Malibuuuuuu Triathlon 2007

What a beau-ti-ful California weekend just perrrrfect for racing!! I was also very excited to spectate and volunteer this year because the race came just before our big MACCA club meeting which would happen just the day after... so, there was so much added excitement going into the weekend festivities... This photo illustrates the 3,200 athletes clamouring for their race packets. The energy was awesome!

My brother, Jesse, and his girlfriend, Sarah drove over to hang out with me for a short bit while I was in Malibu helping out at packet-pick-up. We took a break from expo-set-up to take a snap for the fam. And, no, I'm not that short... Jess is just THAT TALL! He's 6'4".

4:45 am on a Sunday Morning... Where are you? Well..... us Triathletes like to get up early (wait, did I say we LIKED IT?... ah, no....)... but, to beat the crowd, here we are... Race-day morning. PAUL volunteered in front of the transition area!!

Triathlon Powerhouses -- Scott "Tanner" Fairchild (as we called him in College) with the venerable Bob Babbitt of Competitor Magazine and Competitor Radio.

Go CAF!!

How freaking CUTE are Beth & Lawrence??? Totally DECKED in LATC... Love the spirit (and the people)!!

Swim Start. Just awesome.

This IS MALIBUUUUUUU, Baby! Seriously, how lucky are we to live here?

Ladies & Gentlemen, the WINNER of the 2007 Malibu Triathlon... Even covered from the Air... Chris Foster!!

A few top pro's in the house.... Mr. Chris "Macca" McCormack himself! He'll be gunning for the top spot at the World Championships in Kona on Oct. 13th... And, our own, Andrew Lockton.

Last, but not least, I couldn't leave you with Malibu Tri photos and NOT include some Hollywood, after all... Here you have Cat 1/2 cyclist Mark-Paul Gosselaar (of Saved by the Bell fame) with Andrew Baldwin (the '07 Bachelor). Both took the top spots in their categories, Mark Paul in the winning men's relay and Andy as the winning celeb individual.

See you next year!

Wildflower 2007

An event weekend unlike any other each season... over 7,500 athletes descend on Lake San Antonio outside of Paso Robles for the weekend of festivities. The campgrounds are PACKED... in many places, back-to-back tent-towns pop up... car camping, RV's... you name it. LA Tri Club always brings a large group to this competitive event -- over 250 this year. We set up home-base in the Redonda Vista E Loop. Our tents, our club store, all mark home. Below, goodies from our sponsor PowerBar, as well as visors from Kate Major, and Marielle Monte's "Girls Gone Wildflower" offerings from our store.

Here are some of my 2007 Camp crew, enjoying a little dinner Friday night. We had a large group of first timers at the event this year.

Marielle and Scooter hanging out in the E-Loop. What Beautiful Weather we had ALL weekend long! (okay, yeah, I heard, the lake was choppy & there was wind on the bike course... but, otherwise...)...

LONG COURSE PRO MEN SWIM START -- check these guys out! Amazing!!

Kenny Sousa and I in transition... he sure helped me out on Saturday!

Saturday Nite Cinco de Mayo dinner with LA Tri Club... over 125 clubbers enjoyed a dinner prepared by our dinner committee. (THANK YOU LADIES and GENTS!)... We also watched Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby after the sun went down. Each year our Sat. night party gets better and better.

Gary rolled into town on Saturday afternoon, since he was going large Sunday in the Olympic distance. Here he is, congratulating Nikki after her strong outing on the Long Course.

The Mintons! Kennedy came in top-10 in her age group with a #9 position! Chris also had an amazing race. Way to go guys! (now, where is that beer??!!)...

Peter Brantly coming in to finish the long course... looking strong!

Ryan and Aaron, Sunday morning --- about to head down to the Olympic race. Side note... Aaron actually WON a KONA slot for '07! I mean, I never hear of anyone ever winning that lottery (that I know)... Awesome Aaron!!

Yep.... that's Luis.... saying Hello in his own special way, to the cheering Clubbers, as he ran by as part of the Tri4Beer relay.

Saying Hi to our own Bachelor (but, no longer, I guess...), Mr. Andy Baldwin.

So, another Wildflower gone-by. I'm already looking forward to next year... maybe I'll actually train myself, and enter the long course in '08... we'll see how the off-season feels. ** Great to see so many buddies out there. WF for me, does feel like a home-away-from-home now.... so many wonderful sponsor relationships and new and old friends always in the campgrounds. Nothing bonds you like camping and racing together!

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!

Andy Baldwin ... ABCs Bachelor!
Taking the lead from Mr. Mitch Thrower >> I'm sending out Congratulations to Andy Baldwin who will be taking on the enormous task of getting to know 25 lovely ladies and looking for a Love Connection with one of them on ABCs The Bachelor in the next season installment.

Andy is a top-notch guy, hard worker, honest and loyal friend, easy going and fun to be around. I highly recommend him to any ladies interested in applying to the show.

I've included some snaps from Andy's adventures here... he's done a good job of keeping in touch when he travels and capturing his trips. There is more on Andy and his volunteer work as a doctor on Mitch Throwers online journal and at Project Active. (above, Andy & his class during pool week at diving training. Below, Andy at '04's Tour de France).

I can't wait to check Andy out on The Show!! Good Luck Andy!!