Well, the 2009 Triathlon season has finally come to a close. We did not participate in as many events as last year, only 4, but our season was actually longer. We started our training in January and finished with our A race, the Augusta Half Ironman last Sunday. This was the inaugural event, and the Ironman folks claim it was the largest 70.3 race ever. Whether that is accurate or not, it was a huge field with over 2,800 participants.
This is a picture of the 1.2 mile swim start. There were 25 swim waves that started on the pier and swam down river to the transition area. This was a fast swim due to a slight current and a great way to start our race. 
Ann crushed the swim but her wetsuit zipper broke and would not open, causing her precious time! Even so, she still had a blazing swim split. 
Steve is heading out of T1 trying to figure out where he is going after his best swim ever. 
Speed racer... passing several men... typical males don't want a woman to pass them, so they speed up and try and pass her again, only to delay the inevitable.
Steve looking calm and confident on the bike..."if only I had aero wheels I would be really destroying this bike course!" We did a great job with our bike training as we both held back on the bike and managed very good times with a controlled effort. It is a great feeling when 56 miles seems like an easy distance. Too bad the impending winter will cause us to lose much of our bike fitness and have to build it back up again in the spring.
The 13.1 mile run snaked through FLAT streets of downtown Augusta. This sounded like a great run at first, flat and fast! Surprisingly, the 1.5 mile stretches through town became a mental grind from the monotony. 
The run is where the race is made. Unfortunately, both Steve and Ann did not perform up to their potential. We had decent times but need to figure out how to nail a run that we are capable. More speed work for Steve and back the drawing board for Ann's race day nutrition in 2010. 
Overall, the race itself was a ton of fun, and we will probably sign up for this event again. The entire Stien Mountain Triathlon Team qualified for the USA Triathlon National Championships next fall! Ann Hattamer, Donovan, Ann and Steve all had PR's (John did a full Ironman two weeks prior so PR was not expected). In fact, Donovan popped off such a fast race that we are waiting for the drug test results to see if it actually counts.
Again, we have to thank Grandma Moe for watching all three kids overnight back in ATL so that we could do the race. I wonder who expended more energy???
Our annual trip to Western North Carolina for the Lake Logan Triathlon was this past weekend. As most of you know, this race is dedicated to Todd, as the men's overall winner trophy bears his name as the inaugural overall champion. The usual crew from the Stien Mountain Triathlon Team participated. Ann, Steve, John, Ann H, Donovan, Amale, and Trevor. It was a stellar day all the way around. The race continues to grow and to be a well run event with over 600 participants. The weather was perfect, with a high of 78 and very little humidity making for ideal race conditions. Once again, the Stien kids carried the team and tamed the olympic distance course. John took 2nd overall with a blazing 2:02 time and Ann smoked the swim and bike on the way to taking 1st in her age group. Ann H, Donovan and Steve all had PR's and were pleased with their efforts.
Western NC is a beautiful location and makes for one of the best race venues that we see all year.
Here is a photo of part of the swim course. You are probably wondering by now if Steve was finally able to beat Ann in a triathlon. It you are keeping score, they have gone head to head 6 times with Ann victorious each and every time. On paper, this was Steve's race to win... if only it took place on paper! Ann had the second fastest swim overall and put 9 minutes on Steve resulting in the same old story... Steve frantically killing himself on the bike and run only to come up 2 minutes short! Adding insult to injury, the kids ended the day with..."mommy won, but daddy didn't."
Steve, realizing that his swim was 3 minutes slower than he planned and was in real trouble....
Hey, which way to the bike course?
The girls waiting for their mom to exit the bike...
Here she comes ready to roll... Ann had a great bike, dropping almost 8 minutes off last years time. All of her sneaking out for secret bike training paid off.
John looking determined to go for the win.
With just yards to the finish line, Stiv is working hard hold his place.
Here's the team, post race.
Super grandpa!
Grandpa keep the kids busy in the luxurious Best Western pool Friday night, while Steve took a quick nap with Abby.
Jackson and Catie loved Trevor's dog Ninja, but they know their chances of having one of their own are slim as "Daddy does not like dogs..."
Jax and Ann accepting the age group award.
After the race, we headed to the cabin in Hiawassee. Abby was exploring and ran into the bear below... just kidding.
Grandpa and Uncle John are obsessed with feeding the animals and always manage to reel in some good ones! John kept telling the kids that the bear would come in the cabin at night after us, so Jackson made a "NO Bears Allowed" sign and hung it in the window. It worked great as the bears stayed outside.
Here's Jackson with Uncle John. Guess he is going to have to figure out which way the helmet goes if he is going to be a future biker!
Well, the 2009 Triathlon season has finally come to a close. We did not participate in as many events as last year, only 4, but our season was actually longer. We started our training in January and finished with our A race, the Augusta Half Ironman last Sunday. This was the inaugural event, and the Ironman folks claim it was the largest 70.3 race ever. Whether that is accurate or not, it was a huge field with over 2,800 participants.
This is a picture of the 1.2 mile swim start. There were 25 swim waves that started on the pier and swam down river to the transition area. This was a fast swim due to a slight current and a great way to start our race. 
Ann crushed the swim but her wetsuit zipper broke and would not open, causing her precious time! Even so, she still had a blazing swim split. 
Steve is heading out of T1 trying to figure out where he is going after his best swim ever. 
Speed racer... passing several men... typical males don't want a woman to pass them, so they speed up and try and pass her again, only to delay the inevitable.
Steve looking calm and confident on the bike..."if only I had aero wheels I would be really destroying this bike course!" We did a great job with our bike training as we both held back on the bike and managed very good times with a controlled effort. It is a great feeling when 56 miles seems like an easy distance. Too bad the impending winter will cause us to lose much of our bike fitness and have to build it back up again in the spring.
The 13.1 mile run snaked through FLAT streets of downtown Augusta. This sounded like a great run at first, flat and fast! Surprisingly, the 1.5 mile stretches through town became a mental grind from the monotony. 
The run is where the race is made. Unfortunately, both Steve and Ann did not perform up to their potential. We had decent times but need to figure out how to nail a run that we are capable. More speed work for Steve and back the drawing board for Ann's race day nutrition in 2010. 
Overall, the race itself was a ton of fun, and we will probably sign up for this event again. The entire Stien Mountain Triathlon Team qualified for the USA Triathlon National Championships next fall! Ann Hattamer, Donovan, Ann and Steve all had PR's (John did a full Ironman two weeks prior so PR was not expected). In fact, Donovan popped off such a fast race that we are waiting for the drug test results to see if it actually counts.
