President's column

Written by Victoria Klinger   

NEW YEAR - NEW DIRECTIONS

by Victoria Klinger, TE President

Welcome to 2010! After a year and a half of mentoring and friendship, Chris Porter, past TE President has stepped down and the TE Board has honored me with the responsibility to fill those shoes. Chris remains on the Board and will stay close at hand. Thanks to Chris for his two years as President, guiding TE to new heights. The entire TE Board has committed to new ways of operating as we move in to 2010 with new Triple Bypass management, David Newcomer as our Executive Director and a wish list for better serving Team Evergreen membership. Stay tuned!

In this vein, on January 9th, a group from Team Evergreen enjoyed an evening of new experiences at Boulder Indoor Cycling. As a group, we wanted to break with some of our traditional festivities and try something new. About 40 of us arrived at the track with our helmets, pedals, shoes and just a little nervous anxiety. We went trackside to see three riders flying around the 144 meters. They appeared in sync and riding almost effortlessly in a tight pace line. It was a thing of beauty. Breathing deep, we suited up, picked out a track bike that fit us and were ready for training and encouragement from Chuck and Garret. Ten riders at a time, we received a specific detailed introduction to the track and the program we would follow for safety and fun. Dreaming of doing this and doing it, are two different things. Seasoned riders among us showed signs of anxiety and a twinge of fear. Having seen other experienced riders in action on the track served to steel our nerves and finally, push off behind the coaches. Lap one, acclimate on the apron. Lap two, come up to speed, Lap 3, corner 3, get up on that track! YAHOO! We are riding on the track – at a minimum of 15 mph and following the coach as if ourlives’ depended on it. After a few laps and the realization we had to come off the 45 degree banked turns and stop – all on track bikes (minus gears and brakes), we all took a deep breath and enjoyed huge smiles and new found confidence. Incredible. When can we go back out? What do track bikes cost?

Let’s make plans… Boulder Indoor Cycling coaches and staff were very supportive and helped us have a great night of fun and adventure, check them out soon at www.boulderindoorcycling.com.  Truthfully, if this experience is just the beginning of 2010, well, bring it on!

While we generally might think, we live large and live life to the fullest – well, think again. When was the last time your heart raced, your brain said no, your desire said, GO! When you felt fear and dug deep. You opened your mind to learn something truly new and rose to the challenge? The take-away for me and I believe others that night in Boulder, is that if we choose, we can open ourselves up to new experiences, that will teach us new things about ourselves and our unlimited capacity to learn, grow and simply, be joyful. The night at the velodrome brought me back to the first time I could ride a two-wheeler without training wheels, the first time riding a bike no-handed – why wasn’t I seeking and embracing new experiences more often, not just athletically, but throughout my life? Well, I had a manageable list of resolutions this year and they remain at the forefront, but underlying them and all my endeavors this year, I hope to truly seek out and be open to new experiences with zeal never before tapped. I hope you will, too. Make your dreams come true and have a great 2010!

Victoria Klinger
President, Team Evergreen