Leon's Triathlon-The Race That Almost Wasn't

"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek." - Sandy Armstrong, Rowing Coach

This year the USAT Paratriathlon Championship for the North Centeral Region was held on June 02 in Hammond Indiana.

This year I'm racing both age group and as a paratriathlete. I race as an age group athlete so that I can qualify for National Championships, Team USA and the World Champsionship.

This year I am racing all my triathlons as a Physically Challened athletes. I need three races to be eligible for national ranking. The Marquette Indoor Triathlon was my first race this season. Leaon'w would be my second.

Hammond is just outside of Chicago.  Chicago is the home of Dare2Tri one of the biggest organizatoins for paratriathltes. They would have a huge turn out of athletes for the evetn.

June is pretty early to do a race in the midwest. We had a really cold winter followed by a cold and rainy sping. I was worried about the lake water being cold for the swim. I've had full blown asthma attacks twice in races with cold water.  One race I had to drop out and the other I probably should have.

The pre-race email said the water temperature was in the low 60s.  I started to worry and remember the bad experience in the cold water races.  I am a nervous swimmer at best. It is my weakest event and the first open water race of the season is alway stressful.

When I picked up my packet I was told the water temperature was still in the low 60s.  Add into that a race volunteer told me my hotel was in a bit of a questionalble area. It was on the recommended list and only a few minutes from the race venue. It was a Ramada and seemed nice. It was much better than my hotel from my race in Michigan.

We got lots and lots of rain inthe later afternoon and evening.  As usual I did not sleep well . I only felt at peace when I decided to pull out of the race.  It did not make me feel good since I drove three hours from Milwaukee and spent the money for a hotel.  I just did not want to take the chance of any problems on the swim.  There would be other races.

I had to turn in my timing chip, since race organizers fine you if you don't return it. The packet pick up had be in a raised stage in the park. I was climbing the stairs to the stage when I stopped. I decided to go feel the water for myself and see how cold it was.

To my surprise it felt really warm.  I decided to do the race. As I was setting up in transition, the race announcer told us the water temperature was 68 F. That is actually preety warm for this time of year.

This race honored fallen militariy heros. There was a display at the race venue of all the members of ther service from Indiana that have lost their lives since 911.  There was a very moving ceremony before the race.  Melissa Stockwell, founder of Dare2Tri presented flags flown over the White House to several veterans. Melissa lost a leg due to a bomb explosion while serving in Iraq.

I lined up with all the other para-athletes. There must have been 60 of us. I started out near the back and just took it one stroke at a time.  I had to go around some athletes, but it was a routine swim.

The bike and run were both fast and flat. I had a decent race finishing in a time of 1:33:05 for 3rd place. I did not stay around for the awards since I had a long drive back. I'm glad I pushed through my swim fear.   Giving in would not have moved me toward my goals. Every race finished is valuable experience in growing as an athlete. Facing my fears is vital for my growth as a person.
Giving in to fear is worse then having a bad race. I feel terrible when I give into fear, especially when there is no reason to.  So two trithlons down of the three or four I will do this year.  A race well done is always a good feeling.

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

Chris Wodke

Founder & Manager Team CMT

www.run4cmt.com

Chris is a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a three time participant of 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 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 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 paratriathlete 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.

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that 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 to find a cure for CMTWe currently have 225 athletes in 41 states. We also have members in Australia, Canada, England, Finland, Vietnam, Iran, Scotland, France, Turkey, Poland, Norway, Mexico and Sweden!. If you wish to join us visit our web site; 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.

Additional Link

Follow CMT affected Paratriathlete Timmy Dixon
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/

Follow CMT Author Chris Steinke
https://cmtandmesite.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/what-is-charcot-marie-tooth-disease/

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, paratriathlon, 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

The Perfect Race

Crossing the finish line at the Age Group National Championship in Milwaukee

"Above all be the herione of your own life, not the victim. Nora Ephron

This weeks question from the USAT Ambassadors was " What is your favorite triathlon memory?"

I've had so many great menories in the seven seasons I've been doing multi-sport events.   The race that left the most lasting impression was the 2012 Age Group Sprint Triathlon National Championship in Milwaukee.

It stands out in my memory because it was a perfect race. Perfect races don't happen often and I had one that day.  It wasn't because I was fast, becaue I wasn't and it wasn't because I won anything because I didn't.  Sometimes just crossing the finish line is a victory.

The race was on my home course. I lived just 10 minutes from the race venue. I had just finished a tri newbie class and many of my classmates would be volunteering along the course. I was the only one brave enough to do the event. The others were too intimidated.

The two races held as part of the National Championship attracted a field of over 7000 athletes.  The two races held were qualifiers for the World Championship. The top 18 in each age group would qualify.

The most intimidating part of the race would be the swim.  Lake Michigan can be cold with strong currents.  My swim wave combined several age groups and had over 200 women.  I knew competing with the high caliber athletes the race attracts would be like swimming with the sharks. With spots on the line for the US team I knew things would be intense.  I also did not have that much race
experience.

I knew when I signed up I would not be a contender. I'm a Physically Challenged athlete.   I have Charcot-Marie-Tooth a genetic condition much like MS that affects 160,000 Americans.  I race not to win, but to raise awarness for this condition that many have never heard of.

Most with CMT wear braces and struggle to do every day tasks.  CMT weakens the muscles making it difficult for most with the condition to walk, much less run.  It causes issues with balance and fatigue.It is a challenge for me to swim, bike and run.  Even though my case is mild, it affects me as an athlete. It means I am much slower than most athletes that race.

I was also in a fragile metal state going into the race. Just a few months earlier I had thought about quitting triathlon.  I had been turned down for classification for paratriathlon. I could compete at the local level but any dreams for national competition was gone.  My love for the sport was restored when I went through a tri newbie class with a local triathlon club. I had started the class the year before and not finished. I had so much fun in the class and made such good friends my love for the sport was re-energized.

I had founded Team CMT two years before to raise awareness and had raced at high profile marathons like Boston and Marine Corp marathon. This would be another high profile race as part of my mission.

So there I was in the water hanging onto the dock waiting for the starting horn.  It was every bit as intense as I expected.  In races before I had always hung back and let the crowd go. This time I got right in the middle of it.  I felt strong, like a real athlete.  When the men's wave behind us came through a large guy went right over the top of me and just stayed. I didn't panic. I just pushed him off.
I felt so proud of myself. I was off to a great start.

The exit swim ramp was very slippery.  Two friends from my local ski patrol were there volunteering. It was so cool to have them reach out and help me up the ramp.

I was on to the bike course. Part of the course rode over the Hoan bridge which rises high above the Milwaukee harbor. It is never open to bike traffic. On the way back I saw three friends from my tri newbie class. They were working as course marshalls. They recognized me and cheered loudly.
There was no worry about getting lost on the rest of the bike course, I had practiced riding it many times to prepare for the race. I love the bike leg, it is my favorite part. The wind in my face feels like freedom.  I was having a blast.

Before I knew it, I was off on the run course.  The swim is always risky and the bike I am always worry about flats or mechanical problems. When I get safely out on the run course it just feels like a celebration. The course was flat on a bike path along the lake.  I chatted with several other runners as I breezed along. I felt great and strong.  The entire race was mistake free.   I could not imagine a better race or a better memory. I think I finished 43rd that day in my age group but I felt like a winner.  You can see in the picture in this article, just how happy I was.

Because CMT is a progressive disease, I might some day lose the ability to complete.  There is currently no treatment or cure.  The good news is that it progresses slowly and we have a drug in clinical trials. So my work continues not just to raise awarness, but to find another perfect race.

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

Chris Wodke

Founder & Manager Team CMT

www.run4cmt.com

Chris is a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a three time participant of 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 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 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 paratriathlete 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.

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that 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 to find a cure for CMT. We have 221 members in 41 states. We also have members in Australia, England, Scotland, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland, France, Ireland, Poland, Iran, Norway and Sweden. If you wish to join us visit our web site; 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.

Additional Link

Follow CMT affected Paratriathlete Timmy Dixon
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/

Follow CMT Author Chris Steinke
https://cmtandmesite.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/what-is-charcot-marie-tooth-disease/

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, paratriathlon, 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

Powerman Frankenmuth-Opening Day

"The journey is better than the inn".- Don Quixote

I plan out most of my season in early January.  I decided this year to add a couple of duathlons to my race schedule.  It seemed like it would be a nice change of pace from triathlons. Just running, biking and no swim. 

I've been looking at the events run by Three Disciplines race group in Michigan for a couple of years. They have a race of some kind just about every weekend.  I picked the Powerman Duathlon in Frankenmuth on May 5th.  I thought it would be a fun road trip that I could do in a long weekend.

Frankenmuth is about a 7 hour drive from Milwaukee and is located in North Central Michigan. It was founded in the 1840's by German settlers. This town of 5000 gets 3 million visitors every year.

The attractions include Bonners' the Worlds largest Christmas store and a downtown lined with shops in German style buildings. The town is also famous for the Bavarian Inn that serves a famous chicken dinner.  Part of the attraction of this race was to see a new place.

There are just a few of the local sites.

I felt relaxed about the event because it was a 5 K run, 20 K bike and 5 K run. Not terribly challenging physically. Just a good way to start off the season.    

The only problem with the race was most of the run was on grass.  We've had a really rainy spring in the Mid-west.  It has rained almost every day. This week was no different. It rained four straight days including  the night before the race. So the course and transition was all very muddy.  

I signed up for the purple service which was a perk the race offered.

I had my own personal attendant to make me a hot chocolate in the morning, recovery boots if I needed them and most importantly a place to put my stuff.  My attendant after the race offered to get me food and took my picture at the awards ceremony. It was nice to have access to my stuff before transition opened since it was in the low 50's at race start and only about 10 degrees warmer after the race.

The race itself was pretty uneventful.  There were three races, a sprint, super-sprint and a long distance.    I had talked to a women in my age group at the start and she told me she was the only one in the age group last year. I thought it might just be the two of us.   The race course was muddy.  I was sinking into the grass and my shoes were covered in mud.   They are still stained.  I kept an eye out from the other women I knew was in our age group. I was several minutes ahead of her after the first run.

The bike was completely flat. My bike computer had died the day before the race, so I had no idea of my speed.  A man and women ahead of me were drafting off each other which is illegal.  The course was windy and a bit cold.

The second run was the exact repeat of the first. One of the fun things about the course is that is ran through a covered wooden bridge. I went thought the bridge four times during the race.

The bridge reminded me of similar structures I saw in Germany.  That helped to make for a really fun race. The course also went through downtown which was full of tourist. Just a really fun race.

I finished the first run in 31:41, the bike in 1 hr 16 and the second run in 34:51.  It was good enough for 1st in the age group. There were three of us and I had to work for it.    I took home some nice race swag.

I have three duathlons on my race schedule this year.  I am hoping to be nationally ranked and gain a spot on Team USA.   The World Championship will be in the Netherlands.  My next duathlon is on June 23rd at Pleasant Prairie.

The only snag on the trip were my accommodations. I stayed at a Red Roof  Inn in Saginaw because rooms were in the $200 to $300 dollars in Frankenmuth. The room looked fine on the Internet pictures.  The room was less than clean. The neighborhood also seemed a bit dicey.  There were two abandoned hotels on the same block as my accommodations. So for this trip, the journey really was better than the Inn.

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

Chris Wodke

Founder & Manager Team CMT

www.run4cmt.com

Chris is a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a three time participant of 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 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 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 paratriathlete 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.

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that 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 to find a cure for CMT. We have 221 members in 41 states. We also have members in Australia, England, Scotland, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland, France, Ireland, Poland, Iran, Norway and Sweden. If you wish to join us visit our web site; 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.

Additional Link

Follow CMT affected Paratriathlete Timmy Dixon
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/

Follow CMT Author Chris Steinke
https://cmtandmesite.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/what-is-charcot-marie-tooth-disease/

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, paratriathlon, 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

Deer Run 5K- One Race at a Time

"If the grandfather click knew how many times it would have to tick in its lifetime, it would have given up long ago."- Jerry Lynch, Author of Running Within

I did a local running club race on April 27th, the Deer Run 5K. This race was the place Team CMT had its debut about 8 years ago. So I do like to run this race whenever I can.

I originally signed up for the 10 K race since a 10K was also being run. I am doing a marathon in October as part of the running club Super Strider series.  Because of that I thought doing a longer race would be a good ides.

As I got up in the morning, the weather was not promising.  It was supposed to rain during the event and be in the low 40's. I did not want to be miserable for a longer race.  I am competing in the Club Championship for both the long and short distance series.  I did not need this race for the long series, but did need a short race to hit the four race minimum for the short series.

I switched race figuring if it rained, I would only be on the course for about 30 minutes.

The course in Brown Deer is pretty boring. It is almost completely flat in a residential neighborhood.  Packet pickup and awards are all outside. It has been cold every year I've done this race.

Because it was in the 30's when I arrived at the race I had on silk long underwear for a base layer.
I was worried I would be too hot, but the weather stayed cold enough that for once I was dressed with just the right amount of layers.

The race was pretty uneventfull. After awhile the course all kind of look the same. In the last mile of the race, I was passed by a woman that looked like she was in my age group.  I  had planned on doing an easy pace, but did not want to take a chance she was in 3rd in our age group. I decided to catch her which I did and then put at least 1/4 mile between us. I felt pretty proud of myself.

When I checked the results she has beat me by 5 seconds. I was told by the timer she must have started farther back at the start. It's hard to believe she as that far back.  I saw her at the finished an told her she had beaten me and we had a good laugh about it. I thanked her for pushing me.  She added some interest to the race for me.  I ended up taking 2nd place in the age group and will have enough races to at least be in the running for the short course running club series.

Being able to exert some extra effort in a race is great training! It made the race fun for me!


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

Chris Wodke

Founder & Manager Team CMT

www.run4cmt.com

Chris is a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a three time participant of 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 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 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 paratriathlete 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.

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that 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 to find a cure for CMT. We have 218 members in 39 states. We also have members in Australia, England, Scotland, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland, France, Ireland, Poland, Iran, Norway and Sweden. If you wish to join us visit our web site; 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.

Additional Link

Follow CMT affected Paratriathlete Timmy Dixon
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/

Follow CMT Author Chris Steinke
https://cmtandmesite.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/what-is-charcot-marie-tooth-disease/

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, paratriathlon, 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

Soup Sunday- Tomato-Quina Soup

It is spring in Milwaukee but you would not know it from the weather.  It has been cold, gray and rainy for weeks.  Weather like that is perfect for soup for lunch.  I adapted this recipe to give it a bit of a Latin American twist.

Tomato-Quinoa Soup

1/2 cup red quinoa
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 red onion finely chopped
1 teaspoon minced garlic
3 cans (14 ounce) chopped tomatoes with green chilies
2 cups chicken broth
2 small zuchini chopped in quarters.
8 ounces cooked and peeled shrimp,tails removed
1 teaspoon smoked chili powder

Melt the butter in the bottom of a Dutch oven over low heat. Add the garlic and onions.   Cook for 3 t 5 minutes until the onions are soft. Add the chicken broth and tomatoes.  Bring to a low simmer.
Add the zuchinni and the quinoa. Simmer for 30 minutes.  Add the chili powder.  Serve topped with pumpkin seeds.  Serves 6

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

Chris Wodke

Founder & Manager Team CMT

www.run4cmt.com

Chris is a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a three time participant of 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 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 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 paratriathlete 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.

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that 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 to find a cure for CMT. We have 221 members in 40 states. We also have members in Australia, England, Scotland, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland, France, Ireland, Poland, Iran, Norway and Sweden. If you wish to join us visit our web site; 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.

Additional Link

Follow CMT affected Paratriathlete Timmy Dixon
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/

Follow CMT Author Chris Steinke
https://cmtandmesite.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/what-is-charcot-marie-tooth-disease/

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, paratriathlon, 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

Super Food Saturday- Fruit and Vegetable Wash

When you purchase fruits and vegetables and bring them home they need to be washed.  There is no need to buy a commercial wash when you can make one at home.

Vegatable Wash
Mix 10 parts apple cider vinegar with 9 parts of water
Put the items that need to be cleaned in the vinegar mixture. This mixture can be used as a kitchen cleaner as well since it has anti-microbial properties.


Apple cider is great for your health and it has uses beyond cooking.   To get the greatest benefit, be sure to buy an unfiltered kind like Bragg's organic raw apple cider vinegar.  It is unpasteurized and unfiltered. Both add to the health benefits from the pro-biotics present which aid digestion. Other benefits include:

• Lower Cholesterol- A study where rats were fed apple cider vinegar had a significant reduction of the bad cholesterol LDL.  LDL has been linked to increased risk of heart attack.  There was also an increase in the good cholesterol HDL.
• Help with Diabetes-  apple cider vinegar may improve insulin sensitivity in diabetics and reduce blood sugar levels.
• Leg Cramp Cure- Add two tablespoons of apple cinder vinegar to a glass. It works due to the high potassium content.
• Lower Blood Pressure- May reduce systolic blood pressure.

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

Chris Wodke

Founder & Manager Team CMT

www.run4cmt.com

Chris is a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a three time participant of 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 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. She has qualified to represent Team USA at the Aquathon ITU World Championship in Chicago in 2015 and 2016

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

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that details her experience as a CMT affected athlete.

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 to find a cure for CMT. We have 183 members in 32 states. We also have members in Australia, England,Scotland, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland, Scotland, France and Iran. If you wish to join us visit our web site; 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.

Additional Link

Follow CMT affected Paratriathlete Timmy Dixon
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, paratriathlon, 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

Question of the Week-My Story for Getting into the Sport

Powerman Duathlon Frankenmuth May 2019

"Disability does not mean inability , it means ingenuity."  " Just because you have a disability doesn't mean you can't do something,  but it means you have to be a bit cleaver with how."- Joshua James, athlete with CP

Sometimes the most simple decision can change the course of your life.  It happened to me on Father's day in 2000. It was a beautify and sunny Sunday, a perfect day for a bike ride. Little did I know the events of that day would change the course of my life and provide a mission I am still living.

I wasn't a triathlete yet, I was a long distance runner training for my 5th marathon. I swam and biked because my body could not take the pounding of running every day. I'd gotten a stress fracture training for my first triathlon.   I'd gotten numerous running injuries over my years as a runner.

Every doctor and physical therapist that examined me told me that I did not have enough flexibility to walk decently much less run. The average person can bend their foot at the ankle about 6 degrees. My flexibility was -6 degrees.  I also had curled toes and high arches. I thought this was normal since all five of my brothers and my sister are the same.  I was the only athlete in the bunch.

I leaned that by running only three days a week and by cross training with swimming and biking that I could stay healthy and active.   When training for a marathon, I would run in the pool to get in extra running time.  I leaned to be cleaver to get it done. I ran my first marathon in 4 hours.

So that Father's day in June I was out of bed for a quick bike ride before I met my family for brunch.
I don't remember anything about the bike ride or anything else from my morning. The first memory I have after waking up was coming out of a CAT scanner at the local emergency room at 2 O'clock in the afternoon.  The ER doc asked if I remembered him since I had talked to him when they brought me in.  I told him I'd never seen him before.

On my bike ride someone had opened a car door into my path.  I think I went over the handle bars because my bike helmet vents left an imprint on my head.  In addition to a head injury I had a fractured collar bone. I spent three days in the hospital.

Because of the head injury I was assigned a neurologist for follow-up.  He was puzzled not only by my amnesia, but by my lack of reflexes. I'd known about this my whole life. The doctors could never get them.

So he started testing me for all kinds of hideous neurological conditions like CP and ALS. I drew the line at the spinal tap.  Everything came up negative.  He missed the most common inherited neurological disease, Charcot Marie Tooth or CMT  That is not unusual because it takes the average
CMT patient seven years to get a diagnosis.

I decided not to pursue a diagnosis with that Neurologist. I did not think much of him. He would always test my recovery from my brain injury by telling me three objects and asking me to repeat them. He always told me the same three dam objects; a ball, a flag and a Christmas tree.  I still remember them almost 20 years later. I had a host of other problems from the brain injury but he was happy because I could remember those three stupid objects.

I had surgery a few months later to repair the shoulder and once I healed from that I started racing and training again.  I have been a pretty good age group runner, able to keep a 7:30 pace in a 5K.  After the accident, the best I could manage was a 10:30.  My feet burned when I ran as well.  I quit competing, puzzled by my loss of ability.   The anesthesia given to me during surgery may have accelerated my CMT. Since I was unaware of my condition, I could not brief my doctor to take precautions.

Fast forward a few years and my dad was building a bedroom on the first floor of his house because he had lost all the feeling in his legs and could no longer do stairs. He told me his doctor told him he had an inherited neruomuscular condition and that his sister had the same symptoms.  His doctor told him not to worry what it was called because there was not treatment. So now I had another piece of the puzzle.  I knew that my dad had passed a condition to me.    I wondered if I would progress the same way.

About a year later I got an email from my sister telling me that two of my nieces had been diagnosed with CMT  The youngest had been genetically tested and it was confirmed. 
So I got on the Internet and as I read about CMT, I knew I had it as well.

So my dad, my aunt, sister and two of my nieces shared CMT.  I had a 50/50 chance of inheriting this from my dad.  Over 160,000 Americans have this condition.  It is very similar to MS.  The coating on the nerves breaks down because in the type I have a gene over produces a protein.

The muscles don't get the electrical signals they need and they start to die.  The muscles keep getting weaker. This causes tripping, ankles to turn which can break bones in the feet.  Most people with CMT wear braces. Fine motor skills in the hands are affected so there can be problems with typing, handwriting, opening jars, and dressing.  Anything that your nerves control can be affected. So breathing issues are common in my family and I am losing my hearing.  Fatigue is a huge problem for me.

I got my own diagnosis in 2010, a long journey from my bike injury in 2000.  What really shocked me is that I had never heard of this disease. It did not seem right to me  It is bad enough to have a condition with no treatment, but lack of awareness feels like being victimized a second time.

Many families with CMT do not talk about it. It becomes a shameful secret. My own sister does not talk about her condition and keeps it a secret.  I wanted to change that. I wanted to put a face and a name to this condition. I was born with CMT, I didn't do anything wrong and had nothing to be ashamed of.  I decided I would be the face of CMT and raise awareness for the disease and funds for research.

Besides even when I was diagnosed it was common for doctors to tell patients to go home and live a quiet life. The thinking was that activity would speed progression and burn out muscles. I knew from my own expedience that was not true. I want to show people that while I had CMT it did not have me. I wanted to show that dreams are within reach.  Even though I had not raced in years, it was time to come out of retirement

I set a goal to run the Boston Marathon to raise awareness, a goal I achieved with Boston Marathon runs in 2012.,2013, and 2014.   I again used cross training to get me ready. Since I was swimming and biking already to cross train I decided it was time to give triathlon a try. I set aside my fear of the swim.  I did a few sprint triathlons and in 2012 I lined up in Austin in the Physically Challenged Open Division of the Paratrithlon National Championship in Austin.  I placed first to my surprise.

I've continued to do age group events and have qualified for World Championships in Winter Triathlon, Sprint Duathlon, Long Distance Duathlon, Aqua Bike, Long Distance Triathlon and Aquathlon.   I am still not the fastest athlete, but I've been able to figure out events where I can quality for Team USA. I've leaned to be cleaver with my training to stay active and to treat the little injuries that are part of being an athlete with CMT.  I focus on the next race instead of my CMT. Being a triathlete helps me to focus on what I still have, not what CMT has taken away.

Multi-sport has allowed me to raise awareness. I hope as more people hear about CMT they will get the diagnosis they deserve.  We have a treatment coming to market this year so there is a reason now for doctors to provide a proper diagnosis.

It is also so important to stay active. Research funded by Team CMT efforts have shown we can gain strength. I have seen the community have hope where there used to be allot of anger and bitterness.  Instead of keeping their condition a secret, many are being open about their condition, even letting their braces show.

My dad was not active.  He spent the last three years of his life in a wheelchair and living in a nursing home. I know being active means I will have a different ending to my story. Being a triathlete has given me a purpose for my life and a path to follow to live a long and happy life.  I've just had to be a little cleaver!


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

Chris Wodke

Founder & Manager Team CMT

www.run4cmt.com

Chris is a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a three time participant of 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 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 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 paratriathlete 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.

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that 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 to find a cure for CMT. We have 218 members in 39 states. We also have members in Australia, England, Scotland, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland, France, Ireland, Poland, Iran, Norway and Sweden. If you wish to join us visit our web site; 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.

Additional Link

Follow CMT affected Paratriathlete Timmy Dixon
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/

Follow CMT Author Chris Steinke
https://cmtandmesite.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/what-is-charcot-marie-tooth-disease/

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, paratriathlon, 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