My Life-Winning for CMT. Hereditary Neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth.
CMT and running, CMT and triathlon, CMT and athlete, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and running, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and triathlon, Team USA and Team CMT, Running for my life-Winning for CMT, CMT athlete, athlete and CMT, triathlete and CMT, Boston Marathon Bombing

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Product Review- Kind Bars vs. Good Bars

Product Review- Kind Bars vs. Good Bars
                                        


I like going to the pre-race expo. It is a great place to find new products. I tasted Good Greens bars at the Chicago Triathlon expo in August.  They were giving out samples of all of their flavors and offering the bars for $1 each.  I tried the pumpkin and it was OMG good.  I bought one bar for my breakfast the next day. I should have bought a box because they retail for $2.69.

I’m usually not very hungry first thing in the morning. Often a bar either homemade or bought is the perfect mean for me with a glass of milk and a piece of fruit.  When I do triathlons, bars are the perfect breakfast to grab and take to the venue.

I’ve been trying to improve my nutrition just a bit by eating more nutrient dense foods. The good bar vendor did a breakdown of the nutritional content of several bars.


Good
Cliff
Kind
Calories
195
239
195
Protein
10 g
10 g
5 g
Fiber
5 g
5 g
4 g
Sugar
14 g
23 g
15 g
Fat
9 g
5 g
17 g
Carbs
24 g
43 g
25 g
Organic
70%
70%
0%
Gluten Free
Yes
No
Yes
Greens
Yes
No
No
Antioxidants
Yes
No
Plus Brand
Pro-biotics
Yes
No
No
Vegan
Yes
No
Yes

The Good Greens bar wins on nutrition. But what about a taste comparison? I’ve eaten cliff bars and really don’t care for them.  They also have omega 3’s and a low glycemic index.

 I’ve eaten Kind bars before. Here is a side by side look.
     

The Good Greens bar wins on nutrition. But what about a taste comparison? I’ve eaten cliff bars and really don’t care for them.  The good bars  also have omega 3’s and a low glycemic index.


 I really loved the pumpkin flavor Good Greens bar. It tastes like fresh pumpkin pie. Both bars are covered with a yogurt coating. It flakes and makes a big mess when eating it.  I also tried the apple pie flavor and it was ok.   I've had the blueberry flavor and it is a bit better than the apple, not great taste, but ok.

The Good Greens bar is available from Jewel, Berkots Super food, Whole Foods, Marianos’ Sunset Foods and Treasure Island Foods. You can get them on Amazon, although I have not been able to order the pumpkin flavor. You can also order from www.goodgreens.com

There are available in the following flavors:
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter
  • Chocolate Mint
  • Chocolate Crunch
  • Chocolate Raspberry
  • Wild Berry
  • Blueberry Bliss
  • Banana Nut
  • Pumpkin Spice
  • Apple Crumb
  • Pomegranate Acai

The website has an option to get a sampler pack. I’d like to try some of the other flavors.

The Kind bar I tried  was a chocolate cherry.  I really like the Kind bar much better.  The nuts, seeds and dried fruit give it a nice consistency.  It is really much better tasting than the Good Greens bar. I got these bars at Target and they are available on Amazon. I ordered a sampler pack that included all of their flavors:

  • Almond & Coconut Delight
  • Almonds & Apricot
  • Fruit & Nut Delight

Kind Plus
  • Blueberry Pecan
  • Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate
  • Almond Walnut Macadamia Nut
  • Cranberry Almond
  • Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew
  • Pomegranate Blueberry Pistachio
 I've been eating a Kind bar every week before indoor cycle class.  So far I've seen a nice increase in my power numbers. I've been able to sustain between 150-160 watts pretty easily.   Part of that improvement is due to doing less r

**********************
Chris Wodke at Duathlon National Championship 2013


Chris Wodke
Founder & Manager Team CMT
www.run4cmt.com

Chris is a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a three time participant of the Boston Marathon.  In 2012 she finished 2nd at Boston in the Mobility Impaired Division. She was on the course in 2013 when the bombs exploded.

She has appeared three times at the Paratriathlon National Triathlon Sprint Championship. She was the 2012 and 2014 National Champion Paratriathlon Open Division Champion.

In 2014 she was the PC Open Champion at the Duathlon National Championship. She has qualified to represent Team USA at the Aquathon ITU World Championship in Chicago in 2015.  

 In 2014 she represented  the U.S. as a paratriathlete at the Pan-American Triathlon Championship in Dallas, Texas.

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that details her experience as a CMT affected athlete.

You may visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6


Team CMT is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness and to find a cure for CMT. We have 158 members in 32 states. We also have members in Australia, Scotland, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland and Iran. If you wish to join us visit our web site; www.run4cmt.com or www.hnf-cure.org


CMT or Charcot-Marie-Tooth is the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathy. It affects over 155,000 Americans (as many as MS).  It is a disease of the nerves that control the muscles. It is slowly progressive, causing loss of normal function and or sensation in the lower legs/feet and arms/hands.

Symptoms include; muscle wasting in the lower legs and feet leading to foot drop, poor balance and gait problems Atrophy in the hands causes difficulty with manual dexterity.

Structural foot deformities such as high arches and hammer toes are common.

Poor tolerance for cool or cold temperatures and many people have chronically cold hands and feet.

Additional symptoms may include fatigue, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties and hearing loss.

Additional Link
Follow CMT affected Paratriathlete Timmy Dixon
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, paratriathlon, challenged athlete, Team CMT, Running for My Life-Winning for CMT. Hereditary Neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth.
CMT and running, CMT and triathlon, CMT and athlete, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and running, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and triathlon, Team USA and Team CMT, Running for my life-Winning for CMT, CMT athlete, athlete and CMT, triathlete and CMT, Boston Marathon Bombing