Logistics. The name of the game for Day 1.
I spent the morning at home finishing up some last minute items and packing for the week’s events. I decided in the process that packing for a bike event versus a triathlon is substantially easier. Bike kits and gear and you are ready to go! A couple of errands and a quick Whole Body Cryotherapy Session at Complete Cyrospa before heading out.
My first stop landed me parked in a parking lot in the Tech Center awaiting an update of whether my Stoker would make her connection in Denver after a flight delay out of St. Louis. A turn North would have picked her up at DIA, a turn South at Colorado Springs Airport. She was able to make the flight and in the time it took her to fly, I drove to Colorado Springs Airport to meet her. We “landed” at almost the exact same time.
We gathered her luggage and took her beloved service dog out to the real grass for a much needed break after a stressful travel morning. We loaded the car and headed out to the USOTC. A bit of road construction provided a last minute detour and we arrived for check-in. We received our credentials and headed to the cafeteria for a late lunch. We met another tandem team in the cafeteria. The pilot from San Diego and the stoker from St. Louis very near where my stoker was from. Two guide dogs under the table with us and they rested peacefully until we were done.
Orienting to a new environment is challenging for all but especially challenging when you are visually impaired. I learned that I need to communicate constantly and make sure I am facing the same direction as both she and the dog rely on my lefts and rights being correct! We found our way to the dormitory. Learning the location of our door, the bathroom door, the shower door, and the number of steps in and out to where Chandra does her business. We unloaded our gear and quickly changed to head out to the team meeting.
With delays in arrival, we had not had time to get our bike adjusted and were the last group out. There was many new things. My stoker wearing clips for the first time and learning about clipping in and out. Me on a bike with a reach that far exceeds the length of my torso - extremely grateful for my professional fits on my everyday bikes! I took a quick spin around the basketball court and then we added my stoker and focused on clipping in for a few minutes. The rest of the group was ready to roll so it was time to roll, ready or not. We figured out pretty quickly, that we were not. Our ride turned into a quick spin around the parking lot instead of heading out with the group onto the roads of Colorado Springs at the height of rush hour. (https://www.relive.cc/view/1561314182 )
We returned to our room while the group was riding. Settled in a bit and oriented a bit more in our location and waiting for the group to return. Once they got back, we were able to put our tandem on a trainer and, with direction from the coaching staff, did some work clipping in and out as well as learning the foot position needed for both of us to push off to get the bike started. We were definitely improving!! After working for a bit, we headed to dinner. We had the opportunity to meet some more of the campers and staff and share our journeys. Our cafeteria routine is gaining efficiency!
From dinner, we headed straight to our first team meeting. All of the athletes (24) in total, the staff, volunteers and 7 guide dogs in a warm (it was HOT), crowded meeting room. The night kicked off with Kevin, the membership manager for USABA speaking to us and welcoming us to the camp. He is off this morning to Nationals in Judo! We then went through introductions, starting with the coaching staff and then working through the pilot and stoker teams until we got all the way through the room. I was amazed by the diversity and even more amazed to find that outside of the staff and two athletes, everyone is from outside of Colorado. Athletes of all ages, abilities, levels of sight loss. It is truly fascinating and a honor to be part of such an exclusive group. A couple of other pilots had arrived on similar terms as me after seeing a Facebook post. Some teams traveled together and work together at home. All shared what they were seeking from the camp and most of all were excited to expand their communities. There are many amazing stories in this room and many records held by individuals and staff in attendance.
Once the meeting concluded, we all filled our water bottles and headed back to the dorms. We let Chandra stretch one last time and headed in to settle down for the night. For many of the dogs, there was a bit of playtime in the hallway before bunking down. Fun to see them take a break.
Sleep was ok for night one. Waking to a full day ahead. Our schedule is locked and loaded. This morning will be skills training and this afternoon a ride in Manitou Springs. I look forward to learning and practicing our skills to get the bike rolling better today!!
Day 2 Begins!
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