Leon's Triathlon-The Race That Almost Wasn't

"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek." - Sandy Armstrong, Rowing Coach

This year the USAT Paratriathlon Championship for the North Centeral Region was held on June 02 in Hammond Indiana.

This year I'm racing both age group and as a paratriathlete. I race as an age group athlete so that I can qualify for National Championships, Team USA and the World Champsionship.

This year I am racing all my triathlons as a Physically Challened athletes. I need three races to be eligible for national ranking. The Marquette Indoor Triathlon was my first race this season. Leaon'w would be my second.

Hammond is just outside of Chicago.  Chicago is the home of Dare2Tri one of the biggest organizatoins for paratriathltes. They would have a huge turn out of athletes for the evetn.

June is pretty early to do a race in the midwest. We had a really cold winter followed by a cold and rainy sping. I was worried about the lake water being cold for the swim. I've had full blown asthma attacks twice in races with cold water.  One race I had to drop out and the other I probably should have.

The pre-race email said the water temperature was in the low 60s.  I started to worry and remember the bad experience in the cold water races.  I am a nervous swimmer at best. It is my weakest event and the first open water race of the season is alway stressful.

When I picked up my packet I was told the water temperature was still in the low 60s.  Add into that a race volunteer told me my hotel was in a bit of a questionalble area. It was on the recommended list and only a few minutes from the race venue. It was a Ramada and seemed nice. It was much better than my hotel from my race in Michigan.

We got lots and lots of rain inthe later afternoon and evening.  As usual I did not sleep well . I only felt at peace when I decided to pull out of the race.  It did not make me feel good since I drove three hours from Milwaukee and spent the money for a hotel.  I just did not want to take the chance of any problems on the swim.  There would be other races.

I had to turn in my timing chip, since race organizers fine you if you don't return it. The packet pick up had be in a raised stage in the park. I was climbing the stairs to the stage when I stopped. I decided to go feel the water for myself and see how cold it was.

To my surprise it felt really warm.  I decided to do the race. As I was setting up in transition, the race announcer told us the water temperature was 68 F. That is actually preety warm for this time of year.

This race honored fallen militariy heros. There was a display at the race venue of all the members of ther service from Indiana that have lost their lives since 911.  There was a very moving ceremony before the race.  Melissa Stockwell, founder of Dare2Tri presented flags flown over the White House to several veterans. Melissa lost a leg due to a bomb explosion while serving in Iraq.

I lined up with all the other para-athletes. There must have been 60 of us. I started out near the back and just took it one stroke at a time.  I had to go around some athletes, but it was a routine swim.

The bike and run were both fast and flat. I had a decent race finishing in a time of 1:33:05 for 3rd place. I did not stay around for the awards since I had a long drive back. I'm glad I pushed through my swim fear.   Giving in would not have moved me toward my goals. Every race finished is valuable experience in growing as an athlete. Facing my fears is vital for my growth as a person.
Giving in to fear is worse then having a bad race. I feel terrible when I give into fear, especially when there is no reason to.  So two trithlons down of the three or four I will do this year.  A race well done is always a good feeling.

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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 Team USA at the Aquathon ITU World Championship in Chicago in 2015i, Cozumel in 2016 and Denmark in 2018. In 2018 finishing 5^th in the 60 to 64 age group.

 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 2^nd 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”.

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 CMTWe currently have 225 athletes in 41 states. We also have members in Australia, Canada, England, Finland, Vietnam, Iran, Scotland, France, Turkey, Poland, Norway, Mexico 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/

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