Ugly Dog Gravel Aqua Bike-Tri to Get Dirty

 

                  "Nobody learns and grows by being average at something." - Rohan Kamath

As I get close to the end of my triathlon season I am finally getting caught up on race blogs.  On July 23, I traveled to Grass Lake, Michigan to race at the Ugly Dog Gravel Triathlon.

I always have a reason why I decide to do a race.  Gravel races are a new addition this year to the USA Triathlon (USAT) calendar.  There was a national championship in Arkansas in June and a series of eight races in Michigan, Idaho, Colorado, California, New Jersey, and Texas. 

Gravel races use gravel roads for the bike and trails for the run.  Although gravel racing is new for USAT, gravel races and triathlons have been held for years. Ugly Dog was no exception.

This event would have Olympic and Sprint distances in Duathlon, Triathlon, and Aquabike. I had chosen the Sprint Aquabike and Team CMT member Cheryl Kearny would be doing the Olympic triathlon.

My race would be a 750-meter swim and a 12-mile bike segment on gravel roads. Cheryl would have a 1500-meter swim, a 28-mile bike segment, and a 10K trail run.  Both of our races as age group athletes.

For my race, awards would only be given to the top three overall women.  This was a small race and I think there were only three of us racing in the division. This race again checks a box toward qualifying for the Multi-Sport Athlete of the year competition.  This would be my second aquabike, leaving just one aquathlon race to complete.

I wanted to do this race because I like seeing new places and new races. A trip to the beautiful state o Michigan is always a good time.  Cheryl's brother has a lake home right across the lake from the race venue. The family was nice enough to extend an invitation. So I got to spend a long weekend relaxing on a lake before and after the race.

I also hope to go to the gravel national championship next year. I did not want to show up with no race experience. I have given up on doing off-road triathlons after dislocating my elbow at my only off-road triathlon. Racing a gravel race would also give me a chance to use my very nice mountain bike. That bike has been collecting dust in my basement. This would be a chance to use that bike.  Many racers had specialized gravel bikes. I have vowed not to buy another bike since I have six. Mountain bikes are not as fast but are also widely used.

We had rain the morning of the race and the forecast did not look good. Additional thunderstorms were predicted.  Lucky for us the storms went north and south of us. It was overcast the entire race. With a temperature of 84 F, the overcast kept it feeling cooler.

Swim

I did not know the water temperature until I got to the race venue. It was a very balmy 78 F. It was still wetsuit legal. I thought a full wetsuit would be too warm so I went with my lave pants. They are pants made of neoprene that go to my knees. I had never warned them in a race before. You are not supposed to do anything new on race day. I hoped this decision would be a good one.

The water was really clear and the bath water warm when I did the pre-race warm-up.  Sometimes these lakes are really weedy, but the course seemed to be weed free.

The swim went really well for me. It seemed shorter than 750 meters. I am glad I did not wear a wet suit. The lava pants were a perfect choice. They added a bit of buoyancy to my legs without making me too warm.

Bike

I was concerned about the rain it might be muddy or that the gravel would be really loose. I was worried about falls. The course map also showed lots of hills. Since I had never done a gravel race I did not know what to expect.  The mountain bike was a great choice. What I gave up in speed I gained in stability. The bike road over any changes in terrain easily. There were rolling hills, but nothing too big. It kept things interesting. The only problem was the course could have been better marked. I took two wrong turns. I talked to several other athletes that took wrong turns as well. The woman that finished after me on the aqua bike took the same wrong turns. At one point I got to a T in the trail and there was no sign. I went right which was of course the wrong way. I ended up doing twice the distance on that leg.

 I ended up doing extra mileage.  Most of the time I was all alone out on the road. I had no idea if I was on course or if I was getting endlessly lost on the network or gravel roads in the park where the race was held.  There was even a time I saw a sign for mileage on the Olympic course. I was not sure I was even on the right course. Then I saw the turnaround for my course.

Despite the wrong turns, I finished 2nd overall in the Sprint Aquabike. The first place woman was 15 minutes ahead of me. The wrong turns had cost me at least 10 minutes. I hope the course is better marked next year.  I finished in 1 hr 25 minutes. It was so much fun.

The post-race food was catered by a local barbeque restaurant. It was the best post-race meal I have ever had. I chatted up with some of the other athletes while I waited for Cheryl to finish. I saw at least two men with major road rash from falls.  Cheryl ended up taking first place in the 60-64 age group.

The swag included a nice coaster from USAT since it was part of their new gravel series and a bottle of vodka in an etched bottle from the sponsoring Ugly Dog Distillery.

I would come back to the race. It was really well run with a beautiful course. I am even thinking of doing a September gravel race in Northern Michigan.  I also gained some much-needed confidence in riding on gravel. Now I just have to work on my trail running.

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

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 248 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.

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Pleasant Prairie Duathlon-Checking a Box

 

"There are no victories except the joy you are living now while dancing your run. You are not running for some future reward. The reward is now."- Fred Rohe, author of The Zen of Running

On Sunday, June 26th I competed in the Pleasant Prairie Duathlon. This race was a 2.3-mile run, a 20K bike, and a 5K run. The race in Pleasant Prairie Wisconsin is also on the para-tri race series and has both a sprint and Olympic distance triathlon.

I always have a reason for any race. This one checked a box to qualify for USA Triathlon's Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year. To qualify I need two races in the aqua bike, duathlon, and aquathlon.  This would be my second duathlon. I competed in the first one at the Multi-Sport festival in Irving Texas. At that, I qualified for the World Championship for Spain in 2023.

So my goals for the race were modest. I just needed to finish checking the box.  The race started well with a decent night of sleep. That means about four hours of light sleep.

The one thing I don't like about this race is the 5 am open time for transition.  It closed at 6 am with a 7 am race start. The race start was pushed back for over an hour. It had rained very lightly on packet pick-up day.  Everyone seemed to show up on race day to pick up their packets and the lines were very long. So I and my fellow racers stood around at the start line for over an hour.

This race was a 2.3-mile run, 20 K bike, and 5K run. The runs are flat loops around Lake Andrea which serves as the swim course for the other races. The bike has some rolling hills.  My race plan for the day was to treat the race like a workout. That means pushing a little bit. Not an A race at all.

Runs

Everything went well, although I feel slow these days. My run times have dropped quite a bit. That slow pace made the difference between my second place finish. I am now putting greater focus on my running.  The day was warm, but not enough to affect my performance.

Bike

I used my triathlon bike. I was able to stay on the aero bars the entire race. That is a nice change from a few years ago. My average pace of 16.1 miles per hour was the best in my age group.  I really have not ridden much this year. My bike rides have been easy in the neighborhood. I have been putting my focus on home projects and my online businesses.

I was able to finish with a time of 1:47:18 and did not make any major mistakes. I was 12 minutes behind the first place finisher in my age group. The difference was all due to my slow run. I am really going to put some focus on that.

I found out later that a male swimmer age 51 died in the swim. That is so sad when that happens. We all have to remember it is ok to drop out of a race. Sometimes we celebrate someone struggling to finish a race. We should celebrate if someone makes a wise decision that they need to drop out. There is no shame in that, it has happened to me twice in swims. I hope the community starts to change in that regard.

Well, I achieved my race plan. I try to take it a bit easier every other year. This has been a lighter year in terms of workouts and race distances.  I like it and it has felt good physically. It may be a plan I continue going forward.

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

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 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.

 

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 currently has 247 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.

 

High Cliff Aqua Bike-Checking a Box

 

"The arrow that hits the bulls-eye is the result of a hundred misses." -Buddhist Proverb

On  Sunday, June 19th I raced the Highcliff Aqua bike in Sherwood, Wisconsin.  I love this race because it takes place in a Wisconsin State Park. The park is on Lake Winnebago and has wonderful wooded hiking trails. There are no hotels nearby so I always tent camp which I love.

I selected this race as part of my quest to complete the USA Triathlon requirement for the Multi-Sport athlete award. To qualify I had to complete two races duathlon, aqua bike, and aquathlon.  I assumed that the award would be done by age group with one also awarded to a para-athlete. I found out about a week before the race only one male and female athlete for the whole country would be selected. So I have no chance, but completing the requirements gives me a goal.

Every race has its own challenges. This one has a lake with a shallow swim that can have huge waves on race day. It also has a really huge hill right out of transition. Since I have done the long-distance aqua bike here twice, I was prepared for those.

I was not expecting the noise in the campground the night before the race.  I was actually getting some sleep until 3 am when the college kids across from me woke me up with drunken noise. They got yelled at by someone and yelled for an apology. Fifteen minutes later a huge fight broke out between one of the couples on the other side of me. There was swearing and screaming. I thought someone was going to get hurt. It was now 3:45. I was now wide awake and decided to just get up and drive to the race site. It takes about 5 minutes.  I watched YouTube videos until transition opened at 5 am. The funny thing is I was not even the first person there. I did get my choice of parking spots.'

I had looked over the race participant list the day before. There were only two women in the entire Sprint Aquabike race I was doing. That was good because awards were going to be made to the top three men and women in the race. As I set up in transition I found out the woman next to me was my competition. We were also about the same age. We both assured each other we were not fast and did not expect to beat each other.

The swim was pretty routine except for the really steep wooden ramp going into the water. If I had been racing as a PC athlete, I would have asked for accommodation to get around that ramp. The swim had some waves but was uneventful

I got up the big hill coming out of transition just fine, but just a little past that I down-shifted my bike and I heard an ominous clunk. The chain had dropped off of the chain ring.   I pulled to the side of the road and turned the bike over.  A spectator offered to help, but I said I had it.  Usually, it is easy to just slip a chain back on. That day the bike did not cooperate. Every time I got the chain back on it would come off. It took almost 10 minutes to get it back on or it seemed like it. 

I peddled as hard as I could to make up the time. I ended up in 2nd place by 6 or 7 minutes. I just had the bike in the shop for a tune-up the week before and was assured all was working well. I suspect the chain needs to be replaced.  The rest of the bike went well. It is a beautiful course.  There was no run. A race without a run feels so easy.

It was a good day. I had fun despite the bike mishap and checked one more box for the multi-sport athlete requirements.  The short distance and no run meant there was not much recovery. I can get right back to training for the next box I need to check.

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

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 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.

 

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 currently has 247 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, 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, #kneedeepinwork

 

Leon's Triathlon- First Responder's National Championship-Looking Like I Know Stuff

 

              "Each person must live their lives as a role model for others." -Rosa Parks

On June 5th, I raced at Leon's Triathlon in Hammond Indiana. I was there to compete in the First Responder's National Championship. I qualify due to my work as a member of the National Ski Patrol. Ski Patrol members are EMT-level medical personnel.

This was my third time competing at Leon's. I like this race because the swim is warm and the run and bike course are flat and fast. It is a great place to have a fast time. In the past, I have had times fast enough to qualify for the Para-triathlon National Championship. The last two times I competed as a para-athlete.

One of the ways this race is special is the way they honor veterans, police, and fire personnel. 

There is a display at the race venue of all the military service personnel from Indiana that have died while in service since 9/11/  The display is ringed by American flags as is the race venue.

Events kicked off on Saturday at packet pick-up. Lutheran Ministries had brought their comfort dogs to the event.  The golden retrievers and handlers go through 2000 hours of training to help those in crisis. Some of the teams specialize in working with veterans. The group has helped those in grief at events like hurricanes and school shootings.  I have been following this group on Facebook and it was wonderful to meet the dogs and talk with their handlers. That is the reason for the stuffed dog and the plaque in the picture.

Race Day

The water temperature was 68F so it would be wetsuit legal. I remarkably got almost a whole night's sleep.  I felt calm and confident. Based on the results from the year before, I had a really good chance of placing first in the first responder category. I would be doing the Sprint which was a 500-meter swim, 20K bike, and 5K run.

I am a USA Triathlon Ambassador and I was wearing the ambassador uniform.  I was walking down transition before the race to figure out swim in, bike out, bike in, and run out. A woman stopped me and said "You look like you know stuff." and then had some questions that I was able to answer. 

Normally I don't spend much time in transition. But it was about 60 and I had on a jacket to keep me warm. I did not want to take off the jacket until transition closed. I planned on leaving it at my race spot.  Two more guys asked me questions about race numbers and body marking.

I went to get body marked myself and no one knew what was supposed to be done and how the athletes were supposed to be marked. I got them going so they could mark the other athletes.

Then when I was waiting for the swim, several women confided in me about their swim fears. I remember that same feeling early in my triathlon career. I was able to offer them some words of advice.

Race

Every race has different events that unfold. The swim went really well. For once I was swimming in a big group of age group athletes. I was able to draft off a couple of other swimmers.

The bike had unexpected fun in store.  I was riding my triathlon bike and am now to the point I can stay in the aero position while I race.  I had a really fun back-and-forth race with another female athlete. She would pass me, I would catch her. So it went. I beat her out of transition for the run, but she caught me in the last half mile.  She was an age group athlete so we were really not racing against each other. I saw her after the race and thanked her for the fun. I was 4 minutes faster than in last year's race.

The run was slow. I am working on my rebuilding my run now after this performance. Still, it was good enough for 1st. I am the national champion for first responders.  I finished at 1:34:12 Not currently good enough to qualify for the Para-triathlon National Championship.  I am about 2 minutes too slow, so I have something to work on.

The race was really fun and it is for a good cause.  This patriotic race is a great time to show pride in America and to recognize veterans, police, fire, and first responders. I am also thrilled I got to be a good triathlon role model and help out a few other athletes.

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

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 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 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 currently has 247 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, 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, #kneedeepinwork

 

Multi-Sport National Championship, Irving Texas

 

                                              "If you done it, it ain't bragging." - Walt Whitman

Once again I am way behind on my blogging since this event was in April.  My excuse is that the medals from the event and the national championship did not arrive until mid-June. That will teach me not to go to the awards ceremony.

The event sponsored by USA triathlon featured nine events over five days. If an athlete completed five events they could be designated a "Multi-Sport Master" and receive a special medal.

That is just the kind of challenge that I love. I knew doing five races in four days was going to be a challenge. It can be hot in Texas so I knew that much racing was going to take a physical toll.

The challenge started even before the race. I decided to drive so that I would have my bike and not make my family drive me to all of the races. I thought that was too much to ask.

Draft Legal Clinic

I kicked off race week with a two-day clinic on draft-legal racing. World Championships for age group racers are transitioning into drafting in races. I signed up for a draft legal race in Texas and wanted to feel ready.  

The clinic started with bike handling skills, especially steering the bike. I had done skills like this before and learned my skills are rusty.  After the drills, we learned about riding in a line and drafting. Drafting is when you ride on someone's wheel. You have to be a steady and predictable rider when riding in a line of cyclists. We spent lots of time practicing taking turns leading a pace line, communicating when riding in a line, and dropping back. 

We also learned race strategy and how to do attacks.  The only bad part of the clinic was actually being dropped when practicing these skills in the clinic. Being dropped means the other riders took off and did not slow down so I could ride with them. It was really annoying since it was a clinic. Since I was racing that week I wanted to conserve energy. It happened to another woman in the clinic. Still, it was a good clinic and I felt ready for my draft legal race on the last day of the event.

Day 1
Draft Legal Super Sprint Triathlon
250 meter swim, 5K bike, 1 K run

Open Water Swim Competition
750 Meter swim

Super Sprint Triathlon
The first race with an open water swim can always be a little tense for me. It will have been months since my last race. The good thing about the Irving event was the first event was the draft legal super sprint triathlon.  This race had a PC Open category. There were actually four of us in the race.  The race went really well. I had no one to draft off of.  Not quite an even race since the other PC Open athletes were in wheelchairs. They went right into transition and they have a hand cycle for the run. It took me about 35 minutes and  I finished 3rd out of four. Race one did.  I also earned a spot on Team USA for Spain in 2023

Open Water Swim Competition
I again had some competition for this race. There were three of us in the race. One of the guys said he wanted to draft off of me.  I hear this kind of stuff at the start of races all the time. This athlete was at least 6 feet tall and looked extremely fit. My plan was to try and see if I could catch a draft off of him. When the race started everyone was gone. It had also gotten really windy. I was not making any progress swimming freestyle so I started swimming side stroke. That seemed to work.  So I finished 3rd out of three. The second race was done.

Day 2
Aquathlon
1000 Meter Swim
5K Run

I hate early morning races and I was concerned about disturbing my family by getting up early. I had booked six races to give myself some room for error. I dropped out of the morning race. That left an aquathlon race in the afternoon.  

When I got to the start I was the only PC athlete. I was the very last wave of the race. I lined up behind the last group of age group women. I talked to four women that were 86 years old and so excited to be racing.

The wind always picks up in the afternoon in Texas The American flags at the venue were flying straight out. I am guessing it was over 20 mph.  The swim would have me swimming into the wind on the first leg and the finishing leg. Again I had trouble making progress doing freestyle swimming and switched to side stroke. I even asked the kayakers following me if I was making any progress.  Several times I told them I was ok. I know they worry about me and I must look so slow in the water. I like to let them know I am fine. So a 1st place visit for this event and a national championship. No one raced against me, but with the wind I earned it.  I also earned a spot on Team USA for Spain in 2023.

Day 3

Super Sprint Triathlon Team Relay

When I crossed the finish line of the Aquathlon, the race announcer was looking for a female 50-64 to join a team for the relay race. I had been scheduled for the standard duathlon which meant getting to transition at 5 am. I jumped at the chance to do a much shorter afternoon race.   For this race, each athlete did the super sprint distance just like the race on day one.  Each team started with one of the male athletes completing the course and tagging the next female athlete on the team. All the athletes to be tagged were in a pen by transition. When an athlete finished their run, they tagged the next athlete and then finished. It alternated make, female, male and female. I was the last to go. My team of Jim, Katherine, Chris, and I were complete strangers. I warned them I was slow.

This race was the most fun I have ever had racing. It was so fun watching all of the athletes coming to the finish and the frantic search for the athlete to tag. My race went well. My whole team was at the entrance to transtion and saw me fall trying to get off my wet suit. I races as fast as I could becasue I had a team to work for. We finished 10th in our age group and had so much fun. I cannot wait to do this race again.  So no medal, but I got race number four done. Now just one more.

Day 4
Draft Legal Duathlon

It had been in the 80's and windy for the first three days of racing so I was tired even before the race started. There was no PC division for this race so I would be racing as an age group athlete.

The race was pretty uneventful. I took it easy on the first run. There was no shade on the course. Again over 20 mph winds. For the bike, I got lucky and was able to draft off of another woman. She only asked me to take the lead once. It really helped to preserve my energy. Then it was a short run and it was all done. I finished 10th in my age group. No podium sport, but I qualified for Team USA in Spain next year.

I had a great time. I met my goal of completing five races and was awarded the designation of multi-sport master. I got a whopper cold right after the race. I think all the racing lowered my resistance. I am looking forward to going back to Irving for next year's championship.

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

Chris Wodke

Founder & Manager Team CMT

www.run4cmt.com

 

Chris is a triathlete Nordic skier and long-distance runner. She is a three-time participant in the Boston Marathon.  In 2012 she finished 2nd at Boston in the Mobility Impaired Division. She was on the course in 2013 when the bombs exploded.

 

She has appeared three times at the 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.

 

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 currently have 247 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, paratriathlon, challenged athlete, Team CMT, Running for My Life-Winning for CMT. Hereditary Neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth.

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USA Triathlon Week-Power Within Submission

 

My Power Within

High Cliff Sprint Aqua Bike June 19, 2022

This week kicks off triathlon week. I started off the week today with a sprint aqua bike.

Here is my submission sharing how being a USA Triathlon member and triathlon have affected my life.

Making the Invisible Visible

If I could choose a superpower I always thought I would choose the ability to be invisible. For many that is not a hope but the reality of their lives with conditions that are not readily apparent. Many fight a private battle that no one suspects. That condition could be mental illness, diabetes, or like me a genetic neuromuscular condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth or CMT.  I have a gene that overproduces a protein causing the coating on my nerves to break down.  People tell me I look perfectly normal. If you saw me at a race you might agree. But a house with termites looks fine too as the ants do their relentless damage.  CMT also marches on doing its damage since there is no treatment and no cure.

What it means for me is foot drop that is like a break with every step of running.  It is tight calves limiting my range of motion. It is muscle wasting leaving little muscle in my forearms. It also means constant fatigue and a host of other issues such as hearing loss.  As a kid, I was slow, clumsy, and uncoordinated.  Gym class was a nightmare. I remember being yelled at during a relay race for being slow. Despite my issues, I was always active. I even became a runner in college.  It was always a challenge since it is harder for me to build up the muscle memory to learn any sport.

Although I was born with CMT I was not diagnosed until I was in my early 50s.  I was shocked to learn I had a disease I had never heard of,  even though as many Americans are affected by CMT as are by MS.  I vowed to dedicate myself to raising awareness of CMT. I wanted to put a face and a name to this condition. So many patients were wrongly told to go home and sit quietly because any activity would accelerate their CMT.  For many including members of my own family, there was shame attached to having CMT. Knowing whether you have CMT is also important because some drugs can cause a drastic acceleration in symptoms. A friend of mine did not know she had CMT. She was being treated for cancer and was given a drug. She went from training for the NY marathon to being unable to walk within a few hours. She now wears braces.

Triathlon and USA Triathlon (USAT) have been a big part of that mission. When I started running I soon discovered I could not run every day without getting injured. So I ran every other day. I swam and rode my bike on non-running days. I like a challenge and since I was already doing the necessary sports, it was time to give triathlon a try.

USAT makes it possible for me a physically challenged to compete.  They are the only sport I am aware of that offers a division for physically challenged athletes at any sanctioned race. I can and I have asked for needed accommodations.  I wish I could say that all race directors treated me well. When they didn’t USAT would work to educate those race directors. We still have a way to go to be fully inclusive but I know USAT will be with me as the sport continues to evolve and grow. USAT staff have been there with me almost from the beginning of my journey as a triathlete. They have given me a stage for my mission of raising awareness.

USAT has given me the ability to be a real athlete and conditions where I can grow and thrive. I have competed in multiple national championships. I am a four-time Team USA age group athlete.  It still brings tears to my eyes to remember carrying the American flag given to me by the team manager as I crossed the finish line of each world championship.

I have chosen to make my CMT visible to the world when I wear my Team CMT kit in a race.  When I compete I put a face and name to this invisible condition. I provide a path for others to follow. I show you can live a full life with CMT despite its limitation. I show others it is possible to be active to stay strong both physically and mentally.

When I learned of the USAT Ambassador program I quickly applied. I have been so happy to be an ambassador for the sport that has given so much to me. Any accomplishment I have had as an athlete has been on the foundation built by USAT for physically challenged athletes.

Recently I competed at Lean’s Triathlon in Hammond, Indiana. I was wearing my USAT Ambassador racing uniform and jacket.  I was hanging out in transition trying to stay warm when I was approached by another woman. She said to  me “I have a question and you look like you know stuff.”  I had to smile because thanks to my journey as a triathlete over the last dozen years I guess I do know stuff.  She was one of several athletes that day that had questions or asked advice.  At the swim start, I gave a woman nervous about the swim some advice that helped me. I was happy to share the stuff I’ve learned on this journey.

I am grateful for the racing opportunities that have helped me build that knowledge and experience. Racing keeps me working out and working slows the progression of my CMT. It gives me a chance to make the invisible condition of CMT visible to the world. Thank you, USAT for the support and for giving me the chance to give back as an ambassador. Thank you, USAT for giving me a family of triathlon friends all across the country.

 ************************

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 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.

 

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” that detail 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 currently has 247 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.

 @usatriathlon
#triweek
#PowerWithin

 

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, #kneedeepinwork

CAF-Nordic Ski Clinic

 

 

"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 may have to be a bit clever with how." - Joshua James, an athlete with CP

As you can see by the winter scene in the picture, I am way behind in my blog posts. No one seems to have missed them so I did not have much incentive to keep up to date.

At the end of February, I attended the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) Nordic ski clinic in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. It was held at the beautiful Donner Nordic Center.  

The CAF provided a travel stipend, hotel, clinic, and meals. I am so thankful to the CAF for the chance to go to the clinic. In the past, some of their clinics have not been open to athletes with neurological conditions.

My Nordic skiing has been a work in progress for the last four to five years. It takes me longer as an athlete with CMT to learn a new sports skill.  I was excited for some really concentrated time to ski as well. Wisconsin had almost no natural snow this year. The only place I could ski was a state park that had snowmaking. The trails there were often icy.

The facility did not disappoint. I have a friend that lives in Reno and she and I spent a day down hilling skiing and a day at Donner before the clinic started. I thought I died and went to Nordic heaven. There were miles and miles of well-groomed trails. It was like skiing on corduroy. The wide trails on rolling hills were lined with a tree. It was sunny and in the 30s. The conditions were just perfect.

It was the same the day of the clinic. I felt really welcomed by the staff, volunteers, and other athletes. Many family members also participated in the clinic. 

Even at a Nordic clinic, I am never far from a triathlon. One of the males participants is also a triathlete. A mom of one of the athletes shared that her daughter is also a physically challenged triathlete.

We did drills to start the day. Most everyone was a beginner and doing classic. The mom of one of the athletes and I were the only skate skier.  I got compliments on my skiing from the coaches.

In the afternoon we were split into groups. There were just the mom and me in a skate group. It was great to get so much attention from a coach. He told me to practice skiing without poles to help improve my technique. I spent a good part of the afternoon doing just that. 

The second day was more drills and biathlon. Biathlon combines the sports of shooting and Nordic skiing. For para-nordic, laser guns are used. There is no live ammunition. I love biathlon and am hoping to do some local races this next season.

The rest of the day was a group ski and then the clinic was done. I had so much fun. I got to talk to so many athletes and volunteers. I really felt like my skiing took a big leap forward. I feel like I finally conquered skating on my skis. I cannot wait until next year.

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

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 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.

 

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” 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 247 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 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.