"You can't get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good." - Jenny West
It's CMT awareness month, so just in time I have a whopper injury. One of the challenges for me with CMT is lack of proprioception. That means my body is not always aware of where it is in relation to spaces such as walls or furniture. I am always full of bruises on my legs from bumping into things.
That can also mean bad judgement on stairs. Three weeks ago I was going up the basement stairs. My brother was in the workshop looking for a suitcase. He is living with me during the pandemic.
He could not find the light switch. I turned to go back down in the basement to help him and missed a stair. I was in bare feet and landed with my right foot on the concrete floor. My ankle immediately collapsed. I was in so much pain it took my breath away. I did get up and have been limping around every since. I limped my way through my recent two week vacation. I had a similar fall down the basement stairs almost exactly a year ago.
I haven't been able to run since the injury. I've replaced running outside with running in the pool. I've rehabbed running injuries in the past doing this. I got through my first few marathons by alternating running outside with pool running. It is just one of the things I've had to do as an athlete with CMT to get through training.
The injury came at a bad time since I was scheduled to race in Arizona on October 16th and 17th at the Duathlon National Championship. The races are run bike and run. So the foot injury came at a bad time. My hope was to maintain some level of fitness until my foot was well enough to run outside. Then I was going to hope for the best.
It won't matter now, my season effectively came to an end a few days ago. USA triathlon, the governing body for triathlon cancelled all the races in Arizona. So far this year the only National Championship race that has taken place is the Winter Triathlon I did the first weekend in March.
There is a National Championship race in Miami in November. Florida is fully open so there is a good chance it may happen. This event qualifies athletes for the World Championship next September. I am already qualified based on last year's race. I've deferred my entry and plan on racing next year. I am still waiting for a refund of two flights to Europe for races cancelled this year.
It has been a trying year for everyone due to the pandemic. But someday the pandemic will be over, but CMT will go on for me. I am hanging on like everyone else with this condition for a cure.
Now that triathlon season is over it is time for me to start preparing for nordic and biathlon races. As running becomes more difficult, I am looking to start a new chapter in my athletic life. Let's hope it goes a bit more smoothly than this season.
****************************
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.
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#kneedeepinwork
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