Miami Day #2- Long Distance Duathlon

"The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement." - unknown

I raced both days at the Multi-sport National Championship in Miami.  The Aquathlon on the first day could not have gone better.  I had a good run and a good enough swim to qualify for Team USA.

On day two was the Duathlon Long Distance Championship.  That race would be a 2 mile run, a 56 mile bike and a 13 mile run.  I was worried about the bike since almost all of my miles had been done inside on a very basic trainer.  It seemed like every day I was scheduled for a long ride on the weekend it rained. I was not sure if all those trainer miles would prepare me for the bike portion.

I'd done lots of long distance running, but would the marathon I'd done just a month earlier affect my performance. Would I be fully recovered.

As we lined up for the first run, the announcer told us there would be awards for the top five in each age group. That was good news for me since there were only four women in my age group. The top two were Iron man athletes and one was currently ranked #1 in the country for our age group.

The two mile race started off with a problem.   I decided to cruise at an easy pace.  We were running on a bike path.  I followed all of the other runners and I was in the middle of the pack.  There was a motorcycle leading out the front of the race. Suddenly the motor cycle came back at us. The driver was yelling at us to turn around because we were all going the wrong way.  I think it added an extra 5 minutes to my race.

The bike started out really well. I'd had my triathlon bike shipped to the race. I knew that last year it had been really windy. Being able to ride in an aero position would be helpful.  The race started out well. I was not working hard and was maintaining about 20 mph.  Then winds of 20 to 25 mph kicked up.  My bike computer turned off for a bit. I got it back on, but was not sure how long it had been off and how far I was on the course. It seemed like I was biking into the wind or fighting cross winds. Cross winds catch the deep wheels of my race wheels and push my bike around.  I'd barely had time to get used to riding in aero position with this bike. I think I used in once in a race and once in practice.  As the race went on the heat started to get to me. I realized miles on the trainer are not great preparation for a race. I started getting dizzy wtih nausea.  As I passed police doing traffic control in intersections, I was having fantasies about stopping and asking for a ride.  I was hungry and had nausea at the same time. 

I pulled over to rest a bit. I think my blood sugar level was getting low since I was starting to get shaky.  I wished I had stopped at the last police intersection. I was on about a 15 mile straight leg back to the start, but it was all in the wind. I fought the wind a bit longer. Then I pulled off the side of the road and actually laid down.  Two people asked if I was OK and should they call medical. I said I was OK. One guy yelled " So Close" as he passed.  I got up and continued to struggle until I pulled into transition. All the time on the bike I promised myself I would quit if I got back to transition.

As I rode through the road going to the race venue, I remembered what it cost to ship my bike, that I needed this third duathlon to show up in the rankings and that qualification for two world championship races was on the line.  I had a nutrition bar. I told myself sit, rest and eat the bar. Then see how you feel. I finished the bike in 3:23:18.

It seemed like I sat there for a long time. I told myself, at least go try the run and see how it goes. I knew at that point it would be a long afternoon. I was actually only in transition for about 5 minutes.

I started running 50 steps and walking fast 50 steps. I was keeping up a 11min mile.  I did this for the first 5 miles. I had to stop because I was so dizzy and nauseous.  It was about 84 F and humid. There was not much shade on the course. The course was too loops. I started walking fast to finish the first loop. I was passed by a few runners. I cold hear the awards ceremony starting.  I later found out when the awards started 100 of the 150 duathlon athletes were still on the course.

As I did the second lap I saw only athletes walking. I was walking fast and did pass several walkers.  There were lots of water stops and every time I passed one, I poured water on myself to cool off.  Part of the course went through the Miami zoo. I was fun to see zebras, giraffes and the rhinoceros.
 Lots of the patrols cheered us on.  The volunteers at the water stop cheered us on.

My hips hurt the whole last lap.  Some race officials came around when I was on the second lap. They stopped and talked with each athlete to make sure we were OK.  There was a cut off time to start the  2nd lap of 3:30.  I finished the entire an hour before the cut-off time. They made sure I was on the 2nd lap and that I did not need a ride. I was still 3 miles from the finish, but finish I did.

I told  my friend Cheryl that came to the race, that I expected to finish in 8 hours. My final time was 7 hrs 53 min and 13 seconds.  My time for the run was 3:24:18, not bad considering it takes me 2:31 to run a half. I guess my walking speed is pretty decent.

I learned I was a bit under-trained due to trainer miles and lack of brick workouts later in my training.
It was not a great performance and if I go back next year, I will be sure to be better prepared.  I certaininly have lots of room for improvement.

I did qualify for World Championships in Denmark and Switzerland with this race. I am already committed to go to the Netherlands in September, so these races most likely won't happen. It is still nice to have the opportunity if I want it.

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

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/

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