You can spend your time, waste your time, or invest your time. It's your choice.
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Sat/Sun Jan 26-27, 2008 ~ USAC’s Women’s Cycling Leadership Conference. I spent this past weekend at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs attending USA Cycling’s first ever Women’s Cycling Conference. It was an amazing weekend of fun & fellowship as 32 women came from all four corners of the United States to discuss Leadership in Women’s Cycling. As I sort through and process all that was discussed, I will forward some really good stuff on to you Ladies and your coaches. For now, I will entertain you will a bit of a diary of my experience.
On Friday morning, I was scheduled to fly out of Orange County at 8:30am and change planes in San Francisco on my way to a 2:30pm arrival in Colorado Springs. Unfortunately our much needed rain meant that nearly every airport on the western end of the US was albut shut down forcing long delays and cancelled flights throughout the day. Finally, at 8:30PM (yes…I said PM!) I boarded a flight on a different airline from my original booking and headed to Co Springs via Vegas!
If any of you have been stranded at the OC airport, then you know that the sterile side of security does not have any electrical outlets for travelers to plug in either a cell phone or a laptop. Too make matters worse, the only internet connection available is unsecure and will set you back $8.00. …(sigh)…it was a very long day!!
So 12 hours after arriving at the airport I was finally on a plane heading east. After a plane change in Vegas, we touched down in Colorado Springs at 3:30AM. The conference was held at the Olympic Training Center and USAC had made arrangements to have a shuttle bus retrieve us and bring us to the OTC. That wonderful free service ended at 10:00pm. That meant that I had to take a cab.
…Ugh…I’ve never ridden in a cab in my life so I was pretty hesitant as I walked outside into the freezing cold air skating along on the ice covered walkways! Not seeing the “Cash Cab” in sight, I settled for a “Yellow Cab”. $30 poorer, I arrived at the Athlete Center at the OTC…and found the building locked up tight with no one in sight!! Realizing I could freeze to death out there, the first thing I did was open my suitcase and put on every long sleeved shirt/sweatshirt that I had brought. Then I used the light of the nearly full moon to hunt around for a security guard. No one was in sight.
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Sat/Sun Jan 26-27, 2008 ~ USAC’s Women’s Cycling Leadership Conference. I spent this past weekend at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs attending USA Cycling’s first ever Women’s Cycling Conference. It was an amazing weekend of fun & fellowship as 32 women came from all four corners of the United States to discuss Leadership in Women’s Cycling. As I sort through and process all that was discussed, I will forward some really good stuff on to you Ladies and your coaches. For now, I will entertain you will a bit of a diary of my experience.
On Friday morning, I was scheduled to fly out of Orange County at 8:30am and change planes in San Francisco on my way to a 2:30pm arrival in Colorado Springs. Unfortunately our much needed rain meant that nearly every airport on the western end of the US was albut shut down forcing long delays and cancelled flights throughout the day. Finally, at 8:30PM (yes…I said PM!) I boarded a flight on a different airline from my original booking and headed to Co Springs via Vegas!
If any of you have been stranded at the OC airport, then you know that the sterile side of security does not have any electrical outlets for travelers to plug in either a cell phone or a laptop. Too make matters worse, the only internet connection available is unsecure and will set you back $8.00. …(sigh)…it was a very long day!!
So 12 hours after arriving at the airport I was finally on a plane heading east. After a plane change in Vegas, we touched down in Colorado Springs at 3:30AM. The conference was held at the Olympic Training Center and USAC had made arrangements to have a shuttle bus retrieve us and bring us to the OTC. That wonderful free service ended at 10:00pm. That meant that I had to take a cab.
…Ugh…I’ve never ridden in a cab in my life so I was pretty hesitant as I walked outside into the freezing cold air skating along on the ice covered walkways! Not seeing the “Cash Cab” in sight, I settled for a “Yellow Cab”. $30 poorer, I arrived at the Athlete Center at the OTC…and found the building locked up tight with no one in sight!! Realizing I could freeze to death out there, the first thing I did was open my suitcase and put on every long sleeved shirt/sweatshirt that I had brought. Then I used the light of the nearly full moon to hunt around for a security guard. No one was in sight.
As I approached the front door again, I realized there was a security phone almost hidden from view on the wall around the corner. In about 5 minutes a tall buff handsome US Olympic Wrestler with kind eyes and a big smile came to my rescue, opened the door and welcomed me inside where it was nice and warm!! After issuing me my ID badge and room key I snuck into my room as quietly as possible trying not to wake up my roommates and tried to get a couple of hours of sleep before the sun came up.
Saturday morning, the sun came up and we enjoyed a fabulous breakfast feast in the dining hall along with 6-7 shots of espresso (All of you resident athletes know exactly what I’m talking about!!). After breakfast we all settled into our seats promptly at 8:30am ready to begin. For the next 9 hrs we sat on the rivet glued to each of the speakers and their topics. No one wanted to miss a single word and everyone participated in the discussions with great ideas and hard questions. The entire day was educational, enjoyable, engaging and none of us wanted the day to end. But it did.
Saturday evening Sam Callen had made arrangements through USAC to provide dinner for everyone at a local restaurant in town. Again, it was fabulous food!! Each table was treated to far more food than any of us could possibly eat…except Sarah Uhl!! While she was away from our table, we filled 4 “to go’ boxes of food for her take home! The only thing the waitress requested was that she leave the salt, the pepper and the table linen behind!! Meanwhile the table next to us was having a contest to see who could hang a spoon on their nose the longest. I am pretty sure Sam won?
About a dozen of us Ladies wrapped up dinner about 9:00pm and, opting to not wait for the shuttle bus to return at 10pm, enjoyed a 40 minute moonlit race walk back to the OTC. The longer legged Cat 1-2 women arrived about a minute ahead of the shorter legged Cat 3-4 women! The Cat 5’s…well they apparently got lost along the way but were reported to have re-entered the OTC about hour later!
Sunday was another fabulous day of captivating lectures and engaging discussions that did not want to end. Shortly before dinner, after a group photo session and lots of hugs, a few of the Ladies began to head towards the airport. Those of us who stayed behind enjoyed some sightseeing and shopping while a small group of hearty souls able (or dumb enough?) to handle the sub-zero temperatures headed up toward Pike Peak to climb the Incline.
Monday morning dawned and, after enjoying our final meal together and 8-10 more shots of espresso (I love that button!) in the dining hall, the rest of us climbed aboard the 11:30 shuttle bus together and headed to the airport for an uneventful flight home to The OC.
Many many thanks to The OTC and USAC for all they gave us this weekend and for realizing the importance of not only women in cycling but in Women as Leaders in Women’s Cycling!! The OCT is an amazing facility and it was an honor to be their guest in an Olympic year and rub shoulders with so many elite athletes! All of us had a truly wonderful time and, from the conference leaders to the women attending, many lives were tangibly changed this weekend.
We are all looking forward to the next Women’s Leadership Conference!!
Sue George, a writer for Cyclingnews.com attended the conference and wrote a brief article summarizing the weekend.
Saturday morning, the sun came up and we enjoyed a fabulous breakfast feast in the dining hall along with 6-7 shots of espresso (All of you resident athletes know exactly what I’m talking about!!). After breakfast we all settled into our seats promptly at 8:30am ready to begin. For the next 9 hrs we sat on the rivet glued to each of the speakers and their topics. No one wanted to miss a single word and everyone participated in the discussions with great ideas and hard questions. The entire day was educational, enjoyable, engaging and none of us wanted the day to end. But it did.
Saturday evening Sam Callen had made arrangements through USAC to provide dinner for everyone at a local restaurant in town. Again, it was fabulous food!! Each table was treated to far more food than any of us could possibly eat…except Sarah Uhl!! While she was away from our table, we filled 4 “to go’ boxes of food for her take home! The only thing the waitress requested was that she leave the salt, the pepper and the table linen behind!! Meanwhile the table next to us was having a contest to see who could hang a spoon on their nose the longest. I am pretty sure Sam won?
About a dozen of us Ladies wrapped up dinner about 9:00pm and, opting to not wait for the shuttle bus to return at 10pm, enjoyed a 40 minute moonlit race walk back to the OTC. The longer legged Cat 1-2 women arrived about a minute ahead of the shorter legged Cat 3-4 women! The Cat 5’s…well they apparently got lost along the way but were reported to have re-entered the OTC about hour later!
Sunday was another fabulous day of captivating lectures and engaging discussions that did not want to end. Shortly before dinner, after a group photo session and lots of hugs, a few of the Ladies began to head towards the airport. Those of us who stayed behind enjoyed some sightseeing and shopping while a small group of hearty souls able (or dumb enough?) to handle the sub-zero temperatures headed up toward Pike Peak to climb the Incline.
Monday morning dawned and, after enjoying our final meal together and 8-10 more shots of espresso (I love that button!) in the dining hall, the rest of us climbed aboard the 11:30 shuttle bus together and headed to the airport for an uneventful flight home to The OC.
Many many thanks to The OTC and USAC for all they gave us this weekend and for realizing the importance of not only women in cycling but in Women as Leaders in Women’s Cycling!! The OCT is an amazing facility and it was an honor to be their guest in an Olympic year and rub shoulders with so many elite athletes! All of us had a truly wonderful time and, from the conference leaders to the women attending, many lives were tangibly changed this weekend.
We are all looking forward to the next Women’s Leadership Conference!!
Sue George, a writer for Cyclingnews.com attended the conference and wrote a brief article summarizing the weekend.
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Saturday February 2nd ~ The Mothballs Criterium in Santa Barbara would like to invite everyone up to Santa Barbara (yes, you are still in the SCNCA area!) to participate in the first crit of the 2008 racing season! This “D” shaped course is flat and fast and sure to be fun. The event schedule has the WCat 1-3 racing at 12:10 followed by the Juniors eventually followed by the WCat 3-4’s at 2:45pm. This is a great opportunity for WCat 3’s to race either up or down or both! Please see the event flyer for more details.
Saturday February 2nd ~ The Mothballs Criterium in Santa Barbara would like to invite everyone up to Santa Barbara (yes, you are still in the SCNCA area!) to participate in the first crit of the 2008 racing season! This “D” shaped course is flat and fast and sure to be fun. The event schedule has the WCat 1-3 racing at 12:10 followed by the Juniors eventually followed by the WCat 3-4’s at 2:45pm. This is a great opportunity for WCat 3’s to race either up or down or both! Please see the event flyer for more details.
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Saturday February 2nd ~ The 8th Annual Boulevard Road Race Presented By UCSD Cycling. The first road race of the 2008 race season is here! Master’s Ladies take note: this race offers a WCat 3-4 & a W35+ category in addition to a WCat 1-3 event. See the event flyer for more info.
Saturday February 2nd ~ The 8th Annual Boulevard Road Race Presented By UCSD Cycling. The first road race of the 2008 race season is here! Master’s Ladies take note: this race offers a WCat 3-4 & a W35+ category in addition to a WCat 1-3 event. See the event flyer for more info.
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Sunday Feb 3rd ~ San Diego State University is hosting the 5th Annual Red Trolley Classic Criterium. This event bosts plenty of Collegiate racing categories for men and women. Please see the event flyer for more details.
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February 16th, March 8th, & September 27th ~ The LAVRA will be hosting the first of 3 combination Track TT’s & Omniums at ADT on Feb 16th. Similar to last year, the morning race session will host Time Trials & Pursuits (including Team Pursuit!!) while the afternoon race session hosts an Omnium. LAVRA is looking forward to an exciting racing season.
Sunday Feb 3rd ~ San Diego State University is hosting the 5th Annual Red Trolley Classic Criterium. This event bosts plenty of Collegiate racing categories for men and women. Please see the event flyer for more details.
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February 16th, March 8th, & September 27th ~ The LAVRA will be hosting the first of 3 combination Track TT’s & Omniums at ADT on Feb 16th. Similar to last year, the morning race session will host Time Trials & Pursuits (including Team Pursuit!!) while the afternoon race session hosts an Omnium. LAVRA is looking forward to an exciting racing season.
Ladies this is a great opportunity for us to race the Team Pursuits! If you are interested in training for this event, please contact me!!
For all the details of each race session please see the event flyer at the LAVelodrome’s website.
For all the details of each race session please see the event flyer at the LAVelodrome’s website.
Also New for LAVRA events for 2008 – ON LINE PRE-REGISTRATION
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The entire 2008 SCNCA Racing Calendar is now available.
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The Next 2 Ladies Only Track Sessions (LOTS) will be held on Saturday Feb 9th and Saturday March 8th.
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Have a super week Ladies!!
The Next 2 Ladies Only Track Sessions (LOTS) will be held on Saturday Feb 9th and Saturday March 8th.
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Have a super week Ladies!!
Julia
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