Iron Girl Duathlon- Routine Racing

 

"Everyone has a calling. And your job in life is to figure out as soon as possible what that is, who you were meant to be and begin to honor that in the best way possible for yourself." -Oprah Winfrey

I have not done a blog post about a race in ages. Some how it did not seem right during COVID. No one seems to have missed the post so sometimes I wonder if anyone even reads them.

I don't have much to write about the race because it was fairly routine. I love racing at Iron Girl. This all women's race in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin has such a great energy.  It attracts many women doing their very first multi-sport event and I love that. I love seeing the nerves transform into triumph by the end of the race. I have been there many times myself.

I came back to defend my age group title in the duathlon. It was tempting to do the triathlon since they have a para-triathlon division and the swim is really easy. Just straight across the race following rafts.

Doing a duathlon for me is really routine. I started my race career as a runner and have been cycling since I was a kid. The open water swim was always the fear inducing part of the race. Sometimes it still make me a bit nervous. So a duathlon seemed like a day off.  It would be a chance to have some fun, defend my title and spread some Team CMT awareness.

There is not much to really talk about with this race. The only exciting thing that happened is that I got nearly a full night of sleep before the race. That never happens. It felt so good to be racing fully rested.

The race is a run, bike and then a run to finish.  The course for the run is fairly flat along Lake Andrea. So while we did our first run, I could see the first wave of women swimmers.

Then it was off to the bike.  Because this is a race with lots of beginners, many do not know basic rules like keeping to the right except when passing.  I do educate as gently as possible so they learn the rules.   But mostly I just give a word of encouragement when I pass someone or when they pass me.

I finished in 1 hr and 37 minutes. My second run was over 33 minutes for a 5K. So disappointing that I am now so slow.  Still I am still running and living up to my mission of raising awareness of CMT and showing those with CMT that while I may have CMT, it does not have me. I zm doing the very best I can with the mission God has given me.

My time got me 2nd place in my age group and the lovely bracelet given to the top three women in each age group. Every woman crossing the finish line also got a rose and a finisher medal.

I had lots of fun and talked to lots of nice women.  It ended up being my last multi-sport event for 2020.  I was not able to go to Spain for the World Championships in September.

I am looking forward to lots of racing in 2022 and hope I continue to stay healthy!

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

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 244 athletes in 42 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.