| Subject: | My personal inspiration...- TOW |
| Date: | 03/26/2000 12:05 AM |
| From: | Candi Murray |
|
X-Persona: <candi> X-From_: llsmi-@earthlink.net Sun Mar 26 16:45:40 2000 Return-Path: <llsmi-@earthlink.net> Delivered-To: cmur-@teleport.com Reply-To: <llsm-@veloski.com> From: "Larry Smith" <llsmi-@earthlink.net> To: "Candi Murray" <cmur-@teleport.com> Subject: My personal inspiration... Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 08:41:06 -0800 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal Importance: Normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2615.200 The Tour of Willamette means a lot to folks all over the country. For that reason alone I've continued to battle beauracracies, permit processing, politics and community apathy for the past four years. The inspiration and source of renewal for me comes from conversations with riders traveling from around the country to race "Willamette". I just spoke with a Cat 3 rider in Colorado that is making Tour of Willamette his first race after hip replacement and chemo for bone cancer treatment. He graduated from UO several years ago and is eager to come back with his wife to race over roads made famous by pros like Knickman, Phinney, Willet, Rodgers, Zabriske, Schmeer, Jackson, Kurreck, etc. Last week I spoke with Ruthie Mathes about her d=E9but at "Willamette" 17 years ago. We laughed about her diet as she drove with experienced racers from Boise to Eugene. Remember the days of carbo-loading? Well, she ate bread all the way across Oregon getting ready for "Willamette". She's coming back this year for the first time in years, because there's finally room in her schedule to race at her favorite race in America. Tour of Willamette means different things to all who come to race. Each has a personal story about riding these great roads in one of the most beautiful places in America. For some it's a place to return to their passion for cycling. For some it's a place to see old friends and make new ones. For some it's a place to be selected to their national team or earn a spot on a trade team. For others it's a place to see if they still have what it takes to survive tough climbs, pouring rain, narrow roads and the best competition assembled in one place for six (or three) days of racing. Sadly, the local cycling community and the community of Eugene doesn't get it. I'm at a loss to find the answer to why the community (cyclists and townsfolk) do not support this event. I've always known that the race was bigger than what I can manage alone, so I keep asking everyone I know if they know someone that will help. Once again I find myself starring into the teeth of the monster--a volunteer pool that is empty. If I won the lottery today, then I would be able to hire all of the people that I need for a great event. Instead, I'm just hoping that I don't lose anymore money than I've lost in previous years. So I'm asking you if you know what it takes to motivate and mobilize a volunteer pool to save the Tour of Willamette from the embarrassment of lost or misdirected riders, poor results compilation and inadequate press coverage. Thanks for your ear and your heart... Larry |
