Good morning and happy Monday!
...Well, I'm at the front end of a two-week, multi-city and multi-state odyssey that will allow me (hopefully) to celebrate the holidays with four different sets of family. Before I leave the grid, I wanted to put together our annual year in review photo gallery. And friends, what an incredible year it has been! We've climbed both Enchanted Rock and the Tower of the Americas, participated in cycling events all over the country, blasted across the Harbor Bridge at the end of the the Bike to the Beach, raised almost a half million dollars for ADA and MS, and pushed our limits with 33,000 close friends during the San Antonio Rock and Roll Marathon. As I scanned through our photo library to put this together, I'm completely overwhelmed by what we accomplished in 2008.
I want to take this last opportunity to once again thank the Board of Directors for working so hard all year to make all this possible, and all the Team Captains from around the country who helped us spread the gospel of Velo Valero far and wide in our second year as a National Team. I especially want to thank PJ, John, and Chuck, who have been the pillars of the team during the two years I've been Captain - I couldn't have done this without all of you you!
To see our 2009 Event Schedule, click here. If you have any suggestions on rides or other fitness events you think the team should participate in, send them to cycling@valero.com.
Enjoy the holidays - you deserve it!
Group shot at Enchanted Rock in January. We hiked the rock and then went into Fredericksburg to celebrate Zora's birthday..
Accepting another round of awards at the ADA Dinner. We were once again recognized for being the largest team and the top fundraising team in the San Antonio Tour de Cure.
Going gangser to recruit new riders at the Valero Wellness Fair. We really made a stroing effort to recruit new folks in 2008, and as a result, we were able to field 294 riders for the Bike to the Beach, our largest team ever.
Sweaty and exhilerated at the top of the Tower of the Americas. In 2008, we tried to encourage team members to participate in a wider range of fitness challenges, and will continue to do so in 2009. For information on the 2009 Tower Climb, click here.
Posing with Louie, the Happy Wanderer, at the 2008 MS Walk, one of the many ways we supported the cause of MS in 2008, which culminated in us winning the Corporate Star Award for the first time. For information on the 2009 Walk event, click here.
The group that braved the wet roads (including the monstrous hills on Crabapple) during our 2008 Spring Board Retreat. To see the video of the ride, click here.
Valero runners at the Capital 10K in Austin. Lupe and Carl have been members of Velo for years, Nerissa was a new rider in 2008, and Jana has run our Massage Tent during the Bike to the Beach for the last two years (and will hopefully be riding with us in 2009). Hearing how much fun this event was got me thinking about taking the plunge into running...
Velo Valero riders at the Hotter Than Salsa ride in Three Rivers, home of the Valero Three Rivers Refinery.
PJ meets a tall, dark, and handsome Park Ranger at the start of the LBJ 100, one of the most scenic and hilliest rides we did all year. For information on the 2009 ride, click here.
The first couple of Velo Valero, Stella and Luis, at the Fiesta WIlderflower ride with hammerhead Kyle. Kyle left us late in the year for a job in Colorado, but we all have great memories of some incredible pace lines with him.
Posing at the final rest stop during the always gorgeous Napa Valley Tour de Cure. Yes, those are vineyards in the background! For more photos from the Napa ride, click here.
Pebbles and Carmen give T-Ralf the bidness at MS Camp Can Do, yet another way Valero and the team supported MS in 2008
Group shot on the road during the San Antonio Tour de Cure, with Andrea attempting to improve El Hefe's reception. For info on the 2009 event, click here.
Stephanie from Delaware City with her team that participated in the Greater Philadelphia Tour de Cure. Last update I heard from her was that she was heading to Aruba, and will be starting a bike team there, which will make it the third team she's launched over the years (you go girl!)!
Group photo at the finish line of the St. Francesville Tour de Cure (look closely - this photo marks the first appearance of Flat Peter). I was so happy we could travel to Louisiana to support Monika and her team again, and we all had a great time in New Orleans. To see all the incredible photos from this ride, click here.
Group shot of cruiser bikers during the summer with our fearless leader Rusty. This was a memorable ride for Paige and her feet - you need to ask her for all the details!
Photo from the top of the Harbor Bridge in Corpus from the dry run we did during the summer. It was my dream for years to finish the Bike to the Beach with a climb up the bridge, and the dry run gave us all the confidence that it could be done.
Group shot of riders during the 2008 Long Beach Tour de Cure
Team Veep David Sloan led a group of San Antonio riders who joined Monika and riders from our Ardmore Refinery at the Oklahoma City Tour de Cure.
DJ Vanilla Thunder and his sidekick Brown Sugar kick out the jams during the wedding of long time team members Diane Mitchell and Pat Moore
Hanging out with members of Team ETC at the Bike to the Beach kickoff party - yes, that's an oversized pineapple I'm holding, although I'm not sure why
Chase, Andrea, and PJ with 13,000 friends at the start of the Hotter N' Hell
CEO Bill Klesse and Tony Ralf enjoy a laugh during the Club 100 kickoff party. Bill took his commitment to the cause of MS to a whole new level by contributing $100,000 at this event (I saw the check with my own two eyes!)
My father-in-law Stan delivering the prayer at the start of the Bike to the Beach. At age 70, he did over 110 miles over two days, including the Harbor Bridge at the end. To quote George Will, some men are like mountains - the closer you get to them, the bigger they become. Stan is such a man.
At the finish line of the Bike to the Beach with my mom, who showed up for the first time in nine years to watch me finish, and is still telling our friends all about it!
With my friend and miracle worker Lucy Hernandez, who once again created a magical team tent experience for us in Beeville, which won for her at last the Best Team Tent award
David, Glennis, and Luis at the Ft. Worth Tour de Cure. This year Velo participated in a total of 8 Tour de Cure events and raised almost $100,000 for ADA.
Stella and I pose with some of the Wurstfest Opas during the Tour de Gruene
...which also included a very focused and nattily attired Lance Armstrong
Board Member Sylvia captured on the big screen while the high energy marching band plays during the MS National Conference, where we won the coveted Corporate Start award for the first time. For more photos from the conference, click here.
Velo Valero riders and volunteers at the MS Bay to Bay ride. The folks from Wilmington once again made me proud with their strong turnout in this event.
Flashing the Hook 'Em sign at mile 6 during the San Antonio Rock and Roll Marathon. This was my first running event, but won't be my last.
Team members, along with Tony Ralf and the adorable Mallory, at the MS Award Banquet, where we once again won the most important award, Top Fundraising Team...
...and I passed the Captain's baton to a very worthy and capable Andea. For more photos from the event, click here.
At the Mission to Mission ride with my son Alex - I can't tell you what a thrill it was to do a ride with him! To see more photos from the M2M, click here.
Posing with John, Luis, and Ray at the end of the last training ride of the year. We stayed on the road all year in 2008, something I'm very proud of. To see photos from all our 2008 training rides, including the great things Megan and Carl did with the newVcrew, click here.
CEO Bill Klesse on the road during the Bike to the Beach. Bill was once again an incredible role model and inspiration for all Velo Valero team members - leading with his legs, his wallet, and his heart. He truly is El Hefe Grande for this team!
See you on the road!
- Peter