Austin :: Boerne :: Canines, Oh My!Last weekend I had the chance to hop on a plane for Austin to visit old friends Elizabeth and Nikki; as well as spend some time in Boerne with my Dad and his wife Chris. 
It was exciting to be back in my home-state. I love Texas so much, and Austin in particular. I'm especially proud of my Baylor buddy Elizabeth Page Gibson Serrato who opened her own fine jewelry + accessories store in the Austin downtown warehouse district a few years ago -- it's doing so great!! -- Eliza Page. (above: me w/Elizabeth in front of her store & below, the inside, center display).
If you're ever in Austin's downtown 2nd Street area, please stop in! The Austin marathon was also on this weekend, but I didn't get a chance to check it out. It ran in front of E's store, so she and her crew were able to watch the runners fly on by. Sorry I missed that spectacle!
My friend of over 27 years, Nikki, and her husband Frank put me up at their place my first night. I love their house... it's built on this hill overlooking a lush valley-like section of the neighborhood. They've got a killer pool and porch overlooking the whole of the backyard landscaped pool area. They've got two very spoiled Beagles who dote on their loving parents. -- Nikki and I left Frank at home with the Beagles while we went out for sushi and Marble Slab ice cream and catching-up. Nothing like a visit with a friend who's known you you're whole life.
The next morning, Nik drove me out to my Dad's, which is an hour and a half outside Austin (and 45-min outside San Antonio). It's very peaceful at my Dad's -- except for his rowdy pack of dogs!
Dad and Chris have a Great Pyrenees named Fred (above) and two Labradoodles named Biscotti and Cowboy (above). These dogs are equally doted on and each have an array of skills to show off to visitors -- so, all weekend, we threw toys for Biscotti, who is the master-fetcher and watched Cowboy try to dominate all of our attention, while Fred kept us all in-line.
Above, Dad and I in front of he and Chris's favorite tex-mex resturant in Boerne. Below, Biscotti is resting on the couch with Dad after a busy day chasing her ball. Chris and Dad can't sit next to each other on their couch at home because the two Labradoodles require too much attention, so the dogs sit between them. Very funny. I already can't wait for my next visit!! I love you guys!!
The Competitor Magazine Endurance Sports Awards... 
...An event I look forward to each year! 
This years Awards and Acknowledgements included LA Tri Club’s own Liz Kollar as Member of the Year -- Les McDonald, Triathlete Magazine Hall of Fame -- Dean Karnazes, Toyota Male Runner of the Year -- Andy Baldwin, Competitor Magazine Humanitarian Award -- Peter Snell, TYR Running Legend -- Floyd Landis, Competitor Magazine Cyclist of the Year -- Melanie McQuaid, Competitor Magazine Off-Road Triathlete of the Year -- Chris McCormack, Cytomax Male Triathlete of the Year -- Michellie Jones, TYR Female Triathlete of the Year -- Jon “Blazeman” Blais, Ironman Competitor of the Year. (above: Dean Karnazes & his wife with me, Brian, Summer & Brennan)
In addition to this celebrity-studded event, the reception held hundreds of fans, industry reps, local club members and personalities. Our own LA Tri Clubbers represented in force -- not only attending the event, but holding a special event of their own, led by our Member of the Year, Liz Kollar, the, “Not Quite An Ironman”.... (some of the crew, pictured, above; and below, Ian and Jennifer Grandy (the blonde) flanking the Welch's)
What’s that? You might rightfully wonder... well – these brave souls (don’t count me in this mix) swam Saturday morning in Newport (or was it Huntington) Beach, then rode their bikes to San Diego (approx. 100-miles), ATTENDED the ESAs, and then the next morning ran the Pacific Shoreline Marathon (some part, some full). Below, me w/Floyd:
A special shout out to Ian Gonzales, Anna Willis and Frank Boyle who went the entire distance with me, swimming, biking, partying and running for a total event time of 29 hours :)..Frank even ran the MARATHON portion of Pacific Shoreline, so he gets special kudos. Below: Desiree and Michael of the MESP Crew!
Acknowledgements from organizer Liz Kollar: thanks to Mike B, Josh, Larry, Cody, Anna, Ian, Lori, Lawrence, Amy R, Rosalind, Lamar, Joanne and husband David, Jenna, Renata, Barbara, Ginny, Jen, and Bridget - who made the bike ride so much fun... with your great attitudes and sense of adventure... (Max and I, below)
Acknowledgements from organizer Liz Kollar: the great SAG support: Heather and Emily Richards and my daughter Rachel who fed us and kept us hydrated even though their stop at a thrift store - to buy dresses for the awards banquet :) had them arrive at our lunch spot after the first group of riders :)..Beauty before sustenance... (Ian and Anna, below)
The crew reported that Floyd Landis was apparently riding through Camp Pendleton at the same time they were... and waved to our group as we passed him on the roadway... (below, me w/Melanie McQuaid):
All-in-all it was another off-the-hook ESA/San Diego weekend and I can’t wait till next year!
If you're ever in Austin's downtown 2nd Street area, please stop in! The Austin marathon was also on this weekend, but I didn't get a chance to check it out. It ran in front of E's store, so she and her crew were able to watch the runners fly on by. Sorry I missed that spectacle!
My friend of over 27 years, Nikki, and her husband Frank put me up at their place my first night. I love their house... it's built on this hill overlooking a lush valley-like section of the neighborhood. They've got a killer pool and porch overlooking the whole of the backyard landscaped pool area. They've got two very spoiled Beagles who dote on their loving parents. -- Nikki and I left Frank at home with the Beagles while we went out for sushi and Marble Slab ice cream and catching-up. Nothing like a visit with a friend who's known you you're whole life.
The next morning, Nik drove me out to my Dad's, which is an hour and a half outside Austin (and 45-min outside San Antonio). It's very peaceful at my Dad's -- except for his rowdy pack of dogs!
Dad and Chris have a Great Pyrenees named Fred (above) and two Labradoodles named Biscotti and Cowboy (above). These dogs are equally doted on and each have an array of skills to show off to visitors -- so, all weekend, we threw toys for Biscotti, who is the master-fetcher and watched Cowboy try to dominate all of our attention, while Fred kept us all in-line.
Above, Dad and I in front of he and Chris's favorite tex-mex resturant in Boerne. Below, Biscotti is resting on the couch with Dad after a busy day chasing her ball. Chris and Dad can't sit next to each other on their couch at home because the two Labradoodles require too much attention, so the dogs sit between them. Very funny. I already can't wait for my next visit!! I love you guys!!
