"Exercise is the most powerful performance enhancing drugs on the planet." -Scott Welle
I absolutely love the Wisconsin Senior Olympics (WSO) cycling races. I look forward to them all year.
The races have become more competitive every year. Some years I don't even place in my age group.
Almost every one of my races this year has been cancelled. Even many of the WSO events I particpate in like running and swimming have been called off. The cycling road race was not held, but the 10 K and 5K races were a go with COVID precautions.
Last year I missed it because I was too tired from the WSO track meet. This year I skipped the track meet and was ready for the two time trial races.
Lots of precautions were taken. When I wanted a water bottle after the race, the volunteer used a pair of tongs to hand it to me. The volunteer handling our race packets wore gloves and masks. All of the athletes wore masks. One of the things I like about this race is seeing all my WSO friends. It was different this year. There was not as much socializing as we kept our distance.
For the awards ceremony the names of the winners were read. You went up to the table with the medals to pick up the award. I felt it was all very safe.
The 10K race was first. That was four laps on the closed course inside of Menomonee Park, here in the Western suburbs of Wisconsin. I love this course because I can race the tangents. That means I do not have to stay on the right side of the road. I can cut the corners to take the shortest route. It is really great practice for bike handling skills. I would be riding my triathlon bike. I have not raced much with it, so that would also be good practice.
We lined up six feet apart and were started one at a time, 30 seconds apart. In a time trial race, you race against the clock, but also the other athletes in your age group. I raced as fast as I could. That is what is so fun about it. It is a real test of an athlete, The balance is quite different on a triathlon bike compared to my road bike. I feel every bump in the road. I also have to pay close attention for pot holes and cracks in the road. If I hit them wrong I could lose my balance. The race went well and I gave it everything I had.
I finished with an average speed of 17.6 mph. I was about a minute behind the 2nd place finisher.
The 5K was pretty much the same, just half the distance. This time I averaged 17.8 miles per hour. I went as fast as I could and finished just 30 seconds behind the 2nd place finisher. I will take my double bronze day. I would not have cared if I had gone home empty handed. The race is just that much fun.
Next year I am hoping we can add back the road races. It is great practice at drafting. I'll need that practice as I race in the draft legal national duathlon championship in October
Thank you to the WSO for running a great and very safe race. I look forward to being back again next year.
******************************
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
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
In 2014 she represented the
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”.
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
No comments:
Post a Comment