"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.
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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.
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”.
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.
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