Race Report
Trail Assail 5 K Nordic Classic Race
Minoka Park, Waukesha
Wisconsin
 |
| 1st place Woman overall |
“The task before you
is never greater, than the energy within you”. – Quote posted at race site
I signed up for this race to get some race experience
because I’ve signed up for the USAT Winter Triathlon National Championship in Boise in February. That
race is a 5 k run, 12K mountain bike and a 5K Nordic ski race.
I am not sure I am even going to go to Boise. I have 13 other races scheduled and up
until today I’ve not done a Nordic ski race.
I needed to try this race to make a decision on whether or not I should
go to Boise.
Not sure I want to spend the money and not sure it is a good idea with my lack
of winter race experience.
I’ve been a Nordic skier for years, but I’ve struggled on
hills. Nordic classic skis do not have metal skis like Alpine skis. I downhill
ski every week on pretty steep hills. It
is easy to turn using the metal edges and shifting your weight.
Nordic skate skis have an edge which is why I ordered a pair
in November and planned to practice on them before this race. The skis arrived on Friday and the bindings
have to be mounted. So no skate skis at least for this race.
The temps were in the 40’s the last few days. It drizzled
yesterday, so I would not have been surprised if they race was cancelled. There
are lots of bare patches in the parks around Milwaukee.
But since most of the course was in the woods, the race was
on. I did my patrol shift the day before
and did not get to bed until midnight. So I knew I would not have my full
energy.
The routine for this race was pretty much like any run or
triathlon. Packet pick up starting at 7:30, then a little way to the picnic
area where the race would be staged.
There were only 60 racers signed up between the 5 K and 10 K
races. The division would be split into skate and classic racers. I saw very few women in the start area. That
came in handy for my four pre-race trips to the bathroom. There was no line at
all.
The first part of the race was a loop around an open field.
I did a lap around the field for a warm-up. The snow was thin, icy and slick.
The skate skiers seemed to be doing fine. It was not good conditions for
classic skis. My skies were sliding around.
There were also lots of bare patches.
Race temperature was 35 F and overcast. A great day otherwise for
racing.
We lined up and were off. There were only 3 or 4 classic
skiers. I was soon left well behind.
The race director told me it was not a hilly course. Well it was at
least for me.
I fell three times on the first big down hill. A volunteer ran up to see if I was ok. I’ve
had lots of practice falling in my life and I am pretty good at it. Just one of
the benefits of CMT.
I finally figured out side slipping down the steep hills did
the trick. The next hill went well until
I saw the ditch I had to go through before crossing the road. After a fall, I got down the hill. I knew it
was a sharp icy turn so I took the run out.
I then proceeded to the icy turn we had been warned about at the start.
It was glare ice, another fall.
Now a couple of up hills which I am great at, I breezed
through those. The faster racers from the 10 K field doing two laps pass
me. That is ok, they are on skate skis
which are really fast.
Then a problem, a fork in the trail, no volunteers and no
signs or marks. I am direction impaired
so if there is a wrong way to go, I am going to take it. Today was no
different.
I kind of knew I was going the wrong way. The trail bordered
a dog park and I asked someone if he had seen any racers. He said no, but I was
committed. I hoped the trail would loop back around it didn’t. I found a trail sign and discovered I had
taken the wrong turn and had to re-trace my steps.
I got on the right trail this time and I had been pretty close
to the finish. I figure my little detour
cost me about 15 minutes. Just
before the finish, my skis once again slipped on the ice on perfectly flat
ground. I did a face plant right onto my
cheek bone. I may have a nice shiner from that.
I finished. I figured there would be some rough patches
since I am just learning. I fell about 6 times, but I was able to do some minor
hills, so I’ve made progress.
My goal was to finish in less than an hour and I did the
course in 48 minutes. Take away the 15-20 minutes for the detour and I would
have had a respectable time.
I hung around talking to people thinking maybe I had won my
age group. Turns out I won the 5K classic overall. I am thinking I must have
been the only woman.
Despite the falls and challenges, it was a lot of fun. The
woods were beautiful. I hear next weeks race is much flatter course.
So I am going to have another go.
I met my goal of getting some experience racing and I am
getting better at the hills. I hope to master skate skiing soon and give that a
try. I don’t think I am quite ready for Nationals. That race may have to wait
until next year.
***********************
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.
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 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.
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Marathon Bombing
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