"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." -Wayne Dyer
So on February 23rd, I made my way to HH. I could see the Holy Hill church high atop a hill just a bit beyond the ski hill. The hill is set in the gorgeous Kettle Moraine area about 30 minutes west of Milwaukee.
HH is a private hill. meaning it is for members only. They have alpine runs and a nordic course. I'd only been there a few times. Once for a region ski test, one for a nordic race and once for first aid refresher. They have a beautiful lodge with a circular wood roof over a open hearth. The roof has vintage ski posters lining every surface. The view is incredible because the lodge sits halfway up the ski hill.
It was an absolutely perfect day. It was sunny and in the high 40's. I got in some Nordic practice before I joined the party on the sun deck overlooking the main run. The barbeque was a fundraiser for the patrol. There is nothing like sitting outside eating hamburgers right off the grill.
There was even some unique entertainment in the form of Jesse the street performer.
Jesse can be found performing in downtown Milwaukee outside of sporting events like Bucks basketball or Admirals hockey. He makes pretty cool music playing on plastic buckets and kettles.
He is now doing private events like this party. I gave him some tips about contacting my running club about doing some of our events. So maybe I will get to see Jesse again.
The NSP rep who works with the ambassadors told me I was selected because of my CMT. They felt it was really unusual for somone with CMT to be a patroller. I was selected as a storyteller ambassador to tell my story of being a patroller and athlete with CMT. Subaru's brand is all about supporting active and healthy outdoor lifestyles. So this event was perfect for me and my Subaru.
I was asked by several people at the party about how I got picked to be one of the ambassadors. I told them about having CMT and the work that I am doing. I hope those I meet with the Subaru will look at those with impairments differently. There are lots of Americans with impairments that are not apparent. I hope they can realize from meeting me, that even with something like CMT, we lead full and active lives.
After the event I got an email from the person who invited me. He said the car was a big hit and thanked me for coming. I let him know it was my pleasure and sent him the link to my web site and asked him to take few minutes to learn about me and why I had been selected.
I left just a bit early. I had a duty shift to get to at my own hill. I wanted to get some runs in while the
I ended up sking for 9 hours at my own hill. I paid for it later that night. I think I got a little dehydrated/ As I was trying to fall asleep I had cramps in my calves and thighs. Maybe I pushed myself just a bit too much, but it was so worth it. Just a wonderful 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 TeamUSA at the Aquathon ITU World Championship in Chicago in 2015i, 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
for the World Championship.
In 2020
she was named a National Ski Patrol Subaru Ambassador and a USA Triathlon
Foundation Ambassador.
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”.
Team CMT
is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness and to find a
cure for CMTWe currently have 233 athletes in 41 states. We also have
members in Australia, Canada, England, Finland, Vietnam, Iran, Scotland,
France, Turkey, Poland, Norway, Mexico, Wales, Ireland 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.
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