Number 7!

The Malibu Nautica Triathlon Presented by Toyota, aka Race Number Seven, was a pretty grand day. Absolutely no regrets (despite some grumbling when I initially signed up) and in fact, some distinctively fond memories. Let's do the play-by-play.

Nate, David, and I drove down to LA on Friday. We took 101 so we could go straight to Zuma Beach for the race check-in, which is exactly what we did. After getting packets, swim caps, etc. and confirming via phone that both Pam and Geoff (the latter being the third and final Lazy Mofo) were either in LA or en route, we headed to Nate's mom's new rental pad on the West side, where we were graciously hosted for the weekend.

Andrea cooked up some scrumptious pre-race pasta, which we scarfed, then we crossed our fingers, set our alarms, and hit the hay.

4am arrived rather quickly. We had a quick bite of carbs and protein and packed the car to head over to Malibu. Just past the race start, we finally found a Starbucks that was open at that early hour, and it was double luck, because there were some super convenient secret free parking spots in a residential block just beyond the caffeine station. Score!

Over at transition, we got body marked, found Pam, and the Lazy Mofos did some fast and furious team bonding. Before we knew it, an enormous cannon (which we were standing right beside, yowsers!) signaled the race start. Nate and I happened to be in the same heat (apparently women my age and relay competitors get grouped together) so we took a quick dip and lined up to swim.

Our swim was great! Perfect conditions. Nate and I were able to keep each other within sight for a while, but ultimately, all the bodies in the water became a blur. The ocean was clear, the temperature was in the mid-60s, and the swell was small. I even rode a little wave on my way back into the beach :0)

The bike was a 13-mile-out, 13-mile-back up PCH. I saw both Pam and David while cycling. It was a lovely temperature and the road just rolls up and down with nothing scary nor nothing boring along the way. I made great time.

The run was also quite nice. We ran along the ocean, basically on a 3-mile-out, 3-mile-back strip. I did NOT see Geoff, because apparently he was going fast, rather than staying true to his Lazy Mofo credo. I did see Pam and she looked strong. I finished with a leap and a twirl across the finish line (fingers crossed the race camera caught it) and was delighted to see I had finished in 3 hours, 15 minutes! Wow! Maybe I should include three weeks of relaxing international travel in every race preparation plan.

Later in the day, we high-browed it and went shopping on Melrose (I admit, it was my request). I had to skip Fred Segal because I was shopping with two males; however, we found a great hat shop where David and I got matching Strollers (see the super cute photos). That evening, we did team cooking in Andrea's apartment and had some salmon, beet salad, and mushroom risotto (I really seem to be focusing on the food, don't I?). We went to bed E-A-R-L-Y.

Sunday morning, we went to Hillside Memorial to see Joey's grave. I remembered the time Nate, Joey, and I went to the diner in the middle of the night to get something to eat and Joey, who was perpetually broke at that time, only had enough money for half a piece of pie. Nate and I laughed about that until we cried and then, well, we just cried. But I'm glad we went. I wish I could hear Joey tell me just one more joke about pirates, or anything at all, just to hear his voice.

David and I drove up 101 and got home by dinner time. We parted ways, I picked up Penny, unpacked, and sat down to blog it all out.

Stay tuned for future events.

Malibu Triathlon