2008 Retreat


It's A Wrap!

The third annual ICTN Camp was a huge success. We are so glad that you all joined us!

Special thanks to all our sponsors, pros and coaches who made it possible.


Group Photo


Photo Album

Click here to see pictures of the 2008 camp! If anyone has more pictures to share, email them to Sandy for posting. Please no huge files. :-)


Audio Files and Handouts

If you missed any sessions or just want a recap, check out the resources below:


Retreat Update - January 21,2008


Camper Checklist

The FRC is a retreat center so in order to maintain that atmosphere for all of their guests, they do not provide things like TVs, radios, telephones, refrigerators, or alarm clocks in the guest rooms. We know you all will probably be too busy to even miss a TV or radio, but some of you may need an alarm clock. Additionally, for those who have enough hair to worry about (sorry Chris Anderson, I couldn't resist!), you may want to bring a hair dryer. Soap is provided in the bathrooms, but you will need to bring all your own toiletries like shampoo, conditioner and lotion. And you WILL want lotion or some kind of moisturizer because this is the desert! If you happen to forget anything, you can always borrow from another camper, or the FRC bookstore may also have what you need.

To help you remember things you may need, here's a checklist of suggested items.

  • Bible
  • Note pad
  • Alarm clock
  • Toiletries (to include shampoo and lotion)
  • Bikes (optional)—include bike clothing (long sleeve jersey and vest or light jacket only required, may want arm/leg/toe warmers), helmet, shoes, glasses, tools, tubes. 
  • Run gear—include long sleeve top, gloves.  Shoes (trail shoes optional), clothing.
  • Swim gear—swim toys not needed but we don’t have many.  Bring a towel or two.
  • Hot tub swim suit - The FRC has a hot tub that will be heated and ready to use at all times during the camp.  For those who may be a bit shy just lounging around in your Speedos, or for those who may be a bit shy about watching you lounge around in your Speedos, you may want to bring something else for the hot tub.  :-)
  • A jacket (if you are from Canada or the Midwest) or a parka, mittens, long johns  and earmuffs (if you are from Arizona) to keep warm in the evenings.  We're planning a BBQ for Saturday evening, so bring clothes that will keep you warm in upper 40 to upper 50 degree temps.
  • Bike computer & running watch if desired

Local commuter campers:

  • Bike pump (with your name on it) so the travelers won’t need to bring theirs.
  • Towels for showering between workouts and for the pool.  We have showers available in two of the common area rooms, and if necessary, commuters may also use showers in another camper's room.

What you will NOT need:

  • Workout and recovery nutrition.  Thanks to Steve Born and Hammer, we have all that covered!
  • Snacks.  The FRC provides three full meals each day, and we will have a hospitality room with a refrigerator with healthy snacks, Hammer products, and coffee that will be available throughout the camp.  Additionally, there are refrigerators in a few of the other meeting room areas and another room with small kitchenette and a single serving coffee dispensing machine that will be available 24/7.

Retreat Update - January 18, 2008


Camp is just one week away!

Wow, can you believe it's almost here? We hope everyone is doing well and you are all making final preparations for joining us at the beautiful Franciscan Renewal Center next week. As you are getting your bikes ready, pulling together all your swim and run gear, don't forget to take care of your health. Colds and flu have been running rampant across the country, so please make sure you are getting plenty of rest and water this coming week. Especially for those of you who are traveling, take extra care to make sure your immune system is strong for the trip. Picking up some cold-defense supplements at the drug store might be a good idea too.

Phoenix Weather Update

It's been a bit chilly (okay, downright cold for us desert dwellers) here in the Phoenix area. Here is the 10-day forecast for the FRC zip code. Daytime temps should be perfect for workouts, but the evenings, early mornings and overnight temps will be in the 30s and 40s, so be sure to pack accordingly. For you Canadians and Mid-Westerners, that probably means shorts and flip-flops, but we Arizonians are getting out our parkas and wetsuits!

Transportation

Those needing transportation from the airport, please make sure that Phil has all your travel information. He will be contacting everyone who has requested travel in the next few days with any last-minute details.

Thursday night home stay requests

All who requested home stays for Thursday night should have been contacted by Sandy by now with your home stay host information. If you requested a home stay and have not heard from her yet, please contact Sandy as soon as possible so we can get you taken care of. Additonally, there is probably still room at the Franciscan Renewal Center for Thursday night if any of you think you would like to do that. You can contact them directly at (480) 948-7460, or toll free (800) 356-3247 to check availability and arrange a stay for Thursday night.

Arriving at the FRC

For those of you who will be arriving to the FRC on Thursday, Monica and the rest of the FRC staff will help you get checked in and settled. Your Thursday night stay includes meals, so depending on your arrival time, feel free to enjoy food in the dining room. See the FRC staff for meal times. There will also be FCA team members and some of the ICTN planning team around already as well. So if you need anything, just let FRC staff know, or grab one of us as you see us.

Securing bikes and other gear

We will have a room designated for bikes and other equipment that will remain locked to hold your gear until you check in, or for commuter campers who will not have a room. Once you check into your room, we suggest you keep your equipment locked in your room. The FRC cannot be held responsible lost or stolen equipment. Of course, we do not expect this to be a problem, but it never hurts to be careful.

Still have questions?

If you have any remaining questions about anything, please feel free to ask. You can contact ICTN leadership here, or you can put a question or comment out to the entire ICTN community here through our ICTN Google group.


Retreat Update – December 26, 2007


Merry Christmas!

We sincerely hope that everyone had a blessed Christmas and had the opportunity to celebrate Christ's birth with loved ones! The camp is now just one month away, and Santa's elves (okay Brian Grasky and his team) have been working feverishly to get workouts put together and a schedule of events drafted.

Schedule of Events is Here!

Click here to open the schedule in PDF. This should help everyone plan for workouts (types offered and how many) and give a general idea of what will happen when. We don't anticipate the schedule changing much, but we may need to adjust things as the camp gets closer.


Retreat Update – November 26, 2007


Early Registration Pricing Extended!

The early registration price of $375 has been extended, so you now have extra time to sign up for the discounted price!
http://www.thecasa.org/programdetails.asp?event_id=296

Refund Policy Reminder

When you register, please note that the ICTN refund policy only allows a partial refund of $150 for any cancellations made by Thanksgiving. This is different than the policy that the FRC posts for their other events, and since they use the same registration form for all events, you may see their policy listed. We apologize for any confusion this may cause!

Even though our refund policy is only for partial refund, and the deadline of Thanksgiving has already passed, transferring registrations is perfectly OK! If you find that you cannot attend the camp and you have already registered, try and find someone to take your slot and reimburse you! That way you can get your money back from them, and they will get to attend the camp.

Travel Arrangements

It's probably a good time for out-of-towners to be making your travel arrangements! Because we are starting so early on Friday morning, we suggest getting into town on Thursday. Options of staying at the FRC or home stays for Thursdays are available. Please see the info here.


Retreat Update – November 6, 2007


Announcing the 2008 Speaker Lineup!

We feel so incredibly blessed to have such an outstanding group of Pros and Speakers lined up for the 2008 camp. Check out this amazing list and click the links to read their bios!

XTERRA/Off-Road Triathlon Workouts Added to Camp Schedule!

It's official! We WILL be offering Xterra/Off-Road Triathlon workouts to the camp this year along with the usual workouts. With Xterra Pro Jamie Whitmore, Xterra Regional champ Brian Grasky, and top mountain biker and Xterra expert bike mechanic Courtney Cardenas with us, how could we not?! Stay tuned for more specific workout information!

Commuter Rate Slots Available Now

A limited number of Commuter Rate slots for the camp are available for $225 per camper.

The ultimate goal of the 2008 camp is for everyone to stay onsite at the FRC because we really believe that the benefit of the retreat experience is much more impactful if campers commit to staying onsite, totally immersing themselves into the retreat. However, we do recognize that there are some local people who will not have the luxury (due to child care or other needs) to leave home for the whole weekend.

It is our sincere hope that all who are able can make the commitment to staying onsite, truly "retreating" into the camp, and leaving the worries and cares of life behind for 48-72 hours to let the Holy Spirit move. But for those who would not be able to attend the camp if staying onsite was the only option, we offer the Commuter Rate option. When registering, just note in the comments that it is a Commuter Rate registration, and the amount owed will be $225 per camper. Register here: http://www.thecasa.org/programdetails.asp?event_id=296


Retreat Update – October 17, 2007


Plenty of rooms available at the FRC for the Thursday before the camp!

For all of you who are coming to the camp from outside the Phoenix area, we have a few options for you for Thursday night. Because the camp starts first thing Friday morning, we'd like to encourage everyone who is coming in from out of town to arrive on Thursday so you'll be in town and rested for Friday morning. We know that spending more money on lodging Thursday may not be possible for everyone, so here is what we can offer:

Franciscan Renewal Center - For those who would like to get checked into the FRC on Thursday and not have to deal with that on Friday, we just found out that we have plenty of rooms available for anyone who needs them! And, the FRC has offered the very generous double-occupancy rate of $80 (per person) which includes room and meals on Thursday. That is an amazing rate! If you need a room on Thursday, just be sure to note that when you register and add the $80 per person to the registration fee. If you've already registered, just call the FRC at (480) 948-7460, or toll free (800) 356-3247 and have your registration amended.

Home Stays! - Our home stay program the past two years was a very positive part of the camp and many great relationships were built when folks opened up their homes to campers. Since we got the opportunity to move the camp to the Franciscan Renewal Center, home stays were no longer needed for the camp. That left many of the home stay hosts a bit sad that they wouldn't be seeing their campers this year. :-( However, since Thursday is not an official "camp" day, costs for a Thursday night stay at the FRC were not built into the camp price. This gives us the opportunity to offer home stays once again for the night before camp begins for as many campers as we have home stay hosts! If anyone desires a home stay for Thursday night, please contact Sandy at sandy.plentzas@gmail.com as soon as possible so she can match you up with a home stay host.

Shipping Your Bike

Kevin to the rescue! Once again, Kevin Weitzel from Tribe Multisport will receive your bikes and deliver them to the camp at no charge. If you desire Kevin's folks to assemble your bike, there is a nominal $20 charge for that. For sending it home, he can repack it for another $20 (this does not include shipping costs). Just send an email to Kevin at kevin@tribemultisport.com and let him know you will be shipping your bike and whether you would like it assembled or not.

Tribe Multisport Address:
1800 N. Scottsdale Rd., Ste 5
Scottsdale, AZ 85257
http://www.tribemultisport.com/


Retreat Update – October 8, 2007


Distinguished Guests Announced!

We feel very blessed to be able to announce that the following special guests will be joining us in January! Keep checking back as we will have information on even more special guests soon.

Chris Lieto - Chris is competing for the Ironman Championships in Kona this weekend!

Jamie Whitmore - Jamie just won the Xterra Nationals in Lake Tahoe last week and will be competing in the Xterra World Championships in Maui on October 28th!

Steve Born - Back by popular demand, Steve the nutrition expert and Furnace Creek 508 Champion from Hammer Nutrition will be here and we will make sure to give him a big room and plenty of time for his popular presentations!

Registration

Regular registration began August 15th, 2007 and the first price increase is next month already. Prices go up on Thanksgiving, so don't delay!
Registration is being handled through the Franciscan Renewal Center’s web site.
Register here: http://www.thecasa.org/programdetails.asp?event_id=296


Retreat Update – August 2, 2007


Workout/Session Information

What kind of training will the camp offer?
As far as workouts are concerned, there will be led workouts and some (maybe minimal) time for training on your own. Swim, bike, and run workouts will be broken into groups based on ability level, and will be led by world-class athletes and coaches. Generally, each day will have one or two workouts, and one of the bike routes is at least partially the IM AZ course.

What else will be offered?
The workouts have received much positive feedback over the past two years, and we expect them to be even better in 2008! The workouts, however, are not the main focus of the camp. The camp is split between classroom sessions led by coaches, pro and elite athletes, and pastors; workouts led by the same; and worship and fellowship. Being that we will be housed together onsite, we anticipate being able to offer more in the way of evening sessions, more opportunities to fellowship with new friends, reunite with old friends from previous years, and opportunities for some one-on-one time with our coaches, pastors, and pro and elite athletes in attendance. Check back with us regularly to see more updates on the session topics we have planned!

Venue!

No more moving from location to location for meetings and sessions!
We are so excited about our new venue, the beautiful Franciscan Renewal Center! The FRC sits on 25 acres in the heart of the Scottsdale/Paradise Valley resort district. It has plenty of meeting rooms, a dining facility, prayer chapels, and a fantastic FRC staff to help us with whatever we need. And best of all, it will be ALL ours for the entire weekend!

A true camp atmosphere!
One of the greatest benefits to this new venue is that we'll all get to stay on site together. The rooms at the FRC are double-occupancy, all with private baths. No more needing to be shuttled to and from the camp sessions from hotels or home stay homes!

More bang for your buck!
Not having the logistical issues of years past will allow us to pack more into our time together. Early morning workout options, evening sessions around the bonfire, trail run workouts in the neighboring mountain preserve, and private meetings with camp pastors are all ideas that this new venue allows us to consider. We are so excited about the possibilities! Please visit this site often in the coming months to learn more about what we are working on for the 2008 camp.

Pricing

Speaking of bucks, how much is all this going to cost?
Here is a sampling of what is included in the cost:

  • Lodging for Friday to Sunday (based on double-occupancy) at the beautiful Franciscan Renewal Center
  • All meals during the camp
  • Daily workouts led by world-class athletes and coaches
  • Instructional and informational fitness, nutrition and health sessions also led by world-class athletes, coaches or other industry professionals
  • Camp Goodie Bag filled with all kinds of great stuff!

Last, but certainly not least...

  • Spiritual feeding! Our camp pastors are amazing men of God who are also accomplished triathletes. They have hearts to reach all for Christ and their inspirational talks have been favorite sessions for many of the campers in the past years. Providing an atmosphere to help each camper develop a closer relationship with Christ is the priority of the camp, and we will have many, many opportunities for spiritual feeding.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Franciscan Renewal Center, we are able to keep the price per camper at $375 for everything listed above!

Can we come to town early and check out the area?
Extra nights at the Franciscan Renewal Center before the camp may be reserved at the rate of $80 per night as space is available. This could provide you with extra days to check out the local area and maybe even preview the nearby Ironman Arizona course on your own!

Financial Assistance

We have been fortunate enough in the past to be able to offer financial assistance or reduced rate registrations to campers in need of help. We are praying that God blesses us with the ability to continue to offer some limited financial assistance in 2008 through donations to the ICTN Camp Scholarship Fund.

How could someone help with that?
So glad you asked! One of our ministry partners, FCA Endurance, has offered to accept tax-deductible donations on behalf of the ICTN Camp Scholarship Fund! Just follow these easy steps:

  • Go to: https://secure.teamfca.net/fcaendurance/GiveOnline.lsp
  • Select Desired Use of Donation of "FCA Endurance" <-- this is very important!
  • Under Special Instructions, write "ICTN Camp Scholarship"
  • or... Mail a check made out to FCA Endurance with "ICTN Camp Scholarship" in the Memo field to:
    Chris Anderson
    Executive Director, FCA Endurance
    South Metro MN Area Representative
    1405 E. 131st St.
    Burnsville, MN 55337

FCA will send a receipt in the mail.

How can I be sure to get the news?
You can subscribe to our Google group/mailing list by entering your email address in the box at the left of the screen. This group is moderated to protect your privacy and to help keep unwanted email to a minimum.

And again, keep checking back here often! We'll post new information regularly as we have it.

Looking forward to seeing you in January 2008!

Blessings,
Your 2008 Camp Planning Team