Monday, October 1, 2007

Conquer the Coast - Corpus Christi 2007

This weekend, my wife and I traveled down to Corpus Christi, Texas, for their 4th annual "Conquer the Coast" endurance ride. We originally signed up for the 25 mile ride, as my wife had just purchased a new road bike and we wanted her to be comfortable, but she told me she wanted to do the 65 mile ride instead (the only other option apart from an 18 mile time trial).

We got into Corpus at about 9:00pm and made the registration book just before they closed,upgrading to the 65 mile ride for an extra $10.00 each. No worries. Then, back to the hotel for an early night before the ride.

At 6:30am on ride day, I was awoken by a massive clap of thunder! Lovely... A major storm had hit the area, and roads were being closed down. Even the local Naval Air Station had closed down, which was supposed to be part of the 65 mile ride. We got in touch with someone at the starting area while we were still at our hotel and the decision was initially made to delay the 65 mile ride for an hour. We ate some of the hotel's free continental brekky, then another call - 65 mile ride canceled, 25 mile ride still on! My wife and I loaded up the bikes onto the car real quick and headed to the start line.

We were still getting sorted out at the start line when the ride started. We joined in the back, and for the most part had an okay ride. It rained through the ride a fair bit, and we got utterly saturated. At the turnarounf/half-way point, we took a quick rest for drinks and snacks before heading back to the start/finish line. Shortly after that point I came across a lady who was having issues with a flat tire. I stopped to assist, telling my wife to continue and I that I would catch up. Thirty minutes, a broken tube valve and impossibly tight tire to put back on the wheel later, and I was off again. I hooned past everyone to catch my wife, averaging about 33 km/h, but couldn't reach her. I crossed the finish line just fine, picking up my finisher's medal and meeting my wife for some free pasta and beer!

Because we had left the kids with their grandparents back home, we could then enjoy a relaxing afternoon and evening in Corpus. We toured around a bit in the car, and enjoyed a nice seafood dinner at Landry's too. After that we hung out on one of the piers drinking coffee and watching the local fisherman.

The next morning, it was rather nice! We awoke to sunny skies and gentle winds coming in from the Gulf. With a few hours to spare, we popped on our bikes and rode another 25 miles, just for fun. Despite the two flats I got en-route, it was a very nice ride and took our weekend tally up to 50 miles! Not a bad effort!

Next year we'll be back, and the coast shall be conquered!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FOR MORE INFORMATION:
August 4, 2008 Jessica Davila-Burnett
Office: (361) 885-0393
Cell: (361) 877-8435
jessica@epicsportsandentertainment.com
www.conquerthecoast.org

2008 Conquer the Coast™ (CTC) Announces Event Chairman, Title Sponsor, and New Location
Sean Murphy, VP and GM of Andrews Distributing to serve as
CTC Spokesman Conquer the Coast™
Saturday, September 27, 2008 * Whataburger Field * 7:30AM

August 4, 2008 (Corpus Christi, TX): The Fifth Annual Conquer the Coast™, a special event of the Corpus Christi Chamber Foundation, has named Sean Murphy as the 2008 Conquer the Coast Chairman. Murphy is the Vice President and General Manager for Andrews Distributing, and he is a board member of the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce. Murphy will serve as the spokesman for the 65 mile bicycle ride which is scheduled for Saturday, September 27, 2008. Murphy will be responsible for sponsorship development and partnership recruitment; Murphy stated the benefits of sponsoring Conquer the Coast, “Andrews Distributing will continue to support Conquer the Coast because it is a great community event that showcases our area and provides an opportunity for our suppliers to reach one of their key consumers”. The 2008 Conquer the Coast committee members include Sean Murphy, Chairman , Andrews Distributing; Jessica Davila-Burnett, Epic Sports and Entertainment; C. Michelle Peters, Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce; Arthur Haas, Texas A&M Corpus Christi; Joseph Steel, STARRS; David Smith, NuStar Energy; Sharon Yon-Johansson, Stripes; and Krystal Ramirez, Mike Shaw Toyota.

As the event continues to grow with an increased number of participants, CTC boasts partnerships as the key element to the success of the ride. Conquer the Coast, housed under the Corpus Christi Chamber Foundation, has established partnerships with Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Epic Sports and Entertainment, and STARRS (South Texas Area Runners, Riders, and Swimmers). Proceeds from the event benefit the Tarpon Foundation, which provides scholarships for the TAMU-CC Islander Athletics program, the Chamber Foundation (Leadership Corpus Christi). One dollar from each registered rider will be donated to STARRS (a local non-profit). Conquer the Coast has proudly announced the newest and major partner of this year’s event. 2008 title sponsor for Conquer the Coast is NuStar Energy, one of the largest asphalt refiners and marketers in the U.S. and the second largest independent liquids terminal operator in the nation. Other primary sponsors include: Andrews Distributing, Stripes, Mike Shaw Toyota, Corpus Christi Omni Hotels, and the Corpus Christi Hooks. The 2008 CTC event anticipates over 2000 riders from across Texas and Mexico which resulted in the start and finish taking place a Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks. “We’re pleased and honored to be the start and finish for this year’s Conquer the Coast,” said Corpus Christi Hooks President J.J. Gottsch. “With Whataburger Field recently being named the number one minor league sports venue in North America it only makes sense to host an event of this magnitude.”

The 65 mile ride will begin promptly at 7:30 AM and the 25 mile fun ride will start at 8AM. Conquer the Coast™ features a 65 mile ride that encompasses the Corpus Christi Bay including a beautiful sunrise climb over the Harbor Bridge, a route through the coastal communities and fishing villages of Portland, Ingleside, Aransas Pass, and Port Aransas, a ferry ride across the intercoastal canal, a scenic cruise down Padre Island crossing over the JFK Causeway, a tour through Naval Air Station-Corpus Christi and a bike friendly path down Ocean Drive. The 65-mile cyclists will have an opportunity to compete in the Toughest 18-miles in Texas Time Trial along the route. The event also hosts a 25 mile fun ride; this ride is a beautiful cruise along Ocean Dr., one of the most beautiful and prestigious boulevards in Texas. The ride will be managed and coordinated by Epic Sports and Entertainment, local sports marketing firm located in downtown Corpus Christi. Fees:
25 - Mile Cruise: $30.00
65 - Mile Ride: $40.00
65 + Time Trial - Mile Ride: $50.00
Tarpon Foundation
The Tarpon Foundation is the primary fundraising arm of the Intercollegiate Athletic Department at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Membership is made of loyal Islander supporters whom provide financial resources for nearly 200 student-athletes competing in 14 NCAA Division I sports. Tarpon Foundation contributions provide scholarships for young men and women enabling them to succeed in the classroom and during athletic competition. Members enjoy numerous benefits including priority seating and parking at the American Bank Center , newsletters, special invitations, quarterly luncheons, and several other benefits. In order for Islander Athletics to build on its early success, it is essential to develop and maintain a strong base of support.
About the Chamber of Commerce…The Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce is a member-driven organization whose principle mission is to foster business growth by advocating business issues, enhancing the business climate, and providing services to our members. CCCC *1201 North Shoreline Boulevard * Corpus Christi, TX 78401* Phone (361) 881-1800

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