Quick trip to see Lindsey

Last April, prior to the Paris Olympics, I made the trip to New York City to attend the Team USA Media Summit, which was a great chance to hear from multiple athletes across multiple sports ahead of the Summer Olympics. I really enjoyed the experience and was looking forward to the possibility of Team USA doing a similar event ahead of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.


Team USA announced the Winter Olympics Media Summit for yesterday and today in New York City. Originally, I was psyched to spend a few days with the Winter Olympic athletes until I realized that I was not going to be able to be there. I had committed to being the stage manager for the Village Players production of Sweeney Todd, which was in tech week last week, meaning we had rehearsal every night and being in New York for a couple of days did not fit into that schedule.


I still wanted to be a part of the event, so I registered and then kept an eye on the schedule as to who would be attending. Knowing I had Tuesdays and Wednesdays off from the Yum Yum Shop, I figured I could at least make an appearance there one day for a short period of time.


And when the schedule was announced, Lindsey Vonn appeared on the press conference schedule on Tuesday morning and that’s the day I knew I had to be there. But I was also aware that I probably wouldn’t be able to be there for very long.


For a brief glimpse, this is what the schedule yesterday eventually looked like for me. The wakeup call was 1:35 a.m. and I was out the door by 2 a.m. for the drive to Boston. I parked near South Station and boarded the first Amtrak train out of the station at 5 a.m. The planned arrival was about 10 minutes before 9 a.m., which would put me at the Javits Center about five minutes into Lindsey Vonn’s press conference. However, the train was delayed, and I ended up getting to the venue with about five minutes left in her press conference. I stayed for two more press conferences, including a panel that included New Hampshire’s Caroline Harvey, a member of the US women’s hockey team, before I headed back to Moynihan Hall for an 11 a.m. train back to Boston. The train arrived at 3:30 p.m., I got in the car and headed north amongst the traffic on Route 1 and got to rehearsal (with a brief stop) at 6:05 p.m., just in time to get Sweeney Todd under way.


Every day is a long day in my world, but that was a lot of train travel. I spent just about two hours in the city and more than eight hours on the train. But I did get to see Lindsey Vonn and I made it to my commitment at the theater.


Today marks 100 days until the start of the Milan-Cortina Olympics and as part of the Team USA Media Summit there was a special ceremony at the Empire State Building (I attended a similar ceremony in April of last year). Personally, it also made me realize that I need to book a flight to Milan soon. I sent the final payment for my accommodations and have spent some time perusing the most recent publications regarding the media services and facilities available to us once we arrive.


The sixth Olympic experience is right around the corner. Time to start preparing a bit more I guess.


I had the chance to see Lindsey Vonn's press conference at the Team USA Media Summit on Tuesday.

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