TarHeelMom
Cathlete
Hey everybody!
Deb, Lorrayne and I have been reading a lot of posts from Forumites who are new to the RT experience and are feeling a little shy and unsure about traveling alone to the RT and not knowing anyone. We wanted to chime in to offer you all some reassurance, because the LAST thing we want is for Road Trip Nerves to cause any of you to hesitate about trying to register.
In our experience having done this now in 2005 and 2007, what you're feeling is very common to new RT'ers. It seems to us that it's very natural to feel a bit shy and nervous when you're venturing off alone to navigate thru an airport you don't know, to a shuttle service you don't know, to a hotel you've never seen, and to spend hours on end with people you've never met and to meet and workout with your favorite instructor. And if you've booked a roommate sight-unseen, add THAT to the YIKES pile!
We ourselves certainly felt a lot of those same things in 2005, our first RT together. We had been "talking" via e-mail for months as we worked together as Coordinators, but we'd never met in person, and Debbie and I had never met Cathe. And, of course, we were nervous about how the weekend -- our "baby" -- would turn out. ;-)
I am not exaggerating at all, y'all, when I say that from the very first moment you lay eyes on another Cathe Road Tripper, all those negative feelings will evaporate. That was the experience we three had, on first meeting each other and then later meeting the 2005 RT'ers. Total exhilaration and downright giddiness replaced all those little creeping doubts, and we felt that way the whole weekend. Meeting Cathe will reassure you, too. She just couldn't be a nicer person, and she knocks herself out all weekend making sure we're all comfortable and cared-for. She is the hostess with the mostest!
One more little traveling tip that might help you all --
Debbie and Lorrayne and I all bought Cathe baby doll T-shirts before the 2005 RT (those original black ones), and we wore them when we flew to Philly. That made it very easy for us to spot each other at the place where we'd planned to meet in the airport. If you wear Cathe gear for your flight into Philadelphia, I guarantee you that when you make your way to the Ground Transportation area for the Rapid Rover shuttle service, you will spot all the other recently-arrived Cathe-ites immediately!
And Jerry, I'm betting the Cathe shirts aren't quite rignt for ya -- you and all the guy RT'ers should buy yourself a Cathe baseball cap! ;-)
I hope this helps and that we'll see ALL of you hitting "SEND" on the registration days coming up!!!!
http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/sport/sport-smiley-003.gif Kathy S. http://planetsmilies.net/sport-smiley-5536.gif
Deb, Lorrayne and I have been reading a lot of posts from Forumites who are new to the RT experience and are feeling a little shy and unsure about traveling alone to the RT and not knowing anyone. We wanted to chime in to offer you all some reassurance, because the LAST thing we want is for Road Trip Nerves to cause any of you to hesitate about trying to register.
In our experience having done this now in 2005 and 2007, what you're feeling is very common to new RT'ers. It seems to us that it's very natural to feel a bit shy and nervous when you're venturing off alone to navigate thru an airport you don't know, to a shuttle service you don't know, to a hotel you've never seen, and to spend hours on end with people you've never met and to meet and workout with your favorite instructor. And if you've booked a roommate sight-unseen, add THAT to the YIKES pile!
We ourselves certainly felt a lot of those same things in 2005, our first RT together. We had been "talking" via e-mail for months as we worked together as Coordinators, but we'd never met in person, and Debbie and I had never met Cathe. And, of course, we were nervous about how the weekend -- our "baby" -- would turn out. ;-)
I am not exaggerating at all, y'all, when I say that from the very first moment you lay eyes on another Cathe Road Tripper, all those negative feelings will evaporate. That was the experience we three had, on first meeting each other and then later meeting the 2005 RT'ers. Total exhilaration and downright giddiness replaced all those little creeping doubts, and we felt that way the whole weekend. Meeting Cathe will reassure you, too. She just couldn't be a nicer person, and she knocks herself out all weekend making sure we're all comfortable and cared-for. She is the hostess with the mostest!
One more little traveling tip that might help you all --
Debbie and Lorrayne and I all bought Cathe baby doll T-shirts before the 2005 RT (those original black ones), and we wore them when we flew to Philly. That made it very easy for us to spot each other at the place where we'd planned to meet in the airport. If you wear Cathe gear for your flight into Philadelphia, I guarantee you that when you make your way to the Ground Transportation area for the Rapid Rover shuttle service, you will spot all the other recently-arrived Cathe-ites immediately!
And Jerry, I'm betting the Cathe shirts aren't quite rignt for ya -- you and all the guy RT'ers should buy yourself a Cathe baseball cap! ;-)
I hope this helps and that we'll see ALL of you hitting "SEND" on the registration days coming up!!!!
http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/sport/sport-smiley-003.gif Kathy S. http://planetsmilies.net/sport-smiley-5536.gif
