Santa Barbara Triathlon Weekend

Man, always an amazing fun time! We had a few hundred LATCers heading north for this weekend triathlon festival. Saturday was long course day... below is the relay SUMMER TIME made up of Paul (bike), me (swim) and Summer (run). We named ourselves Summer Time because Summer was the only one who trained for this offering, since she's prepping for the New York City Marathon!

Rejean took this snap of the roommates before we headed to transition on race morning (about 6am). Dani, me, Andrew & Sid. If we don't look very awake, it's certainly because we aren't yet!

Our LATC cheering DEVILS. Taking Konrad's lead from last year, our cheerleaders dressed as devils and flocked the course to cheer us all on. They were certainly angels to us!

Transition snap. GAME FACES everyone!!

Sherri holding Ryan's bike. I like to call this snap, "ode to a triathlete girlfriend". ; )

Sid, outta the water and tearing up her T1 transition!

Brennan, rockin the old-school LATC tri kit. He says he'll wear it until it literally falls off. I hope I'm around that day, when it does.... any day soon! **I think Bren has been doing this race, among our friends, for the longest streak... like 7-years? Maybe 8?

Lawrence and Beth, pounding the pavement on the run.

Luis, post run glow:

Dani & Rejean, post-race... on our way to dinner. You never know when you might need a tire pump!

Brian makes sure he's ready to ride anytime he goes out... LATC under-shirts! On order! Stay tuned!

Next year, I'll TRAIN, and do the whole race... you read it here... Maybe I'll break 5-hours! Just don't hold me to that!

XTERRA WETSUITS photo shoot

The day after the wedding party, I joined photographer Brooklin Rosenstock of Brooklin Pictures at the beach for a 6:00 am call out along PCH. We were aiming to shoot 3 guys and 3 gals (all LATCers, of course!) for an upcoming national ad for XTERRA. Here is Carly Chamberlin, all smiles, at 6am.
Waiting around is part of any photos shoot... here we are, waiting for better light for the action shots while we all take turns having portraits done.

Our portraits!! Thank you to Andrew Hannan, Stella Tong, then me..., Carly, Mark Evers & Ryan Mondillo for helping XTERRA out with this last minute shoot. These photos, and the next three down from here, are all by Brooklin Pictures.

After the shoot = Ryan and I were all smiles! An early morning, but a lot accomplished. It was quick and really fun.

What ad did XTERRA select for the national ad spot? This one, of Carly solo... looking like the lean, mean, Triathlete she is! Check the October issue of Triathlete for the end-result.

Bali- n' Chain :: Marrielle & Luis Wedding Party

So, they snuck off and got hitched in Bali in June, and when they came home, of course we had to throw a party! Last weekend, we got together with about 100 friends & family at the home of Paul and Sylvia Hekimian, and celebrated the wedding we weren't able to see in person. Below, is a photo from the actual day, in Bali:
Here is a vodka infusion that Marrielle came up with for the wedding party, Sylvia came up with the title, "Bali-n' Chain" which we all had a lot of fun with. Below is the treat with a custom sign I printed up:

Party hosts extraordinaire: Paul & Sylvia (Paul is sipping a little Bali n'Chain!):

Frankie Ribeiro (Konrad & Stef's daughter) toddling around... or, admiring the custom flower arrangements by Syl, Marrielle, me & Kristen.

Party Guests in the backyard, visiting with the new Mr. & Mrs. Canales:

Okay... so, if anyone knows me... they know I'm a nut for Cheesecake!!! And, if anyone knows Paul, they know he used to own a very successful and acclaimed business titled, "Paul's Cheesecakes". For this special occasion, Paul made a trio of cakes which Syl and I are decorating here. Of course, this means I get some extra tastes:

Soon to be wed, Suzy & Jeff on the left, visiting with also, soon to be wed, Summer & Brian at the Firepit:

Summer's Beech Birthday Bash

Whew. A lot of birthdays going around!! Happy Birthday to Summer Bond... we celebrated last night with many friends at Beechwood in Marina del Rey (order the skirt steak). Here she is, happily greeting her cakes just after we sang!
Stella and Heather hamming for the camera:

Girls bathroom trip: me, Sylvia, Michelle & the Birthday Girl!

Note-to-self... don't party too hard the night before you have to wake up at 5 AM to teach SPIN the next morning. Ugh.

Happy Birthday Jason!

All I've got is the top of your beautiful head! But, happy birthday to you... He made some speeches and then blew out the candles in front of friends/family after cooking us all amazing burgers. What-a-guy!

YAS Turns 6!!

YAS : Yoga And Spinning Center in Venice (where I TEACH SPIN on Tues/Thurs mornings at 6:15 am) turned 6!! We had a sidewalk party on Sunday and celebrated with the clients and Venice community.
Here I am with V, one of the most amazing people I know in LA, who I met at YAS.

Rachel, 2nd from the left, just had her APENDIX out and even came to celebrate! Wow. She's a loyal YASie. She's pictured here with one of their buddies on the left, and instructor Myrna on the right & Katie on the far right.

YAS insructor, Denis, with his hot tamale, sipping margies.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVAN HYDE!

Adventure racer and all around beachy guy, Evan Hyde, celebrated his 29th just last week. Happy Birthday to you Evan!! Evan, pictured below, petting his friend, Scott (Scott, by the way, sure knows how to pick a bottle of wine!)...
Evan's main squeeze, and our hostess w/the mostess, Clara:

Here I am with Loren and Scott.