Tri Holly-Racing in the Age of COVID

 " Success is less about what you have and more about what you do." -Scott Welle

Every race I scheduled this year since March has been cancelled, all fallen victim to COVID.  So I was excited to see 3-Disciplines racing was putting on races in Michigan. I raced with them last year in Frankenmuth, Michigan. I had a great experience at that race.  

The race would be in Holly Michigan at a state recreation area.  One of the things that attracted me was the race was at 6:30 on a Wednesday evening. I hate early morning races because I often do not sleep well the night before a race.  I would drive up on Wednesday, do the race and stay overnight.

The race was capped at 100 athletes.  The park was closed to everyone except the athletes. We were not allowed to bring friends or family.  We were mailed our race number the day before the race. We were also told masks were to be worn except when we were racing.

We were instructed to do our own body marking.  When we arrived we presented our drivers licence and USAT card at check-in.  We were questioned about our health and our temperature was taken.

After screening, we were instructed to go to our assigned spot on the rack. Our packet with number and timing chip was inside.

I did not sleep the night before the race and had to do an 8 hour drive to get to the venue. I arrived tired before the race. I was prepared to push through it. I've done it before.

Swim
The swim was a time trial start to promote social distancing.  We went in according to our race number.  Only two athletes went in the water every 30 seconds. I love this format. I wish every race did it. No mob of athletes fighting for position. We were all spaced out. The 500 meter swim was one of the most relaxed I've had in a race. I think the course was a bit long and I finished in 17:16.  I was one of the last athletes in the water, so when I got to transition most of the bikes were already gone.

Bike
I am not sure why race directors love hills so much. I prefer a flat and fast course. This course started with a huge hill right out of transition. It was hill after steep hill.  Sometimes I had to bleed speed with my brakes because I was just going way too fast for comfort.  The worst thing is I had to do the course twice. I was really tired by the time I finished the bike. I've was diagnosed with mono in early July and still get tired easily.  On the second lap I came around a corner and was absolutely blinded by the setting sun. That was a really scary moment because I could not see anything. I had removed my sunglasses early in the race because the tree line course was very dark.  I finished in 59:14 for an average speed of 12.5 mph. At least I finished. The other women in my age group did not finish due to a flat tire.

Social distancing happens easily on the bike course. Drafting is not allowed and you have to pass if you get within two bike lengths. There was no one around me for the entire 2nd lap.

Run

The run went up the same first hill as the bike course.  It was really tough running up that hill.  Then the run went into the woods. I was a bit worried about running on a trail. The roots, and uneven surface are a challenge because of my tight calves and ankles that roll easily. 

It was pretty dark in the woods, but it was a nice run. I could see other runners on the road through the trees. Finally it was nice to see some people.  I passed a couple of runners once I was off the trail and out on the road. I finished in a time of 32:27.  Good enough for 1st in my age group.

I need two races this year to be nationally ranked. I will be doing a second race this Sunday. I made a few mistakes during the race so it is good practice. Also there is nothing like a race to pump up the training.  I am still hoping the Duathlon National Championships take place in October.

The Du Championships will be produced by the same group that did this race. Based on what I saw they understand how to run a race in the age of COVID. It gives me hope we will all be back to racing soon.

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

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.

 

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