Discovery Run-Starting My Subaru Adventure

Subaru/NSP Car at Discovery Run Milwaukee

"When a day passes it is no longer there. What remains of it? Nothing more than a story. If stories weren't told or books weren't written man would live like beasts, only for the day.  The world, all human life is one long story." - Isaac Bashevis Singer, Author

I groaned as the alarm went off at 6:30 am on Saturday morning. It wasn't just the early hour. It was 34 F in Milwaukee and I was signed up for the local running club 15K Discovery run.

It seemed like such a good idea when I signed up for the Super Strider Series. That meant I had to do 8 long distance races to complete the series. Finish all 8 and I would get a club jacket and free entry to the club Holiday Party.

I did race six, the Lake Front Marathon, just three weeks ago.  This would be my first race since then. I've marveled at how well I bounced back from the marathon.   So I was physically ready for the race Saturday.  I just would rather had stayed in my nice warm bed.

In a few months 34F will seem like a heat wave in Wisconsin. But the first cold snap always comes as a shock and takes a bit of getting used to.  For me it was flannel lined tights, a smart wool top over my Team CMT long sleeve shirt and a Lycra long sleeve top over it all. I also picked a headband and gloves.

Because this race was Halloween weekend, lots of runners were wearing costumes. I saw a group of six dressed like the group from the TV show Baywatch.  The women were wearing red lifeguard swim tops. I cannot imagine how cold that must of been. There was also a 5 mile race at the same event, hopefully they were in the shorter race.   Lots of people did wear shorts, including the 2nd place men's finisher. He complimented his outfit with a green tutu.

Well I was well dressed but not fast.   The course was an out and back on a bike path. The weather was clear and sunny with little wind. 

I had planned on running really easy to get a pace estimate for next weeks Turkey Trot prediction run. That went out the window as the race started. I felt strong so I pushed the pace a bit. It all started when a women ran past me with a walker. No way I was letting her beat me. Then a women that looked to be in my age group passed me. I sped up and kept pushing it to leave her far behind.

Even with pushing the pace a bit, I 'm still not fast. It is amazing how mush I've slowed down in just the past couple of years. When you are as slow as I am, the crowd really thins out. I was running by myself much of the time.  I even warmed up enough to shed my top two layers.
I finished in 1:41:03 which was good enough for 5th place.

This was my first event for Subaru. There were 10 ambassadors selected around the country. I was selected as a "story teller".  I will see what that means as the year unfolds. For now I will keep telling my story of trying to live an active life and raise awareness of CMT.

It is an honor to partner with Subaru and the National Ski Patrol.  I look forward to the experience, even if  I have get up on another cold dark morning.

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

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 228 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, #kneedeepinwork

Soup Sunday- Stuffed Pepper Soup

It is fall which brings beautiful fall colors to Wisconsin. It also means cool nights as we grow closer to winter.  The weather is now perfect for soup. So I am back to my weekly Sunday ritual of cooking soup for the week.  This made a huge amount. I had enough to share with my neighbor and brother. It freezes well too and I put away some for a week when I am too busy to cook.

1 pound ground turkey
1 quart V 8 juice
3 medium peppers ( red, yellow, green) chopped into bite size pieces
1/2 white onion chopped
1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes
1 6 ounce can tomato paste
1 12 ounce can tomato sauce
1 4 ounce can diced green chillies
2 celery ribs chopped
1 tablespooon minced garlic
1 cup rice blend ( white rice, wild rice, quinoa)

In a large stock pot, brown the turkey and onion.  Cook until no longer pink.  Add all of the rest of the incredients except the peppers and the rice.  Bring to a low boil. Add the rice and cook for one hour until the rice is tender. Add the peppers and cook for 5 minutes.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Serves 8
**********************

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 228 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, #kneedeepinwork

Rest and Recovery

                                          Big Portage Lake, in Land O Lakes Wisconsin

"The body and mind are organically one." - Huxley

Recovery from a marathon is serious business.  Running 26.2 miles is not only a physical challenge, its a mental one as well.  Recovery for both is important to avoid injury and burnout.

The weeks after a marathon workouts should be limited. For a first time marathon runner, it is suggested to recover one day for every mile run. Some recovery plans say to repeat the last few weeks before the race when effort was tapering to practically nothing.

Since this was marathon #10 and I did train for NY last year, I thought I would be flexible in my recovery plans.  My A race for the season will be in Miami. Well two races really, the Aquathlon National Championship ( 1000 meter swim, 5 K run) on November 9th and the Long Distance Duathlon National Championship (2 mile run, 56 mile bike, 13 mile run) on November 10th.

I have a chance to again qualify for Team USA and races in Europe next September.  The Aquathon race will take the top 18 in the age group. Twenty one women have already signed up so I will have my work cut out for me. The duathlon race will be a physical challenge, but since only 4 women are signed up, I just have to finish to earn a team spot.

My recovery plan was to go the the Northwoods of Wisconsin to Big Portage Lake. My friend and author Jon Helminak has a home there. If you get a chance check out some of his books. My favorite is a book called "This Token of Freedom".  It tells the story of the evacuation of children out of England during  WWII. He's written a number of history and travel books.

I've been to 43 states and I think Wisconsin, especially Northern Wisconsin is one of the most beautiful spots in the country. The American Legion Forest Area which I think includes Land O Lakes has the highest concentration of lakes in the world. They are every where. At this time of year there is almost no one around.

Because Land O Lakes is a 5 hour drive it is tough for me to work a trip up there into my workout schedule.  It can mean losing a day of working out because of the drive.  So this week was perfect for a visit.  I was taking the two days after the marathon completely off.  Fall is also the perfect time for a visit. As you can see from the picture the colors are stunning. They were at their peak this week.

It would be a week to recharge mentally.  My friends house is peaceful and restorative. It is absolutely dead quiet at night.  I always sleep really well there.  The place settles my soul.
 From the comments left in the guest house where I stayed other guests feel the same way. It was a chance to eat good food, sleep in late and have a nice visit with my friend.   I get to hear about his work, what he is writing and hear about his latest travels. 

I even got in a bit of biking.  I bounced back from this marathon faster than any marathon I've done.  On Wednesday I did a two hour bike ride in the morning. There is a great bike path that goes by several lakes. Later in the afternoon, I did a bike ride around Big Portage Lake with my friend.  I was also able to get out the next day for a bike ride.  I got to sit and look at the lake and enjoy it's beauty. I even heard a loon. I helped my friend with a few chores, like putting away canoes and raking leaves.
The week ended a bit early when the weather changed.  A cold front with rain moved in so it was time to head back to Milwaukee and back to training.

By Friday  I did an easy run and on Saturday a 5 hour ride on my trainer. I'm sure my short visit to the Northwoods helped me to bounce back so quickly.  I am mentally prepared now for the push this month to be ready for my A races in November. It just took a bit of rest and recovery.

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

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 228 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

Marathon #10

"You can't talk about it, you have to be about it." - Matt LeFleur, Coach of Green Bay Packers

When I woke up at 3 am on Sunday I had to ask myself what I was thinking when I signed up for Lake Front Marathon.  It would be my 10th marathon, so I knew what to expect on race day.

It seemed like a good idea at the time. I signed up for the Super Strider series for my running club. I had to pick eight long distance races off of a list. My last selection came down to a choice between a 10 mile indoor race on a track or the Lake Front Marathon. I could not bear the thought of running 10 miles in a circle, so LFM it would be.  In the back of my mind was possibly running a time that would at least qualify me to run Boston again.  I would need to finish the 26.2 miles in 6 hours or less.

When I've had coaches, they always asked what race was my A race. An A race is the most important race of the season.  That race for me is the Long Distance Duathlon in Miami in November. It is a National Championship race with spots on Team USA for the World Championship.

So my focus has been to train for the Miami race which is a 2 mile run, 56 mile bike and a 13 mile run.  I set up my training plan for my A race and threw in a long run for the marathon each week. It would have to be enough.

I hadn't run a marahon in 4 years, since my last Boston.  So I am a little out of practice with racing and preparing.   I had a bit of a glitch the week before the race. My running shoes gave out and I had to get a new pair. Then my the bladdar I was going to use with my hydration vest was massively leaaking. I never got a chance to wear the vest during a training run.  I finally got the leaking fixed when I took the bladder into a local outfitter.

So I was up at 3:30 to catch the 5:15 bus to the start line. The last bus was at 6 am.  I like to arrive early just to give myself a cushion.  I am glad I did since all the racers were crammed into a high school cafeteria. I got to stake out a nice spot to spread out my stuff and use the bathroom before it got crowded.

I had 90 minutes to kill. I forced myself to eat some breakfast. My body would need it. I chatted with runners around me and friends that stopped to say hi.  When I was walking back from the bathroom a women asked me about what the CMT meant on my singlet. It turns out her grandaughter was diagnosed with CMT. She promised she would join the team.

It was time to line up for the start. My plan was to aim for a 5:20 to 5:30 finish time.  I started out with a pace group, but they were running too slow. I felt strong and ran easily. I know going out too fast can have bad consequences for later in the race.

The race had more hills than I remembered. There was also a head wind for most of the day.  I've run this particlar race four times. I've never liked the first half of the course. It is all rural with corn fields. I find it really boring.  I counted off the miles until the half way point where I would be in the city.

My friends Robert and Cherly Kearney were on the course at 19.5 miles to cheer me on. I signaled I felt strong and shouted out that I had a ways to go.  I ran strongly until mile 24 when I just got tired of fighting the wind.  I walked for about a mile and then ran in toward the finish.  I finished in 5:28 quite a bit slower than my last Boston finish of 4:50. Although not bad considering I did not train too hard. The fact that I felt so strong give me hope and I am thinking about doing another marathon this spring.

Running a marathon really is a lifestyle.  I was not solely focused on this race, but was biking, swimming and runnig most days of the week. Training really becomes a lifestyle.  It is a lifestyle I've gladly adopted because it helps to raise awareness of CMT. That has become my goal, the running times are secondary.

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

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 228 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