"All preparation is performance or performance to be." -Albert Einstein
This year my younger brother turned 60 and I visited him in Dallas to help him celebrate. I also managed to find a race that I could do during my visit.
I've been a member of Team USA three times in the Aquathlon discipline. Aquathlon is a swim run race. I'm not really a very talented athlete, so I've learned to pick races where I can excel.
I got started in some of the non-triathlon multi-sport events because there is just not as many athletes completing. I could never hope to qualify for World Championships in Triathlon, but I have qualified in every other multi-sport discipline except off-road triathlon.
Last year I had to skip the national championships for Aquathlon because of other commitments. This year I plan on competing in Miami to again may Team USA in Aquathlon. The top18 athletes in each age group qualify. This year because USA Triathlon has been promoting the race, there are already 16 women signed up in my age group.
Just in case I don't finish in the top 18 at the national championship, I decided to do an insurance race. By doing two aquathlon races this year, I can be nationally ranked and qualify for a roll down spot and still make the US team. So I signed up to do the Cedar Hill Aquathlon.
Unfortunately it was scheduled the day after the pool party we had to celebrate my brothers birthday. So no alcohol for me.
It was an hour drive to the race with packet at 6 am. We were on the road by 5 am. I was up at 4:15 am since as usually I slept very little.
The race venue was at Cedar Hills State Park. I was surprised by how hilly it was as we drove into the park. We just kept going down and down to get to the lake.
The race was pretty routine. It was not wet-suit legal. There was a sprint and Olympic distance, plus a 2.4 mile swim.
The swim was easy since the field was small. I was worried about the swim, but it seemed easy. The 750 m swim was followed by a 5K run. It seemed like the course climbed hill after hill. Lots of people were walking, but I was able to run the whole thing.
I finished 3rd in my age group and got my insurance race. Now its on to Miami to secure my place on Team USA. The race next year is in the Netherlands, It will be a new place for me to explore.
It was all made possible by my very understanding and supportive family. I am so grateful they got up so early and drove for an hour each way so I could get my insurance race.
******************************
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
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 2015, 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 USA
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 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/
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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