Gravel Duathlon National Championship-Getting By with a Little Help from My Friends

 

"The only sin a writer can make is not to write." -Ray Helminiak, Author

I love this quote and I've actually met this author. He is the dad of a very good friend of mine that is also an author. It makes me think the only sin an athlete can make is not to complete. Anyone that is an athlete understands the need to compete. For me, it is also about testing myself and seeing how much I can push against the limitations of my CMT. I got a chance to do both as  I raced at the Gravel Duathlon National Championship in Fayetteville Arkansas on June 2nd.

The race was a 5K trail run, a 19-mile gravel trail ride, and a 10 K trail run. I knew the distance alone was going to be a challenge. This is a longer race than I've done in recent years.

I was really worried about the trail runs.  The rocks, roots, and uneven surfaces would be risky. Because I have little forward foot flex, my ankles can collapse sideways on uneven surfaces. It happens more when I am tired. I also have a foot drop as well, making roots and rocks a great place to catch my foot and trip.  Even running on a normal day I have to pay attention to every step.  I have not done much trail running. I have to drive about 30 minutes to get to a trail, so I do not get a chance to practice. 

Pre-race
I got a text from fellow athlete Sheri when I was on the road. She was signed up for the off-road race on Saturday. She asked if I was racing para.  I was racing as a physically challenged athlete. I knew the question meant she was thinking of also doing the same gravel race I was doing. I originally signed up for the gravel triathlon.

I had some intuition despite the fact I sent an email to the race direction that I was a physically challenged athlete, they would score me in my age group. Since Sheri is the same age group she did not want to interfere with my winning a national championship. That was really nice of her. I decided to switch to the duathlon.  I was pretty sure I would not sleep the night before.  Because the swim would not be wet-suit legal, the 1500-meter distance seemed far on no sleep.

I ended up not sleeping even one minute the night before the race. I could not even relax, My mind and body were fully alert. I think both my brain and body had some inkling of what I was going to put them through. I got up at 3:30 and was at the venue by 5:00 am

That gave me plenty of time to catch up with friends also doing the race.

1st Run-5K

About a dozen women lined up at the duathlon starting line. I lined up in the back and there was some talk about some of us staying together.  I hear that often and then everyone takes off and I am left alone.  My plan was to run at an easy pace. I did not want to burn up too much energy in the first run. As I ran, fellow USAT ambassador Susan Felicissimo was running at the exact same pace.  

We chatted, well mostly I talked and the time went by really fast. I remember Susan telling me about three bears that almost kept her from finishing her race at Toughman triathlon. I told her I had been to the Northwoods of Wisconsin, Alaska, and Yellowstone and had not seen a bear.  We laughed about the brother who traveled with me to Yellowstone being terrified of bears and finding a grizzly bear faintly visible in the tall grass of a picture he took.

We walked a few of the dodgy spots. Almost took a wrong turn at the waterfall, but were saved by three people ahead of us. One of them Ruth Albright would become my friend later in the race.  I heard about half of the gravel triathletes took a wrong turn on this same course. Some ran more than 6 extra miles.  

No falls and it was a fun 5K that went by pretty quick thanks to Susan. I finished the run at 47:10 which was about 10 minutes faster than I had hoped.

T1
Nothing much here. I was in and out in 1 minute and 24 seconds. For the run, I used regular running shoes and would keep them on for the bike. I have trail shoes but really have not had a chance to run trails. My mantra is nothing new on race day. Shoes are so important and a wrong choice of footwear makes for a miserable day. 

Bike 19 miles Gravel

I beat Susan out of T1, but she caught me on the bike. She was gone quickly so there would be no second run with her.

I saw the woman that helped us on the run and decided to catch her. Since drafting is legal, I pulled up behind her and asked if it was ok to draft. I drafted off of her for a bit. 

I had done one other gravel race. This surface was much rougher, with lots of soft patches, and golf ball size rocks.  I just was not sure it was safe to draft. It was too likely I would not see a pothole or other issues.  In some spots, the sand made the back wheel of my mountain bike slip. 

So I pulled beside the rider and we started talking. Ruth and I rode together for over an hour. The first part of the ride was not too bad. The hills kept getting steeper and I lost Ruth on one of the hills. 

I passed a rider carrying her bike because she had a flat. The sharp stones can cause flats on narrow tires. No problem with my mountain bike. It rolls over everything.  The gravel was loose because it was dry. Dry meant lots of dust. My whole bike was covered.  I also had a bike bottle with a sports drink. It was also covered in dust every time I took a drink.

Now I am the last rider and I am by myself. The roads were in the woods and really beautiful. The shade was nice because it was hot and humid.  I wore a hydration pack and was using some of the water to splash on my face.

The woods were all starting to look the same and it seemed I would never finish. I remember as I rode wondering if there were bears in Arkansas. I thought I would google it when I got back to the hotel.

As I finished that thought I saw a large dark object in the distance. It looked like a bear but almost did not seem real. I thought it might be a decoy for hunters. It was staring at me and it was really big. Then it moved and ran across the road.  I did not expect to see a bear during the race. It was at most 40 yards away. That was a bit scary. That is what happens when you are last. You risk being eaten.....lol.

I had expected the bike let to take 2 hours and I finished in 1 hr and 55 minutes. I had to walk up a couple of hills because my thighs were burning.  Next time I need to be better conditioned.  The running shoes were not a good choice. The ball of my left foot hurt and I could feel a couple of blisters. I had not gotten blisters since I was running long distances.

When I am tired and bored during a race I start to make bargains with myself. I told myself that maybe I would just quit after the bike part. I had lost both Susan and Ruth and was not sure I wanted to do a 10 K trail run after almost three hours of racing.

Run 2-10K trail run

As I got into transition, I saw Ruth was just leaving. So she had not been far ahead of me on the bike. I know from talking to her during the bike, she has some limits that make doing a trail run a bit risky. So I decided I would get out of transition and turn to catch her.

The run felt good and I caught up with Ruth who was walking. I asked if she wanted company.  

Talking for me makes time go faster. I asked what she did for a living and found out we were both chemical engineers. So we had lots to talk about. I was so glad to have her company.

So by this time, my legs are getting tired. First, my foot caught and I fell hard face first on my right elbow. My feet were hurting from the blister. Then a bit later my left ankle collapsed.

I fell face first again. It hurt so bad, I just paused for a second. I know from experience that while it hurts, I will be ok. I had at least one more fall.  So I was concentrating really hard at this point to keep from falling again. Other than that I felt like I had good energy.

Ruth was struggling from the dust and I think was getting a little dehydrated.  She wanted to stop and rest a few times. I did not mind a break either.

Two volunteers on mountain bikes were sweeping the course. They would follow us and check on us until the end of the race.  They also offered us water and Gatorade.  

We finally finished with a run time of 2:08:58.  If I had run a 10 K on the road it would have taken at about about 70 minutes. So we kept up a good pace walking.

It felt so good to be done. I ended up as the National Champion in the 65-69 group. I was supposed to be scored as a PC athlete, but the medal is the same.  No big deal.  So good thing I had switched to the duathlon. 

It was the most physically challenging race I have done. That includes the 10 marathons I've completed including three Boston marathons.

Post Race

Thanks to the first aid people that cleaned up my scrapes and gave me ice for my ankle. They also brought me food. I am used to being the one giving first aid. It is the first time I've ever been given first aid.

When I came off the course I thought I would never do another trail run because of the falls.  After the race, I talked to one of the guys. He is an experienced trail runner and thought the course was pretty tough. I think with trail running shoes and some additional practice I would do better. I also found out other athletes fell on the trail. I felt better about my efforts after that.

Recovery

I was sore and exhausted after the race. I pretty much laid around the rest of the day and watched videos. Just like after doing a marathon.

I drove home the day after and was pretty stiff every time I got out of the car. It took a few extra Tylenol to get me to sleep. I heal pretty fast.  My ankles were so sore on Sunday I had trouble walking when I got out of bed. Then I discovered wearing PR soles or trail running shoes made a world of difference.  I could walk fine with just a slight soreness in one ankle. Biofreeze and BenGay have also helped.  Guess I should have used the trail shoes at least on the bike portion.

This race has shown me once again just what a great community we have in triathlon. I had help and company from friends during this race and it made the difference. Thanks to trail sweepers, aid station people, first aid helps, and on-course friends. You each had a part in my success!!!

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

Chris Wodke

Founder & Manager Team CMT

www.run4cmt.com

 

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

 

She has appeared three times at the Para triathlon National Triathlon Sprint Championship. She was the 2012 and 2014 National Champion Para triathlon Open Division Champion.

She has won national championships as a physically challenged athlete in Aqualon, Duathlon, Aqua bike, and Winter Triathlon.

 

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

 

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

 

In 2020 she was named a National Ski Patrol Subaru Ambassador and a USA Triathlon Foundation Ambassador.

 

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

 

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” which details her experience as a CMT-affected athlete, and the book “Soup Sundays, A Journey Toward Healthy Eating”.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

 

You may visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6

 

Team CMT is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness and find a cure for CMT. We currently have 257 athletes in 43 states. We also have members in Australia, Canada, England, Finland, Vietnam, Iran, Scotland, France, Turkey, Poland, Norway, Mexico, Wales, Ireland, and Sweden! If you wish to join us visit our website; www.run4cmt.com or www.hnf-cure.org

 

CMT or Charcot-Marie-Tooth is the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathy. It affects over 155,000 Americans (as many as MS).  It is a disease of the nerves that control the muscles. It is slowly progressive, causing loss of normal function and or sensation in the lower legs/feet and arms/hands.

 

Symptoms include; muscle wasting in the lower legs and feet leading to foot drop, poor balance, and gait problems Atrophy in the hands causes difficulty with manual dexterity.

 

Structural foot deformities such as high arches and hammer toes are common.

 

Poor tolerance for cool or cold temperatures and many people have chronically cold hands and feet.

 

Additional symptoms may include fatigue, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties, and hearing loss.

 

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, Para triathlon, challenged athlete, Team CMT, Running for My Life-Winning for CMT. Hereditary Neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth.

CMT and running, CMT and triathlon, CMT and athlete, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and running, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and triathlon, Team USA and Team CMT, Running for my life-Winning for CMT, CMT athlete, athlete, and CMT, triathlete and CMT, Boston Marathon Bombing, CMT disease, CMT and exercise, exercise and CMT, CMT, athlete, and CMT. Team CMT, CMT athlete, athlete and CMT, bike4CMT, walk4CMT,  CMTA, HNF, Tri4CMT, Walk4CMT, MDA, #kneedeepinwo

Winter Duathlon World Championship Norway Race Report

 

                                              World Championship Finish Line, Skeikampen Norway

                  "There is no such thing as failure, only steps to success." - Gianas Antekoumpo, NBA Player

I always seem to be behind in my blog posts. I have been back from Norway for over a month and I feel like I am still catching up.  I did want to do a race report because a chance to race at a World Championship is always special.

Just getting to the starting line was a six-year process. I qualified at my first National Championship in St. Paul. At that time I was a classic Nordic skier that could not go down a hill without falling. There was no way I was going to show up at a World Championship with that skill level.  For the next few years, I was doing a mix of skate and classic. My skate technique was a work in progress. I took a few lessons, went to a few ski camps, and spent many hours on the trails.

I was ready to give the World Championship a try and COVID hit.    So my goal was again delayed.

The national championship race in Anchorage in January was a dual qualification. It qualified athletes for races in 2023 and 2024.  By the time I raced in Anchorage, I was skating the entire course and had only one slight fall from a slip on ice the entire course.  I was not fast, but I was ready.

The 2023 Winter World Championship race was held in Skeikampen, Norway a rural area 45 minutes from Lillehammer the site of the 1984 Olympics. Winter sports are serious business to the Norwegians. I expected a good turnout from them with athletes and spectators.

As I arrived at the venue, busloads of kids were arriving. The 200-plus kids included a large number of Ukrainian refugees.  As I was waiting for my race to start, many kids asked me to sign their coats or to take a picture. That would never happen in America.  Here in Norway, we were a big deal. That was kind of fun. I laughed to myself as I signed coats thinking these kids have no idea how slow I am.

The rest of the pre-race time was spent setting up the transition, trying to keep warm, and chatting with my teammates. Most of them were from Alaska.  Transition is grouped by gender and age group. So I knew the two athletes I was racing against.  One from America Sheri Sherlock beat me by an hour at the National Championship, and the other was from Austria. All I had to do was finish and I would have a bronze medal.

The race format was pretty simple. First was a  4-mile run followed by an 8K ski.  
I lined up in the back and was off at the gun. Right from the start my legs felt like lead. Every step was a struggle. Struggles early in the race mean a long day.  The surface was packed but very hilly. Not an easy run at all. It was well marked with plenty of volunteers to keep me on course.

I was right with Sheri until my shoelace came untied.  We were the oldest women in the race and when I got back to transition, everyone else was out on the ski course. It would be two loops.  It was a series of very large hills. My legs are not strong enough to skate up the hills. I have to herringbone. I just kept plugging along. I would have racers doing the second lap pass me. I knew I would be alone for the last lap.  The course was beautiful. The temperature was in the high 30s which meant the course was getting sticky. There was a very large hill right at the end of the loop. I cursed the race director. Why do they all love hills?

As I finished the first lap I saw teammate Sheri. I was tired and must have looked discouraged. She reminded me all I had to do was finish to claim a podium spot. I pushed on and tried to forget I was going to be the last finisher. That is something that has never happened.  Race officials encouraged me. Racers on cool-down runs cheered me on.  After I climbed that list giant hill I knew I was near the finish. There was one small hill before the finish. There was a race volunteer there who had encouraged me on the first lap. I paused for a moment so that I could look strong as I crossed the finish.

Since I was the last finisher I expected a quiet finish line. To my surprise, every one of my Team USA teammates was waiting for me at the finish line. They loudly cheered me into the finish. They got off my skis and timing chip. Then they snapped the picture you see at the top of this post. It still brings tears to my eyes when I think about the wonderful gesture.  

I was not happy about being the last finisher, but I did not have a single fall and skated the entire course. I have come so far in the last six years.  I came into the race under-trained but I finished. to

My reward was having the bronze medal placed on my neck by the President of the ITU.

There were only three in my age group, I think I earned it with all the time and work just to get to the starting line. I look forward to a much better performance next year.  It was my first-ever medal at a World Championship and it was well-earned.

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

Chris Wodke

Founder & Manager Team CMT

www.run4cmt.com

 

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

 

She has appeared three times at the Para Triathlon National Triathlon Sprint Championship. She was the 2012 and 2014 National Champion Para triathlon Open Division Champion.

She has won national championships as a physically challenged athlete in Aqualon, Duathlon, Aqua Bike, and Winter Triathlon.

 

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

 

In 2020 she was named a National Ski Patrol Subaru Ambassador and a USA Triathlon Foundation Ambassador.

 

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

 

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” which details her experience as a CMT-affected athlete, and the book “Soup Sundays, A Journey Toward Healthy Eating”.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

 

You may visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6

 

Team CMT is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness and find a cure for CMT. We currently have 257 athletes in 43 states. We also have members in Australia, Canada, England, Finland, Vietnam, Iran, Scotland, France, Turkey, Poland, Norway, Mexico, Wales, Ireland, and Sweden! If you wish to join us visit our website; www.run4cmt.com or www.hnf-cure.org

 

CMT or Charcot-Marie-Tooth is the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathy. It affects over 155,000 Americans (as many as MS).  It is a disease of the nerves that control the muscles. It is slowly progressive, causing loss of normal function and or sensation in the lower legs/feet and arms/hands.

 

Symptoms include; muscle wasting in the lower legs and feet leading to foot drop, poor balance, and gait problems Atrophy in the hands causes difficulty with manual dexterity.

 

Structural foot deformities such as high arches and hammer toes are common.

 

Poor tolerance for cool or cold temperatures and many people have chronically cold hands and feet.

 

Additional symptoms may include fatigue, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties, and hearing loss.

 

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, Para triathlon, challenged athlete, Team CMT, Running for My Life-Winning for CMT. Hereditary Neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth.

CMT and running, CMT and triathlon, CMT and athlete, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and running, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and triathlon, Team USA and Team CMT, Running for my life-Winning for CMT, CMT athlete, athlete, and CMT, triathlete and CMT, Boston Marathon Bombing, CMT disease, CMT and exercise, exercise and CMT, CMT, athlete, and CMT. Team CMT, CMT athlete, athlete and CMT, bike4CMT, walk4CMT,  CMTA, HNF, Tri4CMT, Walk4CMT, MDA, #kneedeepinwo

Norway World Champsionship- Challenges and Disappointments

 

               "The question isn't who is going to let me, it's who is going to stop me." -Ayn Rand

I could not interest any of my friends in traveling with me to a winter race in Norway. Because of that the challenges started well before the race.

There were lots of logistics to figure out. Rent a car or public transit?  Where to stay the first night. How would I get to my hotel with a large ski bag?  Would that fit in a taxi?  Should I spend any time in Oslo?  Should I stay up at the race venue or in Lillehammer?  What would I do about a bike?

I worked it all out. I stayed at a hotel right at the airport for the first and last nights. I rented a car right from the airport. I stayed in Lillehammer at a small hostel right at the train station.

There was no public transit to the race venue so I had to rent a car.  The next problem would be navigation. My cell phone does not work overseas.  I ordered a card to put in my phone on arrival that was supposed to make it work in Europe.  I was counting on it to have google maps for navigation.

Well, the phone never did work, despite numerous exchanges with the card company.

I had also purchased a Garmin navigation device that promised to have maps of Europe.  That never worked either.  After watching several YouTube videos I determined that the device I was sold had only North American maps. So strike two. The car I rented had a navigation system, but it only spoke Norwegian to me.

I finally figured out that if I connected to the hotel WiFi I could load directions for the 50-minute drive to the host hotel. The GPS never did locate the race venue which was about a 5-minute drive from the host hotel. So when I wanted to go home, I connected to the WiFi at the host hotel and loaded my directions to go home.  That went well until  I made a wrong term on the way back to my hotel.  The phone kept trying to connect but could not. I got lost in Lillehammer. It took several stops to try and connect to an open WiFi which I was never able to do. I finally got directions from a clerk at 711. Thankfully my hotel was at the train station.  Everyone always seems to know where that is. Three right turns and I was back to my hotel. That episode made me decide to just race one of the two races. I was afraid of losing a signal up in the mountains.  There really were just a few houses and farms on the route. No there to ask for directions.

All that challenge navigating was exhausting,  Before I took the rental car back, I was supposed to fill it with gas. I could not get the gas cap open.  I was really concerned I was going to run out of gas going back to Oslo.  So it was probably good, that I skipped the second race since that saved on gas.

The biggest disappointment was that I was not allowed to compete as a physically challenged athlete.

USA Triathlon promised me that I would be able to do so. When it was time to register, the International Triathlon Union (ITU) turned down the request. I have not been classified by the ITU or USAT. I never seem to pass the screening. It was disappointing to be excluded by a system that is supposed to include me. There was a male PC athlete from Romania. I was forced to compete as an age-group athlete.

It was a bit of a stressful trip. Hopefully, I can convince a friend to come along next year to help with navigation.  I am already qualified for next year's race. Not sure where it will be, but I plan on being there. I also plan to keep pursuing the opportunity to race as a PC athlete.

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

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 2023 she was the PC Open National Champion for Winter Triathlon in Anchorage and will represent the U.S. in Norway.

 

In 2020 she was named a National Ski Patrol Subaru Ambassador and a USA Triathlon Foundation Ambassador.

 

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

 

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” which details her experience as a CMT-affected athlete, and the book “Soup Sundays, A Journey Toward Healthy Eating”.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

 

You may visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6

 

Team CMT is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness and find a cure for CMT. We currently have 250 athletes in 42 states. We also have members in Australia, Canada, England, Finland, Vietnam, Iran, Scotland, France, Turkey, Poland, Norway, Mexico, Wales, Ireland, and Sweden! If you wish to join us visit our website; www.run4cmt.com or www.hnf-cure.org

 

CMT or Charcot-Marie-Tooth is the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathy. It affects over 155,000 Americans (as many as MS).  It is a disease of the nerves that control the muscles. It is slowly progressive, causing loss of normal function and or sensation in the lower legs/feet and arms/hands.

 

Symptoms include; muscle wasting in the lower legs and feet leading to foot drop, poor balance, and gait problems Atrophy in the hands causes difficulty with manual dexterity.

 

Structural foot deformities such as high arches and hammer toes are common.

 

Poor tolerance for cool or cold temperatures and many people have chronically cold hands and feet.

 

Additional symptoms may include fatigue, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties, and hearing loss.

 

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, Para triathlon, challenged athlete, Team CMT, Running for My Life-Winning for CMT. Hereditary Neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth.

CMT and running, CMT and triathlon, CMT and athlete, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and running, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and triathlon, Team USA and Team CMT, Running for my life-Winning for CMT, CMT athlete, athlete, and CMT, triathlete and CMT, Boston Marathon Bombing, CMT disease, CMT and exercise, exercise and CMT, CMT, athlete, and CMT. Team CMT, CMT athlete, athlete and CMT, bike4CMT, walk4CMT,  CMTA, HNF, Tri4CMT, Walk4CMT, MDA, #kneedeepinwo

Winter World Triathlon Championship- I Will Always Remember

 

Finish Line at Winter World Championship, Norway

"I am an ordinary person who has been blessed with extraordinary opportunities and experiences."- Sonia Sotomayor

I finally made it to a Winter World Championship. I've qualified at least three times. Sometimes I did not go because of finances. One year it was COVID. Another time I paid my team deposit and never heard another thing. I know at least one year I worried I was not a good enough skier.

When I first qualified I was a classic skier. That is the technique where you shuffle along. It is similar to walking. To be competitive I thought I needed to be a skate skier. That has been a project I have been working on for more than five years.  Despite being told in a lesson this year that I belonged with the beginners, I thought technique-wise I was ready

This won't be a race report, I will cover that and some of the challenges of going to Norway in a couple of future blogs. There were some ups and downs on this trip. I only did the Duathlon race due to some logistical challenges.

I will take away a couple of really wonderful memories from the experience. I got a ride to the race venue with one of the other ladies. As our car moved down the access road we passed dozens of busses unloading school kids. Since Nordic racing is a big event in Norway, the kids were given the day off of school to attend. I found out later that many of them were refugees from Ukraine and Syria.

The elite races were held before the age group race in which I would participate. Norway pretty much had a clean sweep of the podium, so the kids had much to cheer about.  

There was a little bit of time between the elite and age group races. The athletes were all set up for our race so we mingled with the crowd waiting to watch our race.  A couple of kids asked to take a picture of one of my Team USA members.  Then they started asking me and other athletes to sign their jackets. They begged for my headband and sunglasses. I needed them for my race.

As I signed countless jackets I laughed to myself.  They thought I was some kind of star. Little did they know that as one of the oldest women in the race I would probably finish last. Still to them, I was a rock star.  I will always remember their smiles and eager faces as they begged me to sign my name.

The second member has to do with my Team USA teammates. I had so much kindness from the. I had endless questions answered by team captain Sheri Sherlock and a much-needed ride back from the race venue.  She also encouraged me on the ski lap reminding me all I had to do was finish. There was a podium spot waiting for me.

I had a ride to the venue by teammate Rose.  We had a large group of athletes from Alaska. As they were taking a picture before the race, I stepped out of the picture. They insisted I join the group to be part of the picture.  Alaska teammate Heather was handing out glitter and included me in the fun.

The very best memory thought happened at the end of my race. I was indeed last out of the field. As I trudged around the last laps of the ski course I expected a quiet and uneventful finish. Little did I know that every one of my Team USA teammates doing the race was waiting for me and cheering for me at the finish.  As I struggled down the finish chute they were screaming my name.

I was so tired at the finish they removed my finisher chips and skis. Then we got a picture of all of us at the finish. I finished about 30 minutes after most of them. They stood in the cold waiting for me. Their kindness brings a tear to my eyes. It was so thoughtful. As challenging as the race was, I will always remember my teammates cheering me in.  My victory was a team victory and their presence made it even sweeter.  Thank You Team USA for making my first winter world championship race memorable.

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

                                            Winter Duathlon World Championship Bronze Medal

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 2023 she was the PC Open National Champion for Winter Triathlon in Anchorage and will represent the U.S. in Norway.

 

In 2020 she was named a National Ski Patrol Subaru Ambassador and a USA Triathlon Foundation Ambassador.

 

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

 

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” which details her experience as a CMT-affected athlete, and the book “Soup Sundays, A Journey Toward Healthy Eating”.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

 

You may visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6

 

Team CMT is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awar

Subject to the Weather

 

Lapham Peak State Park Delafield, Wisconsin

"You can't get much done if you only work on the days when you feel good."-Jenny West

This winter I've also been subject to the weather. Many seasons winter is a bit of a down time from training since the racing season for triathlons does not ready start until June.

This year I have five races in April at the USAT Multi-sport National Championships in Irving, Texas.  I have been trying to train for those races while also getting for the ITU Winter Triathlon World Championship races in Skeikampen, Norway on March 24 & 26th.  

I have been trying to juggle swimming, biking, running, and the weight-lifting workouts needed for April with the Nordic skiing I needed to be ready for Norway. 

The races in Norway are a ski/run duathlon and a run/bike/ski winter triathlon. Both of the bike legs are on snow.

To say the weather has not cooperated has been an understatement. We had very little snow until March. The snow we did get in March was wet, making for icy ski trails. The picture above is from Lapham Peak State park in Wisconsin. It is about a 45-minute drive.  I am glad it was open but often conditions were not great.

I also got a really bad cold after I got back from Alaska in January and lost a week of training.

I did a time trail race there every Tuesday in January and February. Several of the races were canceled because it was either too icy or there was not enough snow. I got out skiing once or twice a week and I managed to get first place in my age group for the skate division. I am a little proud of that because I can ski using only the skating technique. That has been a project years in the making.

I did get out on my bike for an outdoor ride a couple of times a week. This is a big step for me because that meant going out when it was in the 30s.  I never used to bike outdoors if it was under 30 F.  I was only able to bike twice on actual snow. I do hills in the park across the street.

The only consistent bit of my training has been my running.  To say I feel under-prepared is an understatement.  My April race has suffered as well because some weeks I only get to the pool once.

I had to balance that with trying to figure out the logistics of booking flights, figuring out hotels, renting cars, deciding how I will navigate around, what to pack, and a million other details  It has crossed my mind the last few days that maybe Norway was not a great idea.  I have been pretty stressed trying to pull everything together. The biggest stress has been the worry of navigating around on my own. I am a bit direction impaired.

So today I did the last few trip duties.  Ready or not Norway here I come!  

There are 21 of us on Team USA. I met some on a Zoom call. I am looking forward to meeting some new friends.  

I am treating this as a learning experience. I feel ready for the duathlon. There are only three women in my age group and we are the oldest in the race. I just have to finish making the podium.

Depending on how tough the course is and how I feel, I may just skip the triathlon due to my lack of training.  I also have the April races to consider and do not want to risk injury.

I hope it goes well since I qualified for next year's races as well. I am going to use this as a learning experience and have fun. Now that I am ready, I am excited. I love to travel and Norway will be new for me.

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

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 2023 she was the PC Open National Champion for Winter Triathlon in Anchorage and will represent the U.S. in Norway.

 

In 2020 she was named a National Ski Patrol Subaru Ambassador and a USA Triathlon Foundation Ambassador.

 

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

 

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” which details her experience as a CMT-affected athlete, and the book “Soup Sundays, A Journey Toward Healthy Eating”.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

 

You may visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6

 

Team CMT is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness 

Soup Sunday-Vegetable Beef Soup

 

We got nine inches of snow late this week. For me, nothing is better after shoveling than a hot bowl of homemade soup.   I basically threw a whole bunch of stuff I had around the house into the pot.  I thought about adding gnocchi to go with the Italian spices, but honestly, there was more than enough already in the pot.  Adjust by changing up the type and amount of the vegetables.

Beef Vegetable Soup

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 medium yellow onion, diced
4 cups beef bone broth
1 (15-ounce) can of Italian tomatoes
1 tablespoon dried Italian spices
1 can French green beans
2 cups frozen corn
1 can (15 ounces) peas
1 small can of mushrooms
2 medium carrots sliced
3 stalks of celery diced
1 can white or butter beans
1 lb. beef stew meat

Heat the oil in a large soup pot. Add the onion and garlic. Cook until the onions are softened.  Add the rest of the ingredients.  Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.

Makes 6 servings

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

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 2023 she the PC Open National Champion for Winter Triathlon in Anchorage and will represent the U.S. in Norway.

 

In 2020 she was named a National Ski Patrol Subaru Ambassador and a USA Triathlon Foundation Ambassador.

 

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

 

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” which details her experience as a CMT-affected athlete, and the book “Soup Sundays, A Journey Toward Healthy Eating”.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

 

You may visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6

 

Team CMT is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness and find a cure for CMT. We currently have 250 athletes in 42 states. We also have members in Australia, Canada, England, Finland, Vietnam, Iran, Scotland, France, Turkey, Poland, Norway, Mexico, Wales, Ireland, and Sweden! If you wish to join us visit our website; www.run4cmt.com or www.hnf-cure.org

 

CMT or Charcot-Marie-Tooth is the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathy. It affects over 155,000 Americans (as many as MS).  It is a disease of the nerves that control the muscles. It is slowly progressive, causing loss of normal function and or sensation in the lower legs/feet and arms/hands.

 

Symptoms include; muscle wasting in the lower legs and feet leading to foot drop, poor balance, and gait problems Atrophy in the hands causes difficulty with manual dexterity.

 

Structural foot deformities such as high arches and hammer toes are common.

 

Poor tolerance for cool or cold temperatures and many people have chronically cold hands and feet.

 

Additional symptoms may include fatigue, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties, and hearing loss.

 

Keywords: Running, Running and CMT, triathlon, triathlon and CMT, athlete and CMT, cycling and CMT, Para triathlon, challenged athlete, Team CMT, Running for My Life-Winning for CMT. Hereditary Neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth.

CMT and running, CMT and triathlon, CMT and athlete, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and running, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and triathlon, Team USA and Team CMT, Running for my life-Winning for CMT, CMT athlete, athlete, and CMT, triathlete and CMT, Boston Marathon Bombing, CMT disease, CMT and exercise, exercise and CMT, CMT, athlete, and CMT. Team CMT, CMT athlete, athlete and CMT, bike4CMT, walk4CMT,  CMTA, HNF, Tri4CMT, Walk4CMT, MDA, #kneedeepinwo

 

Soup Sunday-Mexican Bean Soup

 

Today's soup is a little bit spicy.  I made a few changes to the original recipe because it seemed a bit bland.  I swapped water in the recipe for diced tomatoes and in stead of the cumin and oregano the recipe called for, I used chili powder and dried red peppers. Reduce the amount of the spices if you want a milder soup.  

Mexican Black Bean Soup

 

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
2 celery stalks chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon hot chili powder
1 teaspoon dried chili peppers
3 cans (15-ounce) black beans, drained and rinsed
3 cans (10-ounce) diced tomatoes with green chili peppers
Juice of one lime
Fresh Cilantro and sour cream to top the soup.

 

Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onions, carrot, and celery. Cook until the vegetables are softened.

Add the tomatoes and black beans. Add the garlic, chili powder and dried chili peppers.

Bring the mixture to a boil, and then lower the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the lime juice.

Using an immersion blender, puree the soup to the desired texture. Pulse longer if a smoother soup is desired. An alternate method is to use a blender to puree a few cups at a time.

To serve ladle the soup into bowls topped with sour cream, and chopped cilantro.

 

Makes 6 servings

 

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

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 2023 she the PC Open National Champion for Winter Triathlon in Anchorage and will represent the U.S. in Norway.

 

In 2020 she was named a National Ski Patrol Subaru Ambassador and a USA Triathlon Foundation Ambassador.

 

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

 

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” which details her experience as a CMT-affected athlete, and the book “Soup Sundays, A Journey Toward Healthy Eating”.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

 

You may visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6

 

Team CMT is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness