World Championship Prep, Week 10- Trade Offs

Riveredge Nature Center Bike Ride

"For everything you have missed, you have gained something else; and for everything you gain you lose something else."- Ralph Waldo Emerson

6/21,   Sun     Run 1 hr, 20 min
6/22,   Mon    Swim 70
6/23,   Tue     Yoga 60, wt. 30
6/24,   Wed    Bike 1 hr 45, run 10 min
6/25,   Thur    Group Bike ride, 1 hr 40 minutes
6/26,    Fri       Swim 70 minutes
6/27,    Sat       Bike 1 hr 15 minutes, Run 55 minutes

Part of being an athlete is working out to prepare for races.  If you've read my posts, you already know that I work out six days a week, sometimes seven days a week.

On many of those days, I am working out almost two hours. On the weekends it can be even longer if I have a long bike ride.

There are benefits of course to all that work. My resting heart rate is below 60 beats per minute. Lots of exercise is good for weight management and it keeps me strong to limit the progress of my CMT.

This much working out is needed if I want to perform well not only in the World Championships, but in races all though out the season.

One of those races will come on July 5th as I line up for the triathlon at the National Senior Games in Minneapolis.  I had planned on also doing cycling races later in the week. I had a change in plan because I found out this week I was accepted to the New York Triathlon on July 19th.

Admission is by lottery and the race has been filled for months. I gained entry through the Challenged Athletes Foundation.  I will be competing in the Physically Challenged Open division.

My entry came with a $1000 travel grant.  It won't pay all my expenses, but it is a good start.  I had to give up the cycling races for the Senior games to be able to do New York. I am looking forward to connecting with many our our New York Team CMT members and HNF board members.

All the working out I do crowds out lots of things in my life. About the only time I get to see a movie is when I'm on vacation.  We have a huge music festival here in Milwaukee called Summerfest.
I don't have time to go. It is just one of those things that gets edged out by my workout schedule. I  have not had my kayak out in two years either.

There are lots of trade offs I make as an athlete to be ready for high level competition.I am willing to trade those things to be ready when I line up for two national championship races this fall and the World Championships in September.  It's all worth it, because although I give up some things, competing in National and World Championships makes it all worth the sacrifice.

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

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.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

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 165 members in 32 states. We also have members in Australia, Scotland, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland, England 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

Salad Sunday Taco Salad

Taco Salad

Taco Salad

½ lb ground turkey

¼ white onion chopped

1 tablespoon fajita seasoning

2 teaspoons chili powder
1 package spring salad mix

1 small can sliced black olives

Two Roma tomatoes

1 cup sour cream

1 cup salsa

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Brown turkey and chopped onions. Add the fajita seasoning and chili powder.  Put salad in bowl.  Slice tomatoes and add to salad.  Add black olives and toss the salad greens.

Mix together the sour cream and salsa. Put the turkey on top of the salad mixture.  Drizzle the sour cream mixture over the salad and top with the cheese.

Serves 4

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

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.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

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 165 members in 32 states. We also have members in Australia, Scotland, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland, England 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

Fair Friday- Milk Bath Salts

Lavender Milk Bath and Rose Milk Bath Salts

I am not doing as much crafting now that it is summer.  Gardening and summer chores around the house keep me busy. It is also triathlon season, my summer weeks are filled with work outs and races.

I did manage to make these two mixtures tonight. I love to take a nice long soak after a hard day of working out.   The ingredients are all easy to get on Amazon or eBay.

Milk in a bath helps to soften the skin and remove a layer of dead skin cells. The higher the fat content of the powdered  milk, the more the skin is nourished.

Rose Milk Bath Salts

1 1/2 cups powdered milk
1 cup fine Epsom salts
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup corn starch
1/2 cup dried rose pedals
20 drops rose essential oils
10 drops vanilla essential oils
5 drops Rosemary essential oils

Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  Add the essential oils a few drops at a time. Mix well until the oils are spread throughout the mixture. Set aside to cure for 24 hours.  Put into a decorative jar with a sealed top.  To use pour 1 cup of the milk bath under running water. Disperse with your hands. Soak for 15 to 20 minutes.  Dry off after bath and apply body oil or lotion.


Lavender Milk Bath Salts

1 1/2 cups powdered milk
1 cup fine Epsom salts
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup corn starch
1/2 cup dried lavender buds
20 drops lavender essential oils


Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  Add the essential oils a few drops at a time. Mix well until the oils are spread throughout the mixture. Set aside to cure for 24 hours.  Put into a decorative jar with a sealed top.  To use pour 1 cup of the milk bath under running water. Disperse with your hands. Soak for 15 to 20 minutes.  Dry off after bath and apply body oil or lotion.

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

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.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

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 165 members in 32 states. We also have members in Australia, Scotland, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland, England 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

Embracing Our Imperfections

Team CMT at Bike NY, raising awarness for CMT

" Happiness does not depend on who you are or what you have, it depends solely on what you think." - Dale Carnegie

When a Navajo artist weaves a rug, they deliberately place an imperfection into the rug.  They believe that is where the Spirit moves in and out of the rug.

Weavers of oriental rugs also weave a mistake into their rugs. In these culturs there is a strong belief in the inferiority of man and the superiority of Allah. The imperfection becomes a tribute to man's reletionship to God.

In the Bible, the Apostle Paul prays for delivery from a physical weakness.  He says in 2 Corinthians 12:9 when God denies his request:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness."  Paul goes on to say;    " Therefore I will boast about my weakness so that Christ's power may rest on me."

Why is the topic of imperfections addressed by so many different religions?  Because the experience or imperfections or weakness is so universal. Almost eveyone has some burden, physical, mental or emotional that they carry.

I did not choose to be born with CMT, but I had a choice about what to do once I found out I had CMT. I never want my CMT to be an excuse for not living my life or doing the work God put me on earth to do.

Even as my physical body continues to fail, I can keep a positive attitude.  I think it makes a difference in how I feel physically and how my CMT progresses.

I read often in on-line forums how many in the community hide their CMT.  I want to tell them we have nothing to be ashamed of. I hope we will all embrace the fact we have CMT or any other imperfection.  Our imperfections make us the strong, interesting and beautiful people that we are.

I have seen a change in the community in the last four years. I see many more starting to be open about having CMT.   We need everyone to be brave and be open.  I often hear you cannot solve a problem you don't acknowledge. I think we can not find treatments or cures for a disease we keep hidden.

I understand the reluctance to disclose. You take a risk when you tell friends and family about a chronic condition.  I know first hand that while some will embrace you others will drop out of your life.

It puzzled me when some friends dropped out of my life when I told them about my CMT. I was the same person before I told them, Like many I was born with CMT and it has always been part of my experience with them.

It takes really work to lay the ground work for treatments and a cure. I often hear the comment from those in the CMT community they wish they had come up with the ice bucket challenge that was so successful for ALS last year.

That campaign was so successful because almost everyone either knows someone with ALS or has heard of ALS.  No one will work for a cure or give money to some unknown cause. They give because they have a friend or family member with acondition.

So my challenge to the community is for everyone of us to talk about our CMT or the CMT or our family members. Do not be sad about having CMT and I know it is tough. Be open about how CMT affects your life. I have found when I am upbeat people are really interested in listening.

Be proud of how strong we all are and how well we have managed this condition. Do not rest until everyone has heard of CMT!

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

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.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

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 165 members in 32 states. We also have members in Australia, Scotland, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland, England 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

World Championship Preparation Week 9, Will Work for Pie

" The most important attribute a player must have is mental toughness."  - Mia Ham, Team USA                                                                                                           soccer player

6/14  Sun     Swim 70 min, run 60 min
6/15  Mon    Rest
6/16  Tue      Run 20 min, bike 80 min
6/17  Wed     Bike 40 min
6/18  Thur     Aquathlon Race,  1000 meter swim, 5 K run
6/19  Fri        Rest
6/20  Sat       Pie Ride 32 mile bike ride, Janesville, Wisconsin

I am still catching up from being away followed by company.  I think I am still catching up on rest as well.  I often don't sleep well on Sunday nights.  The Sunday of this training week I had about 4 hours of sleep.

That meant an un-intended rest day on Monday. I could barely stay awake on the drive home and it was straight to bed for a couple hour nap. I was just too tired out.  I've always struggled to fall asleep and sleep problems are common with CMT. It is so frustrating to lay awake in bed knowing my workout the next day is going to be ruined. I had an open water swim scheduled and there was no way I was going to fight wind and waves on no sleep.

I still got a chance to swim later in the week. There is a local Aquathlon race series. I did not want to go. I was tired and feeling kind of down. It was a 45 minute drive through traffic. I thought I had better show up or my coach was going to disown me.

It was a low key event. Maybe 125 athletes. You have to be pretty hard core to show up to race at 7:15 on a Friday night. So even though the field was small it was fast.  The air temp had dropped from 85 F that afternoon to  61 F. The air was cool but the water was warm when I dipped my toe in.

I skipped the pre-race workout because I was tired and did not want to get cold from being wet. So I chatted up a few of the other racers.  There were quite a few inexperienced woman racers and they were nervous. So what happened at the swim start should not have been a surprise.

The swim was a mass start of men and women.  I am kind of used to small para-triathlon starts or at least women only age groups.  I hung back a bit to stay away from the fasties. I did not want to get run over.  I was not thrilled I would be doing two laps on the course, I had never done that. One lap looked far enough.

I wadded in and as I hit the water all I saw was black like the color of mud.  I am so used to pool swims that was a shock.  I tried to settle in, but swimmers all around me were panicking. There was lots of thrashing and swimmers failing all around me. It was the worst start I had ever been in. With all the panic around me I started to freak out a bit as well.  My wet suit was so tight, I felt like I couldn't breath. I had thoughts of quitting and "This is so not worth it."

Then I thought,  "What do you think the world championship is going to be like?"  "If you want to represent the U.S., you better not bail out.  So I started using my swim mantra.  Pretty soon I was able to settle into a rhythm. I stopped to loosen up my collar of my wet suit. Soon my heart rate calmed down and I could breath.
I took it one buoy at a time.  I saw swimmers doing the breast stroke and sped up because I was not going to let someone breast stroking beat me.  I made it around twice and even beat a couple of pretty fit looking guys.  It was a slow swim for me, but I survived.

As I came out of transition the lead runner was just finishing. Those two guys that I beat in the swim passed me in the run in the last quarter mile. Still I finished and I got some practice in mental toughness.  There are three more races this summer and they will be good practice in the run up to my World Championship race in Chicago in September.

One of my goals this year is to improve my bike time and that means getting in more long rides. I 've been doing some fun long events to get in the miles. This week was the Rotary Club pie ride in Janesville, Wisconsin.  I've been wanting to do this ride for several years.  It goes through the rolling farm country around Janesville.  The course was nice rolling hills.

We always say corn should be knee high by the 4th of July. This crop looks like it is well on its way.
I was on my new bike and it performed well. I am already thinking about upgrading with some new wheels.  The best part was a wonderful cherry pie was waiting for me.

It was a nice reward for a day's work. It was a good week and I earned a treat.  I had a tough start to my race but I pushed through it.    Even if I have a rough patch in a race or in life, I know the mental toughness I've worked so hard on will be there to help me get through any challenges.

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

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.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

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 165 members in 32 states. We also have members in Australia, Scotland, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland, England 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

World Championship Prep Weeks 7 & 8, Juggling Act

My Dad and Brother

" The key to success is often the ability to adapt."  Anthony Brandt

5/31 Sun      Run 30 min, bike 45 min, wts 30 min
6/1   Mon    Swim 70 min
6/2   Tue      Run 70 min
6/3   Wed    Swim 50 min
6/4   Thur    Rest
6/5   Fri       Bike 1 hr 20, run20 min
6/6   Sat       bike 2 hr 30 min, swim 70 min

6/7   Sun      Run 55 min, wt. 25 min,
6/8   Mon     Run 62 min
6/9   Tue      Swim 75 min
6/10  Wed    Bike 45 min, run 60 min
6/11  Thur    Bike 75 min, run 10 min
6/12   Fri      Bike 45 min
6/13   Sat      Women's bike clinic, bike 75 min

Sometimes the biggest challenge of being an athlete is the juggling act.  The first week of June I was in Dallas visiting my family right after the Para-triathlon National Championship.

My sister in law had off from work and it seemed like we were off doing something pretty much every day.  To get in my workouts I had to get up early before we went away for the day.

I left on Sunday from Dallas and it was a short week at work because my Dallas family was coming home for a visit on Thursday. So I unpacked, cleaned the house, did laundry, and grocery shopped to get ready.  I worked every day and got my workout in by doing it right after work. I start work at 6 am and I am done by 2:30. That gives me some time in the afternoon to get in my chores and my workout.

We were busy all weekend, a bead show on Friday, a visit to my dad on Saturday in Iola Wisconsin, then some shopping for Packer stuff on Sunday. My dad is in a nursing home now three hours away. His CMT now confines him to a wheelchair. I've watched over the years has he has adapted to his advancing CMT.  Sometimes when I look at him, I wonder if that will be my future as well. I am determined to do whatever it takes to stay active. I think it is the only thing that will slow the progression of my CMT.

 It was a good visit, but by the time they left I was exhausted.   I was too tired to do my open water swim on Monday night, but I adapted with a run.

I ended the week with a women's bike racing clinic. My coach says I need more group riding experience before I try a criterium. I got to practice some good bike handling skills like cornering.  I won an entry into a metric century women's ride and got some other great gifts that more than paid for the price of the clinic.

I am always thinking ahead to the future. About four years ago, I could tell my long distance running days were numbered so I started to transition into triathlon. Now as running is getting more difficult I am starting to lay the ground work to race bikes.

I've already done a couple of time trials and road races in the State Senior games and will get some more experience in a few weeks when I compete at the National Senior Games in Minneapolis.

Every week brings different challenges, the key to success as an athlete is adapting to get the workouts done. That is the only way to be ready for race day and life I guess!


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

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.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

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 165 members in 32 states. We also have members in Australia, Scotland, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland, England 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

Salad Sunday- Avacado Strawberry Salad

1 pint strawberries sliced
1 bag spring salad mix (baby kale, spinach mix would work as well)
1 1/2 cups roast chicken cut into bite size pieces
1 avocado sliced into bite sized pieces
1/2 cup sliced almonds

Dressing
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons no sugar strawberry spread
1/2 teaspoon orange oil or extract
1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Mix all the dressing ingredients together in a jar with a lid. Shake well to blend ingredients or place in blender if having trouble getting ingredients to blend.

Put all the salad ingredients into a large bowl, except the almonds. Pour dressing over and toss well. Top with the almonds and serve. Makes 4 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 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.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

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 165 members in 32 states. We also have members in Australia, Scotland, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland, England 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

Super Food Saturday- Orange Kefir Smoothie

Orange Kefir Smoothie

1 cup plain Kefir

1 cup orange juice

1 ripe banana

1 tablespoons ground flax seeds

2 tablespoons protein powder

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Super Foods: Kefir, ground flax seeds, turmeric powder.

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

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.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

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 163 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

Fair Friday- Two Ingredient Bath Salts

Two Ingredient Vanilla Bath Salts

Really easy and this can be made even if you don’t have any essential oils at home.

2 cups Epsom Salts
Vanilla  extract

Pour the Epsom salts into a mixing bowl.  Add a few drops of the vanilla extract and stir with a spoon. Store the salt mixture in a glass jar. If you have a vanilla bean, place it on top of the salt mixture.  Store in a cool dry place.

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

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.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

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 163 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

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

Week 5 & 6 World Championship Prep- National Para-triathlon Championship

"Always do your best, what you plant now, you will harvest later." Og Mandino

Week 5
Sun   5/17     Bike 1 hour, weights 30 min
Mon  5/18    Swim 63 min, run 32 min
Tue   5/19    Yoga 60 min, bike 45 min
Wed  5/20    Brick 1 hr 19 min
Thur  5/21   Weights 30 min, Swim 55 min
Fri     5/22    Rest
Sat     5/23    Run 40 min, bike 42 min

Week 6
Sun    5/24     Rest
Mon   5/25    Cap Tex Tri, 1 hr 35 min,
Tue    5/26     Run 70 minutes
Wed   5/27    Walk 30 min, bike 60 min, wt 30 min
Thur   5/28     Swim 60, run 50 min
Fri      5/29     Bike 75 min, walk 30 min
Sat      5/30     Run 1 hr 15 min, Walk 30 minutes
Sun     5/31     Walk 30 minutes, bike 45 minutes, weights 30 minutes.

My first outdoor triathlon was held on Memorial Day in Austin, Texas.  The Cap Tex Triathlon is the National Paratriathlon Championship. Winners would compete in Chicago in September for spots on the US team for the paralympics in Rio.

 I was not eligible to race in the Championship Division, but I was racing in the Physically Challenged Open. I will be competing at the World Championships as an age group athlete in aquathlon for Team USA.
 I've had a good run in the open division of the National Championships.

 I'd placed 1st or 2nd in the previous three years. Austin has always been a good race for me. The course is fast and flat.

Chris Wodke and Joy Von Werder in Austin 

My former coach and Team CMT member Joy Von Werder was going to be in Austin. Joy just finished an assistant physical therapy program. She was in Austin to train with USA triathlon to be a para-triathlon assessor.  Joy joined my family for dinner on Saturday night. When Joy was my coach we talked by email pretty much every week day.  We found out we are both members of the same national sorority.  Joy really feels like a sister and I was so excited to meet her. Joy came out and watched me race on Sunday. She was there with my family cheering me on the bike course.

We had terrible storms in Austin on both Saturday and Sunday.  There were tornado warnings and lots of flooding.  Our hotel overlooked Ladybird lake and this is what the river looked like on Saturday afternoon.

 There was lots of debris, in fact so much that birds were landing on these debris fields. The bacteria count was high enough the swim was cancelled.  Good thing since when the floods come, snakes are common in the rivers. I am deathly afraid of snakes and I am sure I would panic if I found I saw one on the swim.

The race  was changed to a bike and run. The bike would have a time trial start followed by the run. This is a common brick workout for me, so  I was not nervous at all.

Transition on race day was fun. I got to see some of my other tri buddies like Mike Wong out of Chicago and Zach Young who is a Midwestern triathlete. I met Zach at the regional championship in Omaha two years ago. Zach is now a two time national champion. Larry Hicks the men's duathlon PC Open Champ was there.  It was great to see everyone again.

Right before I went to the start line Team CMT member Joey Work stopped by to wish me luck.

 It was great to meet her. I got to talk to her a bit after the race and get this picture. Her relay team took first place that day. Cap Tex is one of the biggest triathlons in the country so taking 1st is a huge accomplishment.

In transition I met one of the other PC Open athletes. Rachael is visually impaired and an Iron Man finisher from the east coast. Visually impaired athletes race with a guide. I am no match for two riders and they passed me a few miles into the race.

I thought I would keep it as close as I could, maybe I could catch them on the run. Cap Tex is a two loop course, fast and flat.  I saw Joy and my family on the bike course. I was having a great race, all that riding and work this winter was paying off.  I passed Larry Hicks the duathlon National Champion. I was 7 seconds behind him last year.  I left him far behind.

I as out 3 miles out from the finish when disaster struck.  There was some concrete debris on the right side of the course, about the size of a coffee saucer.  My front tire literally blew up.  I almost lost control of my bike. I had huge bruises the next day on each side of my knees from where the bike frame hit me.

I knew my race was over as far as a podium finish.  I just wanted to finish. I could not get the front wheel off, so I started running, figuring I could run the rest of the way.  Two other racers got a flat in the same spot. Good thing I insisted on a repair kit with my rental bike.

Some course volunteers asked if I needed help,they asked me to stay that they would get a bike mechanic. I made another try at the front wheel and got it off. I started changing the tire and a volunteer came over to help.  Neither of us could get the tire off. Once the bike mechanic got there he got it off. I race my hand over the tire to make sure there was no debris left.

The mechanic said the bike shop did not set me up with a very good bike on my rental bike. He was not sure I would make it back to transition. He let some air out of the tires and told me not to run over anything and I might just make it back.

I did make it back into transition and I had a decent run all things considered. I finished with a smile on my face.

Chris Wodke finishing National Paratriathlon Championship Austin 2015

How can I not smile. Even world class triathlete Gwen Jorgensen got a flat in the London Olympics.  She was favored to win a gold medal and a flat pushed her to 38th place. 

I finished 4th, but I finished.  My guess is I would have finished in about 1:14 without the  flat. That would have put me in 2nd place. I'd raced a 1:14 in a similar race in Tuscon. Tuscon was hilly and windy.  It just was not my day, but I had a blast meeting the other athletes, Joy and Joey. Joey has such a infectious smile, you cannot be around her and not smile. 

I know how blessed I am to be racing at such a big event. I am privileged to be representing Team CMT at such an big venue. I was disappointed I did not have a good race on a day when I wanted to make a case for the inclusion for those of us with CMT. I was disappointed to come so close to having a great race.

I've been a bit snake bit the last year. Last year at this time of year at PATCO I got food poisioning while racing for Team USA. I am due for an awesome race.

I will be back next year. I'll work hard to be ready and I know I'll have a better result. On to the next race!

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

Chris Wodke racing for Team USA at PATCO Dallas 2014

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.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

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 165 members in 32 states. We also have members in Australia, Scotland, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland, England 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