"Each person must live their lives as a role model for others." -Rosa Parks
On June 5th, I raced at Leon's Triathlon in Hammond Indiana. I was there to compete in the First Responder's National Championship. I qualify due to my work as a member of the National Ski Patrol. Ski Patrol members are EMT-level medical personnel.
This was my third time competing at Leon's. I like this race because the swim is warm and the run and bike course are flat and fast. It is a great place to have a fast time. In the past, I have had times fast enough to qualify for the Para-triathlon National Championship. The last two times I competed as a para-athlete.
One of the ways this race is special is the way they honor veterans, police, and fire personnel.
There is a display at the race venue of all the military service personnel from Indiana that have died while in service since 9/11/ The display is ringed by American flags as is the race venue.
Events kicked off on Saturday at packet pick-up. Lutheran Ministries had brought their comfort dogs to the event. The golden retrievers and handlers go through 2000 hours of training to help those in crisis. Some of the teams specialize in working with veterans. The group has helped those in grief at events like hurricanes and school shootings. I have been following this group on Facebook and it was wonderful to meet the dogs and talk with their handlers. That is the reason for the stuffed dog and the plaque in the picture.
Race Day
The water temperature was 68F so it would be wetsuit legal. I remarkably got almost a whole night's sleep. I felt calm and confident. Based on the results from the year before, I had a really good chance of placing first in the first responder category. I would be doing the Sprint which was a 500-meter swim, 20K bike, and 5K run.
I am a USA Triathlon Ambassador and I was wearing the ambassador uniform. I was walking down transition before the race to figure out swim in, bike out, bike in, and run out. A woman stopped me and said "You look like you know stuff." and then had some questions that I was able to answer.
Normally I don't spend much time in transition. But it was about 60 and I had on a jacket to keep me warm. I did not want to take off the jacket until transition closed. I planned on leaving it at my race spot. Two more guys asked me questions about race numbers and body marking.
I went to get body marked myself and no one knew what was supposed to be done and how the athletes were supposed to be marked. I got them going so they could mark the other athletes.
Then when I was waiting for the swim, several women confided in me about their swim fears. I remember that same feeling early in my triathlon career. I was able to offer them some words of advice.
Race
Every race has different events that unfold. The swim went really well. For once I was swimming in a big group of age group athletes. I was able to draft off a couple of other swimmers.
The bike had unexpected fun in store. I was riding my triathlon bike and am now to the point I can stay in the aero position while I race. I had a really fun back-and-forth race with another female athlete. She would pass me, I would catch her. So it went. I beat her out of transition for the run, but she caught me in the last half mile. She was an age group athlete so we were really not racing against each other. I saw her after the race and thanked her for the fun. I was 4 minutes faster than in last year's race.
The run was slow. I am working on my rebuilding my run now after this performance. Still, it was good enough for 1st. I am the national champion for first responders. I finished at 1:34:12 Not currently good enough to qualify for the Para-triathlon National Championship. I am about 2 minutes too slow, so I have something to work on.
The race was really fun and it is for a good cause. This patriotic race is a great time to show pride in America and to recognize veterans, police, fire, and first responders. I am also thrilled I got to be a good triathlon role model and help out a few other athletes.
***********************
Chris
Wodke
Founder
& Manager Team CMT
www.run4cmt.com
Chris is
a triathlete Nordic skier and long-distance runner. She is a three-time participant in 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” which 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 find a
cure for CMT currently has 247 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 website; 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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