This Appeared on Skynet and Newsreal today 10/7/9

With the Yangtze River Delta as the backdrop, hundreds of airline employees from around the world recently gathered in China for the annual World Airline Road Race (WARR), a weekend of networking, camaraderie and friendly competition.
United, represented by a team of 20 competitors and their supporters, took home multiple trophies during this year's WARR activities in Hangzhou, located in southeastern China about 110 miles from Shanghai.
"It was fabulous," exclaimed Isabella de Matos, senior staff analyst-Line Maintenance, San Francisco, who placed second in her age group and brought home a trophy for United. "The people, the culture, the food, sites to see, the people! Did I mention the people?"
Altogether, 65 airlines -- from ANA to Volaris -- were represented at this year's WARR activities. Teams, ranging in size from one to 60 members, participated in 5K and 10K races, with heats organized according to age group.
Along with the races, participants viewed airline exhibits, enjoyed social events and took sightseeing tours. One popular activity is the annual best t-shirt competition, during which teams don specially designed t-shirts representing their airlines. They then trade those shirts for those of other WARR participants.
Most members of United's team used our travel privileges to get to the event. Ron Maxwell, a gate controller at Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and United's team captain, took the non-stop flight from ORD to Shanghai and then a high-speed train to Hangzhou. For the return trip, Ron traveled on China Eastern to Beijing and then onto Chicago on United.
"After the race weekend, we had 'post WARR' in Beijing," says Ron, who is just starting a five-year term as international chairman of WARR. "There were about 20 of us who saw the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. This was my first trip to China so it was pretty much on the go."
Ron is already busy organizing next year's WARR event in London, England, starting on September 25, 2010. He invites all United employees who enjoy running to participate next year. He hopes United will be represented by 60 runners. For more information, visit the WARR Web site at worldairlineroadrace.org.
Isabella, a "WARRior" since 1991, offers some advice for her colleagues who are thinking about joining United's WARR team:
"Participate in the entire adventure," she says. "Go to the meet and greet party. Load up on United's special WARR t-shirts for the t-shirt swap. Bring airline memorabilia to share with new airline friends. And if you don't run, then walk, because every registered airline employee that crosses the finish line counts. And don't miss the awards banquet dinner -- it's a great way to say 'see you next year' to your new friends from all corners of the world."