2024 Season Schedule-Doing My Best

 

"The answer to the big questions in running is the same answer to the big questions in life. Do the best you can with what you've got."

As I plan out my races for 2024, I realize more than ever how privileged I am to be racing.  With having CMT, no race, much less racing for a season is guaranteed.  Each race is a blessing.

As I have gotten older and my CMT has progressed, I see my finish times get slower and my ability to compete decrease.  That makes me treasure every race because I know someday I will no longer have that privilege. I try to appreciate every race experience.

I vowed to cut back on racing this year due to some changes that may be coming from the USA Triathlon with the pricing structure for going to a World Championship.  For me, that will mean more local and regional races. 

Another unexpected development was the announcement the Paratriathlon National Championship will be held 30 minutes from my home.  I have asked to go through the classification process.  It has been about 10 years since my last attempt to be classified. If I can be classified, then I will be able to compete as a para-athlete at the Winter Triathlon World Championship next year.

Much of my race schedule is not off-road events.  I like the races because they are small and low-key.  The bike leg of the race is on forest roads.  Because the races are small I do not have a constant stream of racers passing me at high speed.  The courses also have no traffic, making them safer.  Plus they are just fun.  

This is my multi-sport racing schedule. As the season progresses I will be adding some local road and trail running races. They helped me to train for the races already scheduled.

June 9, 2024
Triona Aquabike
Winona, MN

or July 6 Fort Wayne Aquabike

June 23, 2024
Paratriathlon National Championship
Pleasant Prairie, WI

July 14, 2924
Pan American Duathlon Championship
Cleveland, OH

July 20, 2024
The Forge Gravel Aquabike
Lemont, IL

July 27, 2024
Ugly Dog Gravel Triathlon
Grass Lake, Michigan

August 11,2024
Wisconsin Women's Duathlon
Pleasant Prairie, WI

September 22, 2024
The Dirty Mitten Gravel Triathlon National Championship
Middleville, MI

I've already completed the Winter Duathlon National Championship in February taking first in the PC division.  It was a great kick-off for the season.

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

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.

She has won national championships as a physically challenged athlete in Aqualon, Duathlon, Aqua Bike, and Winter Triathlon. She was the national champion in her age group in 2023 for gravel duathlon.

 

 In 2014 she represented the U.S. as a Para triathlete at the Pan-American Triathlon Championship in Dallas, Texas.  

 

She was the 2023 Gravel Duathlon National Champion in the 65-69 age group.

 

She has won state championships as an age-group athlete in cycling and triathlon. She has represented America as an age group athlete at world championships in Chicago, Denmark, Cozumel, and Norway. She earned a bronze medal at the Winter Duathlon World Championship in 2023 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 257 athletes in 43 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.

 

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, Para triathlon, 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, #kneedeepinwo

 

 

 

Winter Duathlon National Championship-Breckinridge Colorado

 

"Sometimes what seems like a push backward can actually be a leap forward."- Janice Kaplan

I did my first race of the season on February 22nd in Breckinridge, Colorado.  I participated in the Winter Duathlon National Championship. The race was a 4 K run and a 4-mile Nordic ski

Right from the start this race was a challenge due to the lack of snow in Southeastern Wisconsin.  The only place I had to ski was a loop with manmade snow in a State Park.  

My original plan was to head to Northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Michigan if needed to travel and maybe take a few lessons.  No one in the Midwest had snow on the ground.  Snow had to be trucked in for the annual Birkebeiner race this year which is the biggest race on the North American calendar.

So I was stuck training on a circle loop. There is one hill on the loop and it was often icy or rutted. Often I did not want to risk injury skiing it.  So I had to be content lap after lap in a circle. It honestly got boring. I would have trained longer if I had trails to ski.

I had signed up for all three races on the weekend; a ski half marathon of 9 miles and a winter triathlon race.  Even before I left for the race I had decided I had not trained enough to do the ski half marathon.

Breckinridge is at 9,600 feet. Last year when I went to Breckinridge for a ski camp I had trouble breathing and headaches. It got so bad I almost left early to go back to Denver. I did not feel better until I got some oxygen.

I tried to prepare by wearing an altitude training mask during my weight training. Perhaps I started too late because it did not seem to make much difference. training  I purchased a can of oxygen at one of the local stores and used it often during my stay. It seemed to help with headaches but not with shortness of breath. I drank lots of water with electrolytes. That did not help enough either.

I decided to check out the race course the day before the race. A couple of inches of new snow had fallen.  The race venue was the Gold Run Nordic Center. It is a golf course in the Summer.  The venue was closed to set up for the race, but we were allowed to ski the course. 

High-altitude snow is often dry snow. My skis would not glide. I fell on my face trying to skate. I ran into this once before at ski camp.  Classic style seemed to work a bit better and my plan was to use that on race day if needed.  There was a ski shop on site and I took my skis there and explained the problem.  The skis would be ready for pick-up on race morning.

Race day dawned with 12 F temperatures. All week the weather report had been for temperatures in the mid 30's.  I did not bring clothes for colder temperatures. It was a short race, but I do hate being cold during a race.

I attempted to do a pre-race run warm-up and knew I would be in trouble. My body did not want to run. I could not breathe and had no energy.  Good thing the run was only 2 miles.

As the race took off everyone around me struggled to run. I had not seen so many walkers since I did the first Boston Marathon in the 90F heat.  I finished the race with a combination of a little running a mostly walking.

The 4-mile ski was next.  I had only one fall when I tried to skate up a hill right at the start and slipped.  The course was rolling, but not technical at all. I have come a long way with my skiing.  I remember when I was a classic skier, I could not go down most hills without falling.

The was on my skis was perfect and I thanked the shop guys after the race. The course was beautiful with the mountains in the background. I was out of breath on the ski portion. I had to stop many times.

I finished in 1:32:44 for 1st in the adaptive division. I would have been 3rd in my age group. I earned a spot on Team USA for the World Championship next year.

I skipped the Sunday race because of breathing issues. I struggled to breathe even lying in bed. I felt like a fish out of water.  By finishing one race I qualified for all races at the World Championship.  I accomplished my goal and did not need the race.

I have lots to learn and I have made lots of progress in the sport. I like the challenge of working on skills. Having a winter race keeps me working out.  I am hoping for more snow next year so that I can properly train.

I am also excited about going back to the World Championships. This year I could not attend because they were on the same weekend as the National Championship.

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

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.

She has won national championships as a physically challenged athlete in Aqualon, Duathlon, Aqua Bike, and Winter Triathlon. She was the national champion in her age group in 2023 for gravel duathlon.

 

 In 2014 she represented the U.S. as a Para triathlete at the Pan-American Triathlon Championship in Dallas, Texas.  

 

She was the 2023 Gravel Duathlon National Champion in the 65-69 age group.

 

She has won state championships as an age-group athlete in cycling and triathlon. She has represented America as an age group athlete at world championships in Chicago, Denmark, Cozumel, and Norway. She earned a bronze medal at the Winter Duathlon World Championship in 2023 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 257 athletes in 43 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.

 

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, Para triathlon, 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, #kneedeepinwo

2023 Was a Very Good Year for Racing

 

"To uncover your true potential, first you must find your limits, then blow past them."- Picabo Street, Olympic Alpine Ski Gold Medalist

I had a great year of racing in 2023. The highlight of my year was my 3rd place finish in my age group at the Winter Triathlon World Championship in Norway. I finished last in the race which was a first, but the entire U.S. team met me at the finish line and cheered me in. That kind of support was wonderful.

I won three national championships in Gravel Duathlon, Winter Triathlon, and Aquathlon.  

I had also set a goal to qualify for the USAT Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year. To be considered I had to complete two sanctioned aquathlons, aqua bike, and duathlon races. I had to travel to Michigan, Arkansas, and Texas to get it done. I finished with a race in Plano, Texas on Labor Day weekend.  Now the rest is up to USAT to make the selection. Even when racing as an age group athlete I did not finish lower than 3rd in any race.  Here are my results

Tri Flake Winter Triathlon National Championship
January 21, 2023
Anchorage, Alaska
1at PC Open Division

Winter Duathlon World Championship
Norway
March 24, 2023
3rd F 65-69

Gravel Duathlon National Championship
Fayetteville, Arkansas
6/2/2023
1st F 65-69

Multisport National Championship
Irving, Texas
April 2023
Open Water Swim, 3rd F PC Open
SS Triathlon 2nd F PC Open
SS Duathlon 2nd F PC Open
Aquathlon 1 at F PC Open

Dirty Mitten Gravel Aquabike
September 24, 2023
1st F PC Open

I had a great time racing, traveling and meeting other athletes. I am looking forward to another good year in 2024. I have decided to cut back greatly on national championship races next year to travel more for fun.

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

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.

She has won national championships as a physically challenged athlete in Aqualon, Duathlon, Aqua bike, and Winter Triathlon. She was the national champion in her age group in 2023 for gravel duathlon.

 

 In 2014 she represented the U.S. as a Para triathlete at the Pan-American Triathlon Championship in Dallas, Texas.  

 

She was the 2023 Gravel Duathlon National Champion in the 65-69 age group.

 

She has won state championships as an age-group athlete in cycling and triathlon. She has represented America as an age group athlete at world championships in Chicago, Denmark, Cozumel, and Norway. She earned a bronze medal at the Winter Duathlon World Championship in 2023 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 257 athletes in 43 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.

 

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, Para triathlon, 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, #kneedeepinwo