Soup Sunday- Stuffed Pepper Soup

 

I still make soup most weekends in the Winter. I just don't always have a new recipe or time to post here.  This soup was perfect for a cold winter day. It was 10F the day I made this soup.  It really does taste like stuffed peppers.

Stuffed Pepper Soup

1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion
1 red bell pepper diced
1 green bell pepper diced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon crushed red peppers
2 (14.5-ounce) cans of diced tomatoes
1 (15-ounce) can of tomato sauce
2 cups beef broth
1 cup cooked brown rice
salt and pepper to taste

Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add the hamburger, garlic, and onions. Brown until all the meat is brown. Pour off any excess fat.  Add the broth, tomatoes, sauce, and spices. Stir well and cook over low heat for 10 minutes.  Add the peppers and cook for 5 minutes.  Add the cooked rice.  Serves 6. A serving size is 2 cups

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

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 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.

 

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 Triathlon National Championship 2023- Not What I Expected

 

                                           Tri Flake Winter Triathlon National Championship 2023

If I cannot do great things, I can go small things in a great way/" - Martin Luther King, Jr.

You just never know what is going to happen on race day. Every race and every venue has challenges and events that reveal themselves during the race.  The Tri Flake Winter Triathlon 2023 race in Anchorage, Alaska was no different.

I've done the Winter Triathlon National three times when it was in St. Paul.  So this was not my first rodeo.  This would be my first time racing the event as a Physically Challenged (PC) athlete. I qualify to be a PC athlete because I have CMT, a genetic neurological condition that is much like MS.

I raced as an age group athlete in the past because the rule at the time was you had to compete as an age group athlete to qualify for the World Championship.  This is not the case any longer and I am hoping to also compete as a PC athlete at the World Championship in March in Norway.

Because I've done this event before I had certain concerns and expectations.  The funny thing is the things I worried about were non-issues and some things happened I did not expect.

First off let me say what a great event this was. All three courses were so well marked. For someone that has taken multiple wrong turns on courses, this was so appreciated. There was no way to get lost on this course. I appreciate the effort and care it took to do this. Bravo to the race organizers.

I cannot say one negative thing about this race. The venue was beautiful It was held in the Kincaid part. There was no entrance.  Although I did not see any, the resident moose population often shows up on the trail. There were beautiful mountains in the background.

Going into the race, I was worried about the fat time bike course being too difficult and I was worried about staying warm. I was not concerned about running since I have been running for years. It is the one discipline that I do consistently all year.  My skate skiing has gotten good enough to handle pretty much anything.

I was concerned about the cold because I was cold when in my hotel room. I wondered how I would stay warm on race day.  Also, the last time I did Winter Triathlon in St. Paul, my feet got so cold they were numb for a week.

Well, my concerns were unfounded. I figured out the right amount of layers to stay warm. The bike and ski loops were pretty protected from the wind which helped. Plus we had sun and a race start temperature of 21 F.

Run
The run was not what I expected and the biggest surprise about this race.  The 6K run was an out-and-back course. We went down very several hills and got to go up the same set of hills on the way up.  I remember one that did not seem to end.  Hills are not usually a problem for me since I am really strong on hills. The problem was the entire course had ankle-deep snow. I was like running on deep sand.  One part early in the course had a dip where the snow came up to mid-calf. 

I had three falls during the race. Two on the mid-calf deep dip. One was in a random hole on the course that I did not see.

The deep snow was really tiring. I was not winded but could not make very fast progress. I was also concerned about the uneven surface. Since my ankles do not flex like a normal person they sometimes collapse side to side.  The soft surface was not something I anticipated.

I was really worried about turning an ankle and ending my race. I made it through with a time of 58:18. I usually cover a 5K course in about 31 minutes. Not only was a slow but now my legs were super tired.

Bike
I should not have been worried about the bike. The course was changed away from having any single-track sections.  A single track is just wide enough for a bike to get through. Fat tire bikes are used because the course is on snow. The route was run on the multi-use trail.  I was on a rental bike and was not sure how it would perform. The course was pretty hard-packed with rolling hills. It was in the woods and was a fun course. I actually got too warm on the bike and had to take off my top layer.
My legs were shredded from the run. My quads were burning on hills that normally would not have been a problem. I ended up walking up a couple of hills. I think it was just faster and I was trying to save my legs a bit for the ski portion.  I finished in 1 hr 27 minutes. I had hoped for a 1 hr 30 time.

Nordic Ski

There has been very little snow in Southeaster Wisconsin this year. The only skiing available has been on an icy man-made loop in a local State park. I was glad I had some time on snow in Colorado at a ski camp in December.

I was expecting this course to be so hilly.  It was a beautiful course. But hills are not my strong suit on skis.  I have to herringbone up steep hills. My legs and current technique don't allow me to get up anything too steep by skate skiing. Still, I can get down even the steepest slopes now without falling. My skin really has improved since the first time I did my first Winter Triathlon race.

My legs were so tired I was worried about being able to hold a snowplow to get down the hills.
I got the two loops done in 1:09. I typically do a 5 K loop in about 20 minutes here in Wisconsin. So that is how tired my legs really were. I am glad I got through it.  

I finished the race at 3:35:32. I know that is not fast. I was hoping for around 3:30. On an easier run course my time would have been better.

Since I was the only PC athlete I won a National Championship. I would have been second in my age group. I qualified for the World Championship in Norway.

Better yet, I met so many great people including four that had only been on skis once.  They all did just fine and I look forward to seeing them in Norway. The venue was beautiful There were plenty of helpful and friendly volunteers.  Such a great event!

Thank you to the race organizers. You put on a great event.  It was a physically challenging race, but it is a National Championship. I feel confident going to Worlds after doing this event. I do belong there!

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

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 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.

 

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

Trying So Hard to Improve

 

Nordic Center Breckinridge Colorado

"Success isn't always about greatness. It's about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come."

I put the Winter Triathlon National Championship in Anchorage on my schedule as soon as registration opened.

I take every race seriously and always want to do my best. That meant looking at my current skill level in all three of the disciples of Winter Triathlon. The race would have a 6 K run, a 12 K fat time bike, and a 5K Nordic ski.  

I am confident in my running since I have been competing as a runner since my college days.  I have a fat tire bike and have had clinics in bike skills. My real focus for improvement has been lessons and camps to improve my Nordic skiing. 

I saw from competing at past Winter Triathlons that the best athletes were skate skiers. If I wanted to be competitive I would need to master skate skiing.  Besides, it just looked like fun and more of a workout. I have been working on my skating technique for the last six years.  I took a two-prong approach this season. I signed up for the Hartford Ski Spectacular in Breckenridge in December. They run  Nordic a ski camp for physically challenged athletes. The second approach was to sign up for group ski lessons with the Lapham Peak ski club.

I had high hopes for the Nordic ski camp since it is for athletes with challenges. I went once before the year before COVID. I was excited to go back because the coaching was so great. I got one on one coaching to improve my technique and I needed it. Plus I got feedback during group activities. The coaches all have Olympic-level experience. My skiing improved so much. I had so much fun meeting the other athletes.  The Nordic center is beautiful and Gene the owner makes us feel so welcome. He often serenades us during breaks on his accordion.

The experience this year was completely different.  There was a mix-up with my registration and I found out at check-in I was not signed up for the clinic. My registration was to come out for a day to try Nordic, not the race camp. I was told there was room for me in the camp. I read over the description for camp activities on the Ski Spec web page. It talked about videotaping and coaching.  So I signed up.

I was put in a group of four skiers on the first day.  The instructor called me by the wrong name until the last day of the clinic. I was the only one in the group that was a skate skier.  One day our instructor got pulled away and we had to attach ourselves to another instructor.  One of the women in the group had no experience with skis and could barely stand. It was understandable the instructor was fully occupied with her.

When doing group activities I only got feedback a couple of times.  This experience was totally different from my last experience.   At first, I thought I was being snubbed. It sometimes happens at clinics or races for physically challenged athletes because my impairment is not obvious.

But when I talked to a couple of other athletes, they also felt they were getting no coaching. One of the athletes is a para-nordic skier. So you would think they would pay attention to him.  We both felt there were just too many athletes for the number of skiers.  We just were not a high priority because of the number of beginner skiers at the clinic.

Still, even though it was disappointing to go to a ski camp and get little coaching, the venue was beautiful. I met some really great athletes and enjoyed visiting with them. I also got a chance to get on snow for five days. Snow has been a scare in my part of Wisconsin.  I am not sure I will go back again to the clinic.  I think the Hartford Ski Spectacular does great work. They also run an Alpine ski camp the same week. They benefit a lot of athletes.  I did not have a great experience, but they do great work.

My second effort kicked off with a group lesson given by my local ski club. The Lapham Peak Ski Club runs the lessons with volunteer instructors. The lesson fees go to support the youth skiing team.

We were asked to self-select into one of three groups; beginner, intermediate,  or advanced.  I was selected for the intermediate group.  It seemed right since the beginners could barely stand on skis and the advanced group was for experienced racers.

There were about 20 skiers in my group. One admitted she had only been on skis a few times. I could see she struggled with balance.  The instructor gave us a few pointers, and we skied the straight section of an oval loop. It is maybe 150 yards.  He joined after everyone had completed the short ski. Then he addresses the group.  "Everyone did well, except you." He then pointed at me. He went on to say. " You would better off joining the beginner group so they can teach you to stand on your skis" He did this in front of the entire group.  Those people in the beginner group were struggling to stand on their skis. I was really mad. If he really thought I was in the wrong group, then he should have talked to me privately.  Anyone with CMT generally has struggled with coordination and looks terrible doing anything active their whole lives. To be spotted out in public is just a nightmare.

I looked at the instructor and informed him I was not going to the beginner group. Later during another skiing activity, he complimented my skiing. I shouted to him; " Yeah I am the skier you told to go to the beginner group. I am no beginner."  

After that lesson, I am not sure if I will go back for the rest of the sessions. I skipped the next one due to icy conditions. I did not want to risk slipping and falling before my upcoming race in Alaska. I am still mulling over whether to say something about what he did to the sponsoring club. He is a volunteer so I do think about that. I do not think he meant to be rude, but it could have been handled better. Maybe he should have reserved judgment until after he saw me ski a bit more.

I think my best bet is going to be to sign up for private lessons. There is a local instructor I have used before. I may go back to the group lesson because I wanted to meet other club members.

In any case, I will keep working on my skiing. I have more races coming up.

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

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 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.

 

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

Retirement Project and Fundraising

 I have been very busy since I retired a little over a year ago. I started two online business projects with more to come.  I started an online publishing venture and have been at it for a little over a year.

I’ve published low-content books on Amazon. To find one of the books do a search on Christine L. Wodke and the type of book. These books are 150 pages and 6 x 9 inches. I currently have about 3600 books in my inventory.  I add new titles every week. The price of each book is $6.99.

The profits from the books in the fourth quarter of 2022 will go toward my $1000 fundraising goal for USA Triathlon.  To find any of these books do a search on Amazon with Christine L. Wodke and the book category.  I add new categories all the time so if you have a book you are interested in, do a search on that name.

·        Actor Journal

·        Aquarium Logbook

·        Astronomy Observation Book

·        Badminton Playbook           

·        Barbeque Journal

·        Baseball Playbook

·        Beekeeping Logbook         

·        Beer Tasting Logbook        

·        Birdwatching Logbook

·        Bowling Scorebook

·        Camping Logbook   

·        Cheese tasting

·        Chess Tactics

·        Chocolate Tasting                

·        Cigar Tasting

·        Cocktail Recipe  Journal     

·        Crocheting Logbook

·        Cycling Log

·        Fishing Logbook

·        Garden Log

·        Golf Journal

·        Hiking Log

·        Home Brew Journal

·        Hunting Log

·        Jeweler Making Journal

·        Kayak Log

·        Lacrosse Playbook

·        Lined Notebooks

·        Password Tracker

·        Recipe Journal

·        Road Trip Log

·        Rum Tasting

·        Running Log

·        SCUBA Log

·        Sewing Project Book           

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

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 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, 

Powerful Women of Triathlon

 

I did an interview with USA triathlon more than a year ago.  It was part of a series of interviews with three different athletes called "Powerful Women of Triathlon".  The series included authors and athletes Melisa Stockwell and Sue Reynolds.  All three of us are also USA Triathlon Foundation Ambassadors.

I have met both of these women. Melissa is a para-athlete and founder of Dare 2 Tri, a Chicago-based group that works with physically challenged athletes. I have been to a few of their events and see Melissa at para-triathlon events. Melissa is a veteran who was injured in Iraq and is a Paralympian and World Champion.

Sue Reynolds wrote a book about her weight loss of over 200lbs and her journey to become an athlete. I've met Sue at age group nationals in Milwaukee and at Leon's Triathlon in Hammond Indiana.  Sue has donated profits from her book to USA Triathlon Foundation to help para-athletes like me.

The airing of the interview was delayed due to the Olympics and then the interviewer moved on to another position. I did a search on YouTube a few days ago and found it. So that is why I am late getting it out to social media. I hope you will check it out. The link is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HppcmDb3TR8

or you can do a search using my name and USAT.

I am very grateful to USAT for all of the support they have given me as an athlete.  They are the only sports body that offers a physically challenged category at every sanctioned race. They have given me the chance to compete at national championships as physically challenged athletes and they give me opportunities such as the interview and being part of their ambassador program.

I fundraise for them as a way of giving back. My goal is $1000. To contribute go to:

https://usatriathlonfoundation.salsalabs.org/2022ambassadorteam/p/chriswodke2022usatfundraiser/index.html

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

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 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, Scot

Panther Prowl 5 K Run-When Life Gets in the Way

 

  "In battle, we do not rise to our expectations, we fall to the level of our training."- Archilochus Greek Poet

On October 8th, I raced here in Milwaukee at the UWM Alumni association 5K Panther Prowl run.  

UWM is where I went for my undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering. When training for marathons I often train on campus and in the surrounding neighborhood.  It is a beautiful campus and the surrounding area is filled with wonderful homes.  I love running in the area. The race is a fundraiser for student scholarships. A course I liked and a good cause made me choose the race. Plus they were giving away a neck gaiter for all runners. Those come in very handy during ski season.

I have only done one 5K stand-alone race since COVID.  I had gotten out of the habit. I like running races because they help improve my running times for triathlons. The races I pick are usually local so it does not require a big time commitment.

I could tell fall had arrived when I checked the outside temperature. It was 36F with an expected race temperature of around 40F.  When a season changes it is always a challenge for me to get layering right for a race. I hate being cold so I usually err on the side of being overdressed.  I had to dress warm enough to wait around outside for the race to start, yet not be too hot during the race.

I did a 10-minute warm-up run and my warm-up dynamic stretches.  I follow the same race day routine every time.  I took an energy gel 15 minutes before the start.

As I stood at the starting line, I chatted with the woman next to me about the Senior Olympics. I love the social aspects of running.  I had removed my top layer jacket. That turned out to be a great decision.

My race plan was to treat the race as a tempo workout. For me, that means pushing my effort at about 70% the whole race. That means exerting myself but not to exhaustion.

I was not sure how well the race would go. I had spent the previous two weeks on a basement waterproofing project. The surface prep included lots of hand sanding. I also had to wash the area multiple times. The floors I did on my hands and knees.  It was just hard physical work and I was pretty sore after days of really hard physical effort.

When the gun went off I put my race plan into place. When I tried to kick into gear, I just had little energy. I love the feeling on race day when I dig deep and have lots of energy. This race was not one of those days.  I pushed it as much as I could and settled in to enjoy the race.  There were lots of parents running with kids. It was so great to see them sharing that experience. Some of the kids were struggling, and some were complaining. I would give a word of encouragement if I passed or when they passed me.

My goal for the race was 34:00 since I was a bit race rusty. I ended up finishing in 33:03. Last year that would have been good enough for 3rd in my age group.  I finished 5th. The woman in 3rd ran the race in 28:00.  I have some work to do to catch that.

I had a great time and exceeded my modest goal. I am sure I will be out racing soon. I've signed up for the Winter Triathlon National Championship in January in Anchorage. I need to be ready for the run portion.  Having a goal keeps me running!  Looking forward to more racing very soon!

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

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 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.

 

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

 

Tri Faster Aquathlon-Last Call

 

"You go to war with the army you have, not the army you might wish to have." Donald Rumsfeld, Former Secretary of Defense

I was really excited when I was looking for a sanctioned aquathlon to find one only 30 miles from home in Menomonee Falls.  The race was put on by local training group Tri Faster with World Champion Age Group athlete Lauren Jansen McGuiness as the race director.

The race was the last one that I needed to qualify for the USA Triathlon Multi-sport athlete of the year award. To qualify I had to do two aqua bike, duathlons, and aquathlons.  When this award was originally announced I thought there would be an award for each age group and one for physically challenged athletes. It was announced earlier this year there will be one male and one female award with a couple of honorable mentions.  The award will be based on race times. I am not going to be competitive, but it has been fun to do the races. It has been an incentive for me to sign up for races. It made it fun to have something to shoot for, even if it is out of reach.

The race venue was Menomonee Park. There was a group that used to run an aquathlon series in the park, so I was really familiar with the swim course. The run for this race would be a bit different.

This was a small race. There was an open water swim competition and kids splash and dash in addition to the 1000 meter swim, 5 K run aquathlon.  There were only about 50 adult athletes.

Because of the small size, it was a very laid-back race.  The transition was laid out with cones. I met my friend Mary Joy Hubbs in transition. Mary Joy just moved up to the next age group which was good for me since she is a much better athlete than me.

The entry to the lake was marked with a couple of cones to avoid the worst rock ledges.

The swim would be two 500-meter loops. The water temperature was 68 F and I went with my lava pants because they worked so well for my last race. They are just warm enough yet easy to get off after the swim.

I lined up just behind the middle of the pack for the swim.  It proved a good move since I was able to draft off another swimmer for most of the race. I have never done that in more than 10 years of racing.

I was so excited that I told the athlete when we got to transition and thanked her.  I came out of the water with three other women.  I was 2nd out of transition.

The run was partially on trails in the park and then onto a bike path. It was in the '80s so the shaded course was really welcome.

I felt good on the run. I saw the woman that beat me out of transition and decided to see if I could catch her.  We said hellos after I passed. I decided to kick it up a notch since I felt good. I wanted to put enough distance between us so that she could not catch me.

We met after and I thanked her for pushing me. We had a nice conversation. It turns out she was in my age group. I placed 2nd at 1 hr 11 minutes.

When I do these races I always wish I was stronger and faster. But I have come to realize that I have to compete with the hand I have been dealt and be grateful for every race I complete, no matter the result.

It was a good close to my triathlon season. After a bit of a break, I will start training for the Nordic race season. I already have a nordic clinic planned for early December in Breckinridge Colorado.

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

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 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.

 

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