Herd Immunity 5K-Socal Distance Racing

"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves.  It also does us good because it helps us do other things better. IT gives a man a chance to bring out the power that might otherwise remain locked away inside himself. The urge to struggle lies latent in everyone." -Roger Banister, first man to run a 4:00 min mile.

Everyone that is an athlete in America has had races cancelled.  Long time marathons like New York and Boston have called it quits this year.  Both of my World Championship races in September and October have been moved to 2021 because of the Covid 19 virus.  Every race I have this summer has been called off.  All of the local running club social events, meetings and races here in Milwaukee have been cancelled.

My comment on the club facebook site was someone needs to figure out how to put on a race while practicing social distance.  Silver Circle Events here in Milwaukee has figured it out.  I ran their social distanced Herd Immunity 5K in Oconomwoc on June 13.

We were asked to arrive at the park just before the race start. Packet pick-up staff worked behind a protective barrier.

The race was limited to 100 runners.    The out and back course would start from a park onto country roads.  We lined up in rows according to our expected finish time at spaced cones.

We were able to stay at least 6 feet apart.  One row started every minute. Runners were asked to maintain 6 feet of separation on the course.  It was pretty easy to do that with such a small field of runners.  I gave anyone I passed the needed space.  There was no water on the course, but it was not needed since the temperature at the start was only about 56F. I was wearing long sleeves and capris.

Once we crossed the finish line, we were asked to leave the park. There were no medals and no award ceremony. I finished in 2nd in my age group with a time of 32:39 which is really slow for me.

I did not feel good doing it and have continued to struggle while running in the two weeks since. This Monday I found out why as I was diagnosed with Mono.

There is no treatment, just rest, healthy food and moderate exercise.  I have not had any other symptoms except a lump on my neck.  It should hopefully resolve on its own, the sooner the better.

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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.

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”.

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 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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