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ET Triathlon-Character Building

"Character is the ability to carry out a resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed."  -Cavett Roberts

It's always hard when the alarm goes off early on race morning.  On Labor Day Sunday, mine went off at 3:55.  I rolled over and thought about just staying in bed.  The forecast called for rain and I am not a fan of racing my bike in the rain. I don't even like my bikes to get wet, so I never even ride in the rain if I can avoid it.  Bike trainers were invented for days like that.

Still it wasn't raining when the alarm went off and I wanted a good parking spot and to arrive when packet pick-up opened at 5 a.m.  I was up and out the door in about 10 minutes since I always lay out my race kit the night before. The car was also packed with my bike, wet suite and tri bag. So I had no excuses.  I even remembered to grab my breakfast to take along.

It was pitch dark when I got the race venue at the Rec Plex in Racine.  I just did Iron Girl at this location in August. The course would be a bit different since this Experience Triathlon was running this race.  It was the first year for this event so they capped the race at 150 athletes.  I love smaller races.

I stopped bringing a flashlight to transition since the areas seem to always be lit by flood lights. Not this day. It was pitch dark so I had to set up in the dark.  I tested out my bike to find out the chain was jammed against the frame and off of the chain ring.  A nice volunteer helped me get my bike all set.  Good thing I checked it. I don't always remember to do that.  Just one more good reason to get to the venue early.  It had been drizzling the whole time I was setting up. By the time I was finished a steady rain had started.

Swim
The swim would be wetsuit legal. The air temperature was 62 F and the water temperature was 72 F.  I was cursing myself for bringing my sleeveless wet suit. I was freezing as I waited for the swim start.
The start was self seeded with one athlete starting in a time trial format every few seconds. I seeded myself almost at the very end which was a huge mistake.  I kept having to go around athletes breast stroking and back stroking. I lost lots of time trying to get around them. My fault for starting two far back.  The 750 meter course was triangle with two loops. We had to get out of the water, go around a pylon and get back in.  I kind of liked the format.  The short looped was easier to handle mentally. Sometimes the buoys look so far apart it can be mentally challenging. Plus getting out of the water provided a bit of a break. 

Bike
We were warned even before the race started that the roads were wet because it had rained during the night.  The course was two loops of 6 miles and relatively flat.  There were several very tight turns as well so we were warned in pre-race announcement to slow down.  It rained heavily all during the bike phase.  I took it pretty slow. Bike breaks don't work well in the rain.  My only goal for the race was to finish un-injured. My biggest races were still ahead. I just needed this race to make three triathlons to qualify for national ranking.  I left my tri bike and home and used my road bike, since it has better handling. I thought it would be more stable if the roads were wet.
I saw many athletes speed past me, not heeding the advise to slow down.  I was freezing since I was completely soaked from the rain.  I couldn't even use my jacket that I had in transitions because it was soaked through with rain.  I made it back to the without incident.

Run
It was still raining when I headed off on the run, but it had slowed to a drizzle.  It had been a tough week of workouts for me. This race was on Sunday. On Friday I'd done a 22 mile training run for Lake Front Marathon that I am doing in October.  On Thursday I did a 4 hour bike ride as part of my training for the Duathlon National Championship in Miami in November.  So I was not expecting a great run split.  I took it easy with a run time of about 33 minutes.  That time was very close to the first and second place women in my age group.  My total time was 1 hr 47, much slower than usual for me and 9 minutes behind the first place in my age group.  I was ok with a safe and slower race.

It was a character building day since I never race in the rain. I skipped a race in June because it was raining in the morning. I stayed around for awards to find out I placed 3rd in my age group.  My swim and run were pretty close to the first and second place finishers. My conservative bike had placed me lower and I was just fine with that. I qualified for the Age Group Triathlon National Championship in Milwaukee next year.  That was a nice little reward for my character building day.

Even better the whole thing including awards was done by 8:45.  Looking forward to doing this race next year in hopefully better weather.

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

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/

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, CMT disease, CMT and exercise, exercise and CMT, CMT, athlete and CMT.Team CMT, CMT athlete, athlete and CMT, bike4CMT, walk4CMT,  CMTA, HNF, Tri4CMT, Walk4CMT, MDA

Strider Half Marathon-Hitting the Wall

"Never give up! Failure and rejection are only the first step to success." - Jim Valvano

The first time I did the Strider Half marathon was before I did my first marathon in 1996.  That race did not go well. I had to be talked off the ledge by one of my running friends.  He said to just chalk it up to experience because bad races happen.

On August 24th I ran the Strider Half Marathon again. It went even worse. I hit the wall and that is the first time that has happened in a race.

The night before I did a long bike ride and went to the race site to check out parking and the park layout.  The race would begin and end in the Beer Garden in Esta brook park in Shorewood, Wisconsin.

I was supposed to ride 4 hours, but cut it to 2 1/2 so I would be race ready in the morning.

I got up early so I could be at the race site by 6 am to secure a spot in the parking lot. I did not want to have to park in the neighborhood and walk.  I got there plenty early only to remember once I was parked that I had forgotten my breakfast.

That meant I would be running a half marathon on a completely empty stomach. I rummaged through my car to see if I had a spare energy bar but I did not. I had two gel packets for the race.  The start time was 8 am.

All went well for about the first 8 miles. I was carrying an iPod and it kept cutting out while playing and playing the same few songs. It was so annoying and distracting.

I was passing the time by counting off intervals up and down a ladder.   Starting at 1 minute and going up 1 minute each interval to 10 minutes and then back down.   The race took place on a bike path and I was running on the well worn trail on the side of the patch. I decide to go back on the bike trail and my foot caught.  I fell and fell hard.  I paused for a minute to take a quick assessment. Several ladies stopped to help me and many runners asked if I was OK. I was.

At the 8 mile mark right after my fall I started to feel nausea.  I think it was caused by the sport drink I was drinking from my camel bak. It probably was not good on an empty stomach.   I was hot and tired and could feel I was running on empty. I had to walk at about mile 10 to go up hill and over a bridge. I had to walk again the last half mile. I've never had to walk in a half marathon before.  I never got to take my second gel because it had fallen out of my camel bak. So really was running on empty. Boy was I hungry by the time I finished.

I finished but that is about all I can say.  My left leg was covered in blood. I am sure I was quite a site.  My finishing time was 2:31:32. That is 10 minutes slower than my half in April. Not the race I wanted just one month before my marathon.  The slower time pushed me to 10th in my age group.

I got breakfast after the race and went home and took a nap because I was so tired. That never happens either.

The good news is less than a week later I was able to do a  20 mile run. I also forgot the sandwhich I had made to eat during the run.  It took me 3 1/2 hours. I had a bar and some gels along so I was OK.  It becomes painful for me to run after about 90 minutes.  So if I remember right marathon day will be painful.  My muscles in my hips and thighs hurt, no matter how much I train. I carry ibuprofen during the race.
I'll shake off this race, just like I did last time.  Hoping for a little race day magic on marathon day.

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/

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, CMT disease, CMT and exercise, exercise and CMT, CMT, athlete and CMT.Team CMT, CMT athlete, athlete and CMT, bike4CMT, walk4CMT,  CMTA, HNF, Tri4CMT, Walk4CMT, MDA

Wisconsin Senior Olympics Track Meet

"Someones opinion of you does not have to become your realty." -Les Brown, author and motivatoinal speaker

On August 18th, I participated in the Wisconsin Senior Olympics track meet.  I didn't do sports in high school or college, so running a track meet is still pretty new to me. I did my first one last year as part of the WSO.

This meet was held at Mequon High School. It is a really impressive facility with an annoncers booth, concession stand and a turf football field.

I signed up for the following events:

1500 meter Power walk
5 K Power walk
100 meter run
200 meter run
400 meter run
1500 meter run

My day started with the power walk events. I really pushed it in the events because a friend of mine was competing for the first time and even though she was not in my age group we pushed each other.  The 1500 meter race was first and both races were judged.  I finished in just under 11minues just seconds behind the first and second place women.

In the 5 K race, same thing,  there was only one women in my age group and I was right behind her until one of the refs carded me.   I had no problem last year. The rule states that one foot has to be on the ground at all times.  The judge claimed I had to land on my heel which I did the best I could with my CMT.

After the race I found out I had been disqualified from both races.    I was complaining after the race and the ref started in on me.  She is wrong about the rule. She even admited I was not running, meaning I kept at least one foot on the ground.  They should have talked to me before the second race was done.  Race walking has strict technique rules, but power walking does not.

The ref told me she was protecting me from being disqualifed at the National Championship. Well this is not a qualifying year and I told her I had no plans to go to nationals.  I told her she was ridiculous.

The rest of the event was uneventful. I got beat by a bit in the races I won a silver and beat my competition by quite a bit in the races where I took gold.  I dropped out of the 400 meter because I was hot and tired.

Being dis-qualified really soured my experience. Being judged and found wanting is not fun, espeically when the ruling was not fair.  I have lots of events I can do on any weekend. Next year Age Group National Championships for triathlon will be in Milwaukee. I think that will be a better use of my time.

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

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/

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, CMT disease, CMT and exercise, exercise and CMT, CMT, athlete and CMT.Team CMT, CMT athlete, athlete and CMT, bike4CMT, walk4CMT,  CMTA, HNF, Tri4CMT, Walk4CMT, MDA