January 2009 - Posts

• Tour Cure Training Kickoff Ride

  Weekend Training Rides As usual, we have a number of rides planned this weekend to keep you on the road and in shape.      John “The Punisher” Tenison will lead the ride on Saturday.  The ride starts at Judson High School with wheels up at 09:00 am.   Send an e-mail to John if you plan on joining! Be sure to dress warm for the chilly start.   Patricia “the Funky Pirate" Jones (aka, PJ) will lead a ride leaving from the Exxon Gas Station on 471 near 211 Sunday at 10:00am.  Route will be determined by those who show up to ride - most likely between 35 and 40 miles.  Send an e-mail to PJ if you plan on joining her!   The Pirate posing in Luckenbach last year   Tour Cure Training Kickoff Ride The official training ride season for the 2009 Valero Tour de Cure is about to begin! Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 21, when we'll be leaving from the Valero Headquarters campus at 9:00am. This is definitely a ride that you don’t want to miss. There will be routes for everyone, at least one ride leader for every route, SAG drivers, snacks, and best of all - giveaways! We wanted to give you plenty of time to plan and keep this day for the ride. We are working on trying to get our weekend rides posted a little earlier so folks can plan accordingly and attend the rides. Fundraising Incentive ...We are adding a little bonus for those early fundraisers. All Velo Valero Team Members who raise the minimum $150.00 fundraising amount by February 21st will be entered into a drawing. Ten winners will receive free TDC event registration.  The ADA office will contact all winners and their registration fee will be either refunded or moved to fundraising (winner’s choice)  Drawing will be held at 8:45am on February 21st  at the Kickoff ride, and you must be present to win. GOOD LUCK! Velo Valero team members at the 2008 Tour de Cure Here's a few more updates on the Valero TDC - Registration is still just a low, low $15.00 Don’t forget about the Lunch and Learn on February 19th Our annual fundraising Bake Sale for the Tour De Cure will be on St. Patrick’s Day. (3/17/2009)   More details on the Lunch and Learn and the Bake Sale are available on both the Events Schedule and our Team Calendar.        Non-Rider Volunteer Opportunities for Tour De Cure   Nerissa Muniz is our Board Member in charge of coordinating the army of volunteers that makes our big events like the Tour de Cure and the Bike to the Beach possible.  Here's an update on the Volunteer opportunities for this year's Valero Tour de Cure - You don’t have to be a rider to be part of the Tour De Cure. If you are not riding this year consider volunteering. If you are riding, help recruit volunteers to ensure a great event.The American Diabetes Association supports research to find a cure for diabetes, as well as providing educational programs for people with diabetes and those at risk for diabetes.  The American Diabetes Association’s Valero Tour De Cure bicycling event is a major fundraiser for the American Diabetes Association.   Valero is the Title Sponsor for the 2009 Tour De Cure.75 volunteers are needed to assist with the following activities prior to the start:  Parking Guide – Helping utilize the available parking lots in an efficient manner Greeters – Welcome riders and give directions to activity locations in the registration / start area Registration – Getting riders signed in, collecting registration forms and money packets, and handing out rider packets and T-shirts for the riders that have not made an early packet pick-up Cheerleaders – Letting the riders know how much they are appreciated as they are at the start line, and encouraging finishers that complete the short 15 mile loop ride as they finish.  These volunteers will not be able to ride on day one of the two day ride, so we need to encourage our non-riding friends and family to sign up for these fun chores.  These opportunities are posted on the Valero “Sign-Up” page.  Just do it!Start for this year’s Tour de Cure is at Pearson, 19500 Bulverde Rd. (outside Loop 1604).  Maps will be provided for all volunteers.   All volunteers will receive Tour de Cure T-shirts. Shift/Responsibility Date Time (start/end) # People/Shift Parking Guide 5/31/2009 6:00 AM / 10:00 AM 15 Greeter 5/31/2009 6:00 AM / 10:00 AM 15 Registration Packets & T-shirts 5/31/2009 6:00 AM / 10:00 AM 25 Cheerleaders 5/31/2009 7:00 AM / 11:00 AM 20 Valero Volunteer University students are welcome to participate. Event is posted on the signup page for Valero employees.   I am hoping that Valero will have a highly visible presence at the start line that makes an impact! The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is working to find a cure for a disease that has an especially strong impact in the San Antonio and South Texas area where the incidence of diabetes is almost twice the national average.  Besides the medical research funded by ADA, diabetes education and awareness are important in minimizing the effects of this devastating disease.  We ARE making progress.  Today, only 25% of diabetes is undiagnosed, down from 50% just 10 years ago.  That said, there are over 23 million people in the United States with diabetes, or 8% of our population.    Tour de Cure is one of the major fundraising events sponsored by ADA, and Valero is an important element in the fight.  Valero Volunteers are essential for the success of Tour de Cure in San Antonio.    Volunteers at the 2008 Tour de Cure hard at work making sure cyclist have a great meal when they finish  Andrea See Ya on the road!   Posted Jan 30 2009, 10:13 AM by wild thing with 2 comment(s)

• Greetings Fellow Riders and Those New to the Team

  We are going to have great weather this weekend, so we will once again be offering two opportunities for riding. John has picked one of my favorite rides. Saturday, meet behind the Starbucks in Leon Springs, ride start 9:00 AM. We’ll head out via Fair Oaks Ranch and Amman Rd. to Boerne, returning on Upper Balcones/Toutant Beauregard. Route distances 35 and 25 miles. Maps are available, so be sure to visit the event page if you need directions.   I will lead a ride leaving from Bullis County Park on Sunday at 1:30pm. Route will be determined by those who show up to ride. Most likely between 25 to 35 miles.       Just another stroll around the park.   Wellness Fair Follow-Up  We had a very successful Wellness Fair on January 15th. There were 40 employees interested in learning more about the team either as a rider or volunteer. 16 of those who signed up already have a bike and are ready to hit the road. A few of the others are in need of assistance. If you have an extra bike sitting around and would like to either sell or let someone borrow it, please contact me. It would be fantastic to get as many of these future riders on the road as possible.   We also had a few door prizes to give away and the winners are………Phillip Cavazos, Lisa Alonzo, Bindu Dambekodi, David Le, and Jana Borie. Please stop by my office to claim your prize. Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to all those who signed up or helped man the table during the event.      MS Camp Can Do and MS Walk  This year I would like to encourage our team to branch out and volunteer for a few other events then just those that require two wheels. I have posted two events on our calendar for you to review and see if either of these are something that you might be interested in. Please check the calendar for more details. MS Walk is in March and Camp Can Do is in May. Future events will be posted, so keep an eye out for those.         Volunteers waiting for a MS camper to fly down the zip line    Ken’s Birthday Ride  I wanted to send a thank you to all those who rode on Sunday in celebration of Ken’s 46th birthday. The wind gave us a real workout, but everyone kept their spirits high and finished with a big sigh of relief. I didn’t feel at all guilty for eating a few extra onion rings. We all had a great time especially Ken. He has been through a lot during the past few years, including the loss of his father. It was fantastic to see him so happy and out on the road, which I think has become his sanctuary. He rode 46 miles before our ride even started!  I especially think the flaming carrot cake was the highlight of the party. PJ and Glennis put all 46 candles on the cake and almost caught the place on fire!! Pictures are available in the gallery, so check them out. They are a hoot….    It just so happens that we have a photographer around during a lot of our rides, and it turns out that he is my husband. It is not very often to see him without a camera around his neck. Last night he helped me get all of the pictures posted so I could work on the blog. He is also a fellow rider who seems to always find an excuse why he should be taking pictures instead of riding. I guess I can’t complain. Without him we would not have the great pictures that we have. Thanks dear and I Love You. XXOO Just hanging out having a little fun during the ride. Posted Jan 23 2009, 11:13 AM by wild thing with no comments

• Time to Get Rolling!

  Not much going on right now but things are about to change. The Valero Tour De Cure is only 136 days or 16 weekend training rides away. Deduct 3 weekends of not training due to bad weather, 2 for family activities, and 2 because you just didn’t feel like getting up early. If you only workout on weekends that adds up to only 9 training rides under your belt before the bike day. That doesn't leave much time to get rolling and don’t forget about fundraising. What are you waiting for?   Plus, riding more will make you look GOOD floating down the river.  There are always plenty of opportunities to train and this weekend is no exception:  John “the Punisher” has a great ride scheduled for Saturday starting at the Exxon on 471 near 211, south of Helotes at 9:00AM. Physical address is 15335 Culebra Rd, San Antonio, Texas 78253. The ride will be approximately 20, 33, 38, or 42 mile options. Be prepared for a chilly start.   Sunday's training ride is dedicated to Ken Mayfield. He has worked so hard to ensure that we all  have a great Tour De Cure ride experience, he is always there to help new riders get started, get seasoned riders motivated, or to lend a supportive hand in whatever way possible. I hate to admit this, Ken even came to my house after one of his training rides to help me change a flat tire. After my husband and I spent 30 minutes trying to get the tire back on, I called Ken. And of course he was on a ride, but he came by on his way home. It took him 20 minutes of prying but he did it. Luckily, I havn't had a flat since then.   Now it is our turn to say thank you and there is no better way than to join him on a ride to celebrate his birthday. We will be leaving from Specht's Restaurant at 1:30pm. Ride 10, 20, or 30 miles and head into Specht's after for dinner, beverages, and a little entertainment before heading for home.  If weather doesn't permit a ride, our backup plan is to have dinner at Beefy's Backyard at 3:00pm. As most of you would agree, Specht's would not be a good place for dinner if it's cold and rainy.   More details on these rides are available on the Calendar of Events. Don’t forget to check the rider hotline at (210)345-BIKE for ride cancellations and updates. It’s a great resource so please start taking advantage of this messaging system.          Reverend Mayfield inspiring his flock    A Note Worth Sharing I received the following from one of my "rider family members" and thought I would share it with all of you. I say "rider family member", because as you all know to well, a lot of us spend more time with these folks then we do our actual family members. Glennis has become a close friend and I truly feel blessed to have her family in my life. Riding is not the only reason why most of us ride. The people we meet along the way sometimes are more interesting and enjoyable than the actual journey itself. 2009: A Prime Year for Velo Valero I started thinking about 2009 as I ran some trails this first week of the year. 2 plus 9 equals 11:  a prime number.  As a noun, a prime number is a number that is divisible only by 1 and itself; it is also a period of power, vigour, and activity.  As an adjective, it is defined as first in rank, authority or significance, of having the highest quality or value.  There are infinte numbers that are prime.  Thank you Euclid. This, I thought, reminds me of the VeloValero team in San Antonio. This is a cycling team that has been recognized nationally as being first in rank and significance.  In the past year it has won the highest Corporate Star Award for its fundraising and events.  The people that make up this team, its board, its leadership past and present, are of the highest quality or value.  On any organized ride you discover that this group is living a period of power, vigour, and activity.  Ride with Andrea, the new Team Captain, and you know this is true. Finally, there are an infinite number of opportunities to explore if the standard is maintained in the new year. Here’s my point: let’s not give an inch in 2009.  If VeloValero fielded a team of 290+riders for our cycling event last year, let’s raise it to 300+ for the coming events of 2009.  If there were walks, runs and climbs, charitable causes last year, do them again with renewed power and vigour. And most importantly, lets continue to value the significance of each individual and family that participates. 2009 is a prime year for Velo Valero. It is also a year that will bring much change. Not to worry: a prime number is divisible only by 1 and itself.   - Glennis Bryce  Pressing On in '09 Philippians 3:13,14     Glennis during the HTH run last year   Mark your calendar for these upcoming events: San Antonio Tour de Cure Lunch and Learn - February 19th, 2009 San Antonio Tower Climb - February 28th, 2009 San Antonio MS Walk -  March 7th, 2009 Phoenix Tour de Cure - March 14th, 2009 LBJ100 Bicycle Tour - March 28th 2009 Easter Hill Country Tour - April 10 - 12, 2009   More information will be available in the near future.     Velo Riders at the 2008 LBJ 100     Be safe, ride often, and try not to ride alone. There is safety in numbers.   - Andrea Posted Jan 14 2009, 02:30 PM by wild thing with 2 comment(s)

• Happy New Years, New Board Members, Upcoming Events

  It's a new year and there are lots of new and exciting things going on with the team, so let's gets things rolling for 2009. Board of Directors It's time for the changing of the guard and to extend our deep gratitude towards those who have done an outstanding job for the team over the years, and will continue to be active participants in our events, but wanted to pass on this opportunity to others.  Outgoing Board Members include -   Lucy Hernandez - "The Hostess with the Mostess" has been responsible for our team tent compound in Beeville during the Bike to the Beach the last two years.  We asked her to create an oasis for the team in the middle of South Texas, and oh yeah, we didn't give her much of a budget.  Yet, both years she created something fun and exciting that helped us forget the pain of the ride for a few hours.   Eddie Gamez - Eddie was our Refinery Representative on the Board for the last two years, and made sure the team didn't lose sight of the riders at the Valero plants.  Eddie continues to be an active member of the Corpus Christi cycling community, and has participated in the Bike to the Beach for almost a decade.  (NOTE: We are still looking for a Refinery Rep for the 2009 Board!).  Zora Bilicich - "You can Do It" has been a Board Member for many, many years, and has been a rider in events like the Tour de Cure and the Bike to the Beach for almost a decade. In addition to being a great cyclist and a fun person, she's an amazing graphic artist who has designed our award winning jerseys, posters, team logos, etc., for years.  Now, I would like to formally welcome the new members to the Board -  Nerissa Muniz - Nerissa works in the Federal Income Tax department as a Tax Specialist. She has been a very active member of the team participating in multiple events, helping with the bake sales, and volunteering. Her enthusiasm will be a great addition to the board.  Seymour Battle - Seymour is a Sr. Accounting Manager in the Accounting Systems department. Seymour's experience with cycling seemed to be more of the motorized type than the self propelled type that we are all too familiar with. Somehow he was convinced to move to a more challenging piece of equipment. He has jumped in with both feet and never looked back.  Grace Batres - Grace is an Associate Accountant for the Domestic Crude and other Feedstock department. She has been an active rider for several years and has participated in events throughout the country, including Tour De Cure in Napa and Baton Rouge. Grace will be the team secretary and will play a major role in helping keep the wheels moving. San Antonio Tour De Cure Time! With the start of the New Year it's time to gear up for the Tour De Cure. The holidays are over and the few extra pounds need to be purged. This is the perfect time to dust off the bike, air up the tires, find your helmet, and join the weekend training rides. There are a lot of changes being made to this years ride and you will definitely want to be a part of the fun. So what are you waiting for - click here to sign up today!  We have scheduled a lunch and learn on January 19th from 11:30am - 1:00pm in the private dining room in the cafeteria at the Valero Headquarters. This lunch and learn will be geared towards first time Tour De Cure riders or anyone with questions regarding the ride. You will have the opportunity to register during the event and there will be several door prizes to be given away. Group photo at the start of the 2008 Tour de Cure - 29 folks have already signed up for 2009!  Training Ride  San Antonio Team Captain John Tenison is doing rides all winter to keep us in shape and hopefully burn off all that holiday fruit cake. Please join us on Saturday leaving from the park and ride at Hwy 181 and Loop 1604 at 9:00am. The ride destination is the Floresvill Peanut. Ride distance is 44 miles with a shorter option of 21 miles. Hope to see you there. Don't forget to check the Velo Ride hotline (210-345-BIKE) for any ride cancellations prior to heading out in the morning - John Send an e-mail to john.tenison@valero.com if you want to join him this weekend! BP MS 150 Several Velo Valero team members are riding in the 25th anniversary of this event. If you are riding and looking for someone to train with please do not hesitate to contact me at andrea.shull@valero.com. We have a small group but look forward to finding others in San Antonio area training for this ride. San Antonio Tower Climb The San Antonio Tower Climb is coming up quick!  This year it will be held on Saturday, February 28th - click here for more details.  This year they are using a timing chip for accurate timing, and there is a competition among four-person teams.  If you want a fitness challenge to help you get in shape for our spring rides, give this a try!  A short one mile run around this puppy, then a brisk ascent up 58 stories on 952 steps - you can do this! As you can see, 2009 is off to a thunderous start.  To see our complete schedule of training rides and events, click here. Valero Employee Only Section   Wellness Fair    Mark your calendars for January 15th  - The HQ Wellness Fair is fast approaching so don’t forget to sign up for your health assessments. During lunch on the 15th, the cafeteria will be set up with all types of vendors passing out health information and goodies. The team will be passing out brochures and team event information, so please stop by and say Hi! New Spin Class Ready to Rock Yo' World   There is a new spin class on Wednesday at 11:30am. If you are looking for a challenge this is it. There were several of us from the team huffing and puffing like never before. What a great way to start your Tour De Cure training. It will be a breeze after several of these classes. Volunteer Event - Walkin' for MS   The MS Walk/Run on March 7th. Registration for the MS Walk is free but if you fundraise, there are fabulous prizes for those raising $100 or more. More information is available on the Valero intranet volunteer Sign-Up page. Please contact the event coordinator and new Board Member Nerissa Muniz if you have any questions.  For more information, click here.  - Andrea Posted Jan 07 2009, 02:30 PM by peter.ray@valero.com with 1 comment(s)