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!
...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!