Run 4 CMT: April 2023

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Norway World Champsionship- Challenges and Disappointments

"The question isn't who is going to let me, it's who is going to stop me." -Ayn Rand

I could not interest any of my friends in traveling with me to a winter race in Norway. Because of that the challenges started well before the race.

There were lots of logistics to figure out. Rent a car or public transit? Where to stay the first night. How would I get to my hotel with a large ski bag? Would that fit in a taxi? Should I spend any time in Oslo? Should I stay up at the race venue or in Lillehammer? What would I do about a bike?

I worked it all out. I stayed at a hotel right at the airport for the first and last nights. I rented a car right from the airport. I stayed in Lillehammer at a small hostel right at the train station.

There was no public transit to the race venue so I had to rent a car. The next problem would be navigation. My cell phone does not work overseas. I ordered a card to put in my phone on arrival that was supposed to make it work in Europe. I was counting on it to have google maps for navigation.

Well, the phone never did work, despite numerous exchanges with the card company.

I had also purchased a Garmin navigation device that promised to have maps of Europe. That never worked either. After watching several YouTube videos I determined that the device I was sold had only North American maps. So strike two. The car I rented had a navigation system, but it only spoke Norwegian to me.

I finally figured out that if I connected to the hotel WiFi I could load directions for the 50-minute drive to the host hotel. The GPS never did locate the race venue which was about a 5-minute drive from the host hotel. So when I wanted to go home, I connected to the WiFi at the host hotel and loaded my directions to go home. That went well until I made a wrong term on the way back to my hotel. The phone kept trying to connect but could not. I got lost in Lillehammer. It took several stops to try and connect to an open WiFi which I was never able to do. I finally got directions from a clerk at 711. Thankfully my hotel was at the train station. Everyone always seems to know where that is. Three right turns and I was back to my hotel. That episode made me decide to just race one of the two races. I was afraid of losing a signal up in the mountains. There really were just a few houses and farms on the route. No there to ask for directions.

All that challenge navigating was exhausting, Before I took the rental car back, I was supposed to fill it with gas. I could not get the gas cap open. I was really concerned I was going to run out of gas going back to Oslo. So it was probably good, that I skipped the second race since that saved on gas.

The biggest disappointment was that I was not allowed to compete as a physically challenged athlete.

USA Triathlon promised me that I would be able to do so. When it was time to register, the International Triathlon Union (ITU) turned down the request. I have not been classified by the ITU or USAT. I never seem to pass the screening. It was disappointing to be excluded by a system that is supposed to include me. There was a male PC athlete from Romania. I was forced to compete as an age-group athlete.

It was a bit of a stressful trip. Hopefully, I can convince a friend to come along next year to help with navigation. I am already qualified for next year's race. Not sure where it will be, but I plan on being there. I also plan to keep pursuing the opportunity to race as a PC athlete.

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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 Boston in the Mobility Impaired Division. She was on the course in 2013 when the bombs exploded.

She has appeared three times at the Para Triathlon National Triathlon Sprint Championship. She was the 2012 and 2014 National Champion Para triathlon 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 Para triathlete 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 2023 she was the PC Open National Champion for Winter Triathlon in Anchorage and will represent the U.S. in Norway.

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”.

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 find a cure for CMT. We currently have 250 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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Friday, April 7, 2023

Winter World Triathlon Championship- I Will Always Remember

Finish Line at Winter World Championship, Norway

"I am an ordinary person who has been blessed with extraordinary opportunities and experiences."- Sonia Sotomayor

I finally made it to a Winter World Championship. I've qualified at least three times. Sometimes I did not go because of finances. One year it was COVID. Another time I paid my team deposit and never heard another thing. I know at least one year I worried I was not a good enough skier.

When I first qualified I was a classic skier. That is the technique where you shuffle along. It is similar to walking. To be competitive I thought I needed to be a skate skier. That has been a project I have been working on for more than five years. Despite being told in a lesson this year that I belonged with the beginners, I thought technique-wise I was ready

This won't be a race report, I will cover that and some of the challenges of going to Norway in a couple of future blogs. There were some ups and downs on this trip. I only did the Duathlon race due to some logistical challenges.

I will take away a couple of really wonderful memories from the experience. I got a ride to the race venue with one of the other ladies. As our car moved down the access road we passed dozens of busses unloading school kids. Since Nordic racing is a big event in Norway, the kids were given the day off of school to attend. I found out later that many of them were refugees from Ukraine and Syria.

The elite races were held before the age group race in which I would participate. Norway pretty much had a clean sweep of the podium, so the kids had much to cheer about.

There was a little bit of time between the elite and age group races. The athletes were all set up for our race so we mingled with the crowd waiting to watch our race. A couple of kids asked to take a picture of one of my Team USA members. Then they started asking me and other athletes to sign their jackets. They begged for my headband and sunglasses. I needed them for my race.

As I signed countless jackets I laughed to myself. They thought I was some kind of star. Little did they know that as one of the oldest women in the race I would probably finish last. Still to them, I was a rock star. I will always remember their smiles and eager faces as they begged me to sign my name.

The second member has to do with my Team USA teammates. I had so much kindness from the. I had endless questions answered by team captain Sheri Sherlock and a much-needed ride back from the race venue. She also encouraged me on the ski lap reminding me all I had to do was finish. There was a podium spot waiting for me.

I had a ride to the venue by teammate Rose. We had a large group of athletes from Alaska. As they were taking a picture before the race, I stepped out of the picture. They insisted I join the group to be part of the picture. Alaska teammate Heather was handing out glitter and included me in the fun.

The very best memory thought happened at the end of my race. I was indeed last out of the field. As I trudged around the last laps of the ski course I expected a quiet and uneventful finish. Little did I know that every one of my Team USA teammates doing the race was waiting for me and cheering for me at the finish. As I struggled down the finish chute they were screaming my name.

I was so tired at the finish they removed my finisher chips and skis. Then we got a picture of all of us at the finish. I finished about 30 minutes after most of them. They stood in the cold waiting for me. Their kindness brings a tear to my eyes. It was so thoughtful. As challenging as the race was, I will always remember my teammates cheering me in. My victory was a team victory and their presence made it even sweeter. Thank You Team USA for making my first winter world championship race memorable.

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Winter Duathlon World Championship Bronze Medal