Just a very quick note to end the week. It promises to be Chamber of Commerce weather in San Antonio this weekend, so to paraphrase the immortal words of Freddy Mercury, it's time to get on our bikes and ride!
Weekend Rides
Two rides are available this weekend to help you get in shape for the San Antonio Tour De Cure, which is just a month away, my friends!
This Saturday Paige Wright and Tammy Friddle from Team Faaster are leading the joint TDC Training Ride. Wheels up at 08:30 am from Raymond Russel Park on the Northwest side of town. There will be SAG support and two routes available - a 35 miler, and a 51 miler. Check the maps out they put together for this ride - they are the prettiest maps I've seen in 9 years of cycling. NOTE: Just got called by Alan Green - the ride start is moving to the HEB at Leon Springs, because Raymond Russell park doesn't open until 09:00 am.
John Tenison and PJ will be leading a Sunday morning ride for the team. They will leave from Po-Pos Resturant at 08:30 am and will follow the Tall Texan route to Comfort and Waring for a distance of around 45 miles. This is one of the prettiest rides in Texas, and is not to be missed.
To see our complete event schedule, click here.
Volunteer of the Year
...I had a truly pleasant surprise this morning when Board Member Carl Crawford called me up to congratulate me for winning the 2007 San Antonio Valero Volunteer of the Year award. When I was nominated earlier this year, I wasn't even going to fill out the application because there are so many volunteers at Valero who do so many incredible things that I thought I didn't have a chance. But, my wife talked me into it and I'm glad she did, because this is something I am absolutely overwhelmed by. It is rare that I'm rendered speechless, but it happened. But I also know that I did not win this award alone. I have to thank my Board of Directors for working so many long hours on so many different things for the team, from running our jersey sales to leading our training rides to organizing volunteers for things like the Tour de Cure and the Bike to the Beach. I have to thank the refinery Team Captains - folks like Monika, Stephanie, and Dan - who are growing Velo Valero teams all around the country. And I have to thank each and every one of you on the team who believe in what we are doing and work so tirelessly to raise money for the causes we support. This award really belongs to all of us, and friends, we earned it!
Crossing the finish line at last year's MS 150 - one of those incredible moments that made all the hard work worth it.
...see ya' on the road!
- Peter Ray