"If you are looking for the answers to the big questions about your soul, you;d best begin with the little answers about your body." - Dr. George Sheehan
Being an athlete is a good way to learn about yourself. You really find out what you are made of, when there is a race on your schedule and temperature outside is 2 F.
I was scheduled to run on of the runs in my running club's race series. I really could have skipped it since I am running the long series this year. It is always tough to get out of a nice warm bed to run outside when it is cold and windy. I don't run outside when it gets this cold unless I am racing. I used the treadmill to avoid the cold and icy streets.
But I have to volunteer for at least one race a year and I was scheduled to work packet pick-up.
I love volunteering at races and do it often. I was working the tee-shirt table. All the volunteer were women in my age group or near to it. Our big topic of discussion was how many layers we were going to wear and how we were planning to stay warm.
I ski in the winter so I have the needed winter clothes. I had on a wool base layer, a smart wool top, thick Lycra pants, a fleece top, gloves with hand warmers and fleece hat. I had a fleece neck gaiter in case I needed to protect my face.
I was worried about ice and there were some patches with thick ice on the streets. I just had to be careful. My strategy was to run fairly easy. I did that until about half way.
I started to get bored. I started doing 3 min intervals to reel runners in. It gave me something to do.
The race goes through Hoyt park and I run there often. I saw five deer in the park along the course.
I was able to get through it. I was even warm enough I had to remove the fleece jacket and hat.
Running in this type of cold was a growth experience. I am much more likely now to race and run in these temperatures. I finished 4th and 3rd in the club standings for my age group.
I am always happy to finish. Every race is a victory for me. Being healthy and able to run is something to celebrate. I am looking forward to a happy and healthy 2019 racing season.
*******************
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 and at the Aqua bike National Championship in 2016. She represented TeamUSA at the Aquathon ITU World Championship in Chicago in 2015i, Cozumel
in 2016 and Denmark in 2018. In 2018 finishing 5th in the 60 to 64
age group.
In 2014 she was the PC Open Champion at the Duathlon National Championship and at the Aqua bike National Championship in 2016. She represented Team
In 2014 she represented the U.S. as a paratriathlete at the Pan-American
Triathlon Championship in Dallas ,
Texas . She has won state championships in cycling
and triathlon as a senior Olympian. In 2017 she placed 2nd in her
age group at the Winter Triathlon National Championship, earning a spot on Team
USA
for the World Championship.
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 and the book “Soup Sundays, A Journey Toward Healthy
Eating”.
You may
visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6
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 218 members in 39 states. We also have members in Australia , England ,
Scotland , Canada , Vietnam ,
Turkey , Finland , France, Ireland, Poland , Iran ,
Norway and Sweden . 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/
Follow CMT Author Chris Steinke
https://cmtandmesite.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/what-is-charcot-marie-tooth-disease/
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/
Follow CMT Author Chris Steinke
https://cmtandmesite.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/what-is-charcot-marie-tooth-disease/
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