LA Tri Club presents MACCA

091707. The LA Tri Club brought world champ triathlete, Chris McCormack, into town to address a room full of 300 athletes last Monday night. I admit, I've got quite a crush on the Aussie (married, father of two!)! Super charming, fun, laid-back... and, a KICK ASS-WORLD CLASS talent... Of course, all eyes will be on him at the World Championships in Kona on Oct. 13th.
This is what The Bird looks like, when filled with 300 Clubbers and Friends. I can't even fit everyone in my camera lens!

Bob Babbitt of Competitor Magazine and Competitor Radio interviewed Macca Q&A style, which worked great, since Bob probably knows more or as much about Triathlon as anyone else in-the-know. He asked some insightful questions and, judging by the silence in the room during the talk, everyone found Macca riveting.

Paul and Peggy with the team from TriFIT and TruYOGA, Bernard, Gina and Todd with the TriFIT munchkin.

Clubbers, visiting before sitting down for dinner.

Dinner at The Bird with Friends. Some of the best times!

Macca sponsor, Specialized, sent us a few VERY-FANCY bikes to admire. Sweeetttt!

LATC Sponsor, Toyota, was in the house, seen here below with some members enjoying their set-up. Additionally, LATC sponsors: PowerBar, Arrowhead Waters, Dr. Peter A Fields, Brentwood Spine+Sport, LA Sports Massage, Galaxy Granola, Generic Events, TriAthletix Coaching, Team in Training, Renegade Racing, Biotene, PhaseIV, Forester Physical Therapy, Pro Physical Therapy, Xterra Wetsuits, TriathlonBags.com, Evolution Physical Therapy, Tri-ZONE, Easton & Rudy Project.... Yep... packed house! Thank you to EVERYONE.

LATC Meeting ROCK! You're welcome to join for the next one... all our meetings are open to members and non-members... Just visit http://www.latriclub.com/ and click on the Calendar for what's going on with the club and our 1,455 members. ; )

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!

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!