Nautica Malibu Triathlon - Olympic Distance - TriathlonOlympic

Water was warm but the surf was insane! I've been swimming at Zuma in the summers since 2007 and I've raced on this swim course (800m sprint or the Oly) 12 previous times and never once had the conditions approached this. I was in the 7th start wave and we watched the preceding waves with amazement as they struggled (and often failed) to get through surf that was clearly 8-10 feet. Lifeguards had their hands full, pulling people out who freaked out or just had to give up.

I went way up the beach to enter the water as the current was just surging swimmers way north of the shortest line out to the first buoy. Heading into the water, I dolphined under the first massive wave as it broke--as I'd done dozens of times over the years with no problems--and was grabbed and thrown back to the beach! This happened two more times...just when I thought I'd be emerging out the backside of the wave, the surf grabbed and pinwheeled me like a ragdoll. I could see why people were freaking out and giving up.

Finally just stood up and watched for a momentary lull. When one happened, the lifeguard nearest to me was yelling for everyone to "Go! Go! Go!" Got through that time and made a beeline for the first turn buoy.

Rest of the swim was pretty uneventful, although the swell was high for the 2nd half of the course and I got more seawater in my mouth than normal. Swim in and a couple body surf opportunities were anticlimactic.

Nothing...the kind of conditions that showed you that the ocean is the boss, no matter how much you've swum in her.

As a concession to my stress fracture, I parked a pair of Oofos glides at the entrance to transition...I had a VERY long run to my rack. Definitely help protect the foot, although it cost me a bit of time (including when the left one slipped off halfway to my bike). Then I not only had my left cuff stuck on my heel but it caught on the Velcro strap for my timing chip band. All of the above cost me--easily--a minute.

Nothing...the stuck cuff was really frustrating, but just had to work through it.

Uneventful...right at my target of 20 mph or better.

Left hip...which was a concern going in...tightened up with 5 miles to go.

Nothing.

2nd fastest T2 in age group. No issues...although I had to build up to a run in my MTB shoes getting off the bike because of the foot injury.

Nothing.

Oy. After the lower back and hip had gotten tight, it was almost inevitable that my left hamstring would go next. I had problems with it through much of 2017 and so I recognized the signs. REALLY had to focus on that in order for it not to blow up...which meant not babying the right foot injury as much as I'd hoped...had to engage glutes and hip flexors more than usual to protect the hammie...which meant more flexing and impact for my feet. Stress fracture was okay for 4 miles, but it hurt the last 2.

Nonetheless, I killed the run...fastest run in my age group by almost 1:30.

Not race on a stress fracture in foot?

Had to find a place to sit and take off right shoe. No apparent worsening of stress fracture...just set back to the original condition...as my ortho predicted. No notable swelling and no discoloration...just hurt in the same spot it had at the original injury.

Real-time results had me on the 5-deep podium for my AG, but when they announced the medals, I wasn't listed. When I checked into it, they said they added in the 2nd place finisher, who'd had a legit finishing time, but was missing his bike split in the online data. Adding him bumped me from 5th to 6th of 47. Still not bad for racing injured and 12 hours after getting home from the funeral.


Lack of conditioning from taking off running and lap swimming for three weeks after stress injury to metatarsal...plus the pain from the injury and the hamstring threatening to blow up.


The Malibu sprint distance ("Classic") race was my very first triathlon in 2007 and I've raced every year since. The race is one of the biggest short course events in the US and offers a taste of what the vibe at an Ironman is like. Definitely a premier destination tri for a short-course enthusiast.