FCA ENDURANCE - South Metro Atlanta Team

Fellow Christian Teammates,
Just wanted to pass along a report from the Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon (Olympic / International Distance). What an outstanding showing and representation from FCA Endurance huddle groups from North Atlanta, Huntsville and Savannah, as well as from the Christian Runners Group from Atlanta. This is what unity is all about, guys and gals!

Dave Sawyer represented FCA North Atlanta (2:42:35) and connected with Tom Gale from FCA Huntsville (2:31:03). It was so good to connect with Richard Hopkins (2:53:50) and his team from Christian Runners – Atlanta. Daniel Mounts (3:25:26) and company from FCA Savannah made a strong showing, after making the 6-hour trek from the Georgia coast. All told, our Lord Jesus had no less than a dozen Christian endurance athletes on the course on Sunday morning (not to mention a huge support group and pit crew)! Praise Him!

A few of us shared a great prayer before the race and encouragement at the finish, as well. Notably, Tom Gale and I passed each other on the course (him passing me, both times J). Each time, Tom noted that he lifted a prayer for Sharon Hicks, wife of Dave Hicks, our co-huddle leader from FCA North Atlanta. Please keep Sharon in your prayers as she continues to recover from a bike accident (non-vehicle related), which left her with a fractured skull and broken collarbone.

Saturday, June 26th - Indian Springs Triathlon
-We expected a big weekend from the team and God delivered. We had nearly 15 athletes racing at Indian Springs tri on Saturday and the day turned out to be great! Brenda H. and new teammate Kari B. both placed in their respected division while everyone else hammered out some amazing times. See “events” tabs for results.

Probably the highlight of the day though was hanging out with several teammates from around the state of Ga. We want to thank the crews from North Metro At. and Savannah for making the trek to race and fellowship with us. We also want to thank the countless volunteers that came out to help support the FCA E aid station. Your dedication to service was noticed and we even gained some new teammates because of your support.

-Sunday, June 27th our MTB teammates Curtis Tucker and Neil Blalock both rocked the mountain bike course in Eatonton, Ga. Curtis took 1st place in his division, while Neil finished a strong 2nd in his division.

From Neil Blalock-Sunday's race at Rock Hawk Effigy was awesome! Mountain Biker Curtis Tucker wrecked and still managed to pull out a win almost 3 minutes ahead of the competition. Neil Blalock has been racing neck and neck with friendly rival, Charles Estes, all year. This time Charles won out and Neil placed 2nd. Both of these Mountain Bikers are still #1 in the Georgia State Championship series for the year, and because of their racing skills, both will have to move up in Category next year.

From Curtis Tucker-Another hot race day. The race was held at the Rock Hawk Effigy and Trails in Eatonton, GA. Neil Blalock and I both had good races. Neil Placed 2nd in the 40-49 Sport division and I placed 1st in the 40-49 Base division. I had a pretty nasty wreck about 1.5 miles from the finish, but was able to remount and finish. I am headed to the orthopedic doctor today for x-rays of my shoulder. I can't do much of anything with my right arm. Please remember me in yours prayers. Hopefully I have not done any lasting damage. We had the tent setup with our FCA Endurance SMAT banner. Every racer passed by the tent before going to the finish line.

Saturday 06/05- Blalock Lakes Tri.
Mike R., Chris Gower, Doug D., Gary B., David Hicks, Steve H., all took part in the Tri the Parks event in Newnan, Ga. The day started by teammate Chris Gott leading nearly 600 athletes and spectators in an opening prayer. Chris then along with Lora Roby, Lucas Roby, Donna Delzell, Alexia Delzell, and Sharon Hicks volunteered and supported the first aid station on the run. We thank ALL of you for your support!

The race was hot, humid, and fast. Mike R finished in 1:17:55 which was good for 34th overall. Doug D. finished 1:26:48, Gary B. 1:33:43, David Hicks 1:35:14, Steve H. 2:19:12 while dealing with foot issues.

Saturday 06/05- Rock n Roll Half Ironman
Brenda H. went one hour south to Macon, Ga. and took part in the half iron event. Brenda had a great day and finished 5:18:19 which placed her 11th overall female and 2nd in Female Masters. Congrats!

Sunday 06/06- Bump and Grind MTB race
Neil B. went to Birmingham, AL and took on the MTB course of bump and grind. Neil had an awesome day and finished 4th in the “sport” category. Nice job Neil!

Sunday 06/06- My First Tri
Newcomer to triathlons, Travis H. went one hour north and finished his first ever triathlon. Travis says he had a great time doing the race and shows that he may have several more in his future. Travis finished in 1:24 and was limited in training due to deployment to Ft. Rucker, Al. for US Army flight school several weeks ago. Nice work Travis!

-Mike Roby headed north to Prosperity, South Carolina (just outside of Columbia) to race in the Lake Murray Spring Triathlon. The 750 meter swim/16mile bike/5k run swim was held on a fast course and Mike went fast. He had one of the fastest bike times which helped him finish 34th overall with a time of 1:20:42. Great job Mike. - see results here.

- Brenda Herrington and Doug Delzell headed south for the Gulf Coast Triathlon. Herrington and Delzell did the relay portion of the half iron event. Brenda's team, featuring David and Chris Howe finished 7th in the mixed team division with an overall time of 5:18:31. Doug's team, featuring Scott Godfrey and Debi Baber, finished 4th overall in the masters division with a time of 5:17:13. Great job by both teams. - see results here.

-This past weekend was light on the FCA E race calendar. 2 teammates (Mike R. and Chris Gott) stayed close to home and ran in the Geranium Festival 5k. While both of these guys are use to going long, both had a great time doing the race. Mike R. finished 9th overall with a 22:55 and Chris Gott finished 5th overall/1st age group with a 22:09. Congrats!

-Saturday, April 24th three SMAT athletes traveled to Carrollton and took on the series opener for tri the parks. Weather was suspect all day with several thunderstorms and rain but the race was able to go on. All three had great times. Chris Gott (1:13:00), Doug Delzell (1:15:31), and Brian St. Jacques (1:24:07).

We also want to thank Mike R., Chris Gower, and the entire Gott family for volunteering at the event. Mike R. lead over 600+ athletes and countless spectators in an opening prayer. The volunteers also worked body marking and aid station #1 on the run where the FCA Endurance colors were flying.

-This past weekend four teammates (Mike Roby, Doug Delzell, Gary Bernau, and Nick Westbrook) traveled to New Orleans and competed in the NOLA 70.3IM race on Sunday, April 18th.

Nick took top honors among the four and set a personal PR with a finishing time of 5:25:15. Doug (Deizell or Delzell) had a great race that included some fast transition times. He finished the race in 5:55:14. Gary completed the race with a time of 6:21:56. Gary's swim time of 41:49 was best among the FCA group. Mike finished with a time of 6:31:21. While, the time was not a PR for Mike it was an inspiring race as he got sick on the bike, but kept pushing and finished strong. (That is him in the picture).

The course was really difficult with strong waves in the swim, beat up roads and wind on the bike, and a sun driven run. Congrats to all that finished!

The four was also able to work the FCA E booth at the expo which made for some really nice conversations and an opportunity to meet some nice folks while in NOLA. We capped off the expo experience with attending the FCA E IronPrayer event on Saturday. The event included worship music, prayer, and a testimony from a local triathlete.

-Teammate Brenda Herrington headed to Boston and raced in the 114th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 19th. Qualifying and racing in the Boston Marathon is viewed as one of the greatest accomplishments for amateur runners. Brenda finished with a time of 3:24:53.

"Boston is the Bomb (Sound almost familiar Roby). What an awesome experience all around.

It didn't change from that for at least 4 - 5 miles. Lots of weaving around folks. (Hence my Garmin says I ran 26.56). Still for most of the race, always folks around. People lined the street for almost the entire race. And they are loud. Sooo supportive. Couldn’t believe some runners had their ipods. Too much action and it surely didn’t feel like 3 plus hours out there. Time was 3:24:53. Never even had time to think about 'ok, Brenda, keep up your pace'. LOL> I have the normal marathon legs but overall, feel pretty good.

Thanks for your encouragement. I want to plan to do this one again next year - any takers to join me? Thank you God for these blessings."

-Teammate's Curtis and Neil both raced in the 2nd race of the Georgia Mountain Bike series. Had a great race weekend. The second race of the Georgia State Championship series was held in Columbus, GA at Flat Rock Park. Saturday was a 3.2 mile ITT. Sunday was the race. Competing in the base 40-49 category, I placed 2nd in both the time trial and race. Teammate Neil Blalock competed in the sport 40-49 category and placed 1st in both the ITT and race. I am currently in second overall for the series and Neil is leading.

-Teammate Nick W. hit the silver comet trail this past weekend for the Silver Comet 10k. Nick's first race of the year was a good indication of what to expect out of Nick this 2010 year. Nick won his age group and finished in a time of 40:34. With that time Nick was able to qualify for a subseeded number for the Peachtree Road Race on July 4th. Way to represent Nick! See results here.

-This past weekend teammates Mike R., Chris Gott, and Scott H. went north to Rome, GA. to take part in the Berry College half marathon and 5k. Scott H. which has been battling some injuries ran in the 5k race which was his first real run in about 2-3 months. Scott felt good and was able to complete the course without having to take a walk break. Scott hopes that this will be the motivation needed to launch a good 2010.

Mike and Chris took part in the half marathon and had a wonderful time doing the course. Beautiful course and campus with small to moderate rolling hills. Mike ran his typical low 1:50’s (1:52) but felt really good with how steady the race went and the fact that he ran a negative split on the second half of the race. Chris had a GREAT day! This was Chris’ first ever half marathon and he finished in a great time of 1:46. Chris says that he had a blast doing the race and looks forward to running a few more in the near future. Congrats to all!

A story about us:
-Here is a copy of what is coming out in the March edition of STV (Share the Victory) magazine that is a national publication for the FCA ministry. Great article tying us and Tri the Parks together.

Community Outreach Opportunity- March 11:
Hey everyone,
Doug (who is handling our community ministry opportunities) asked me to shoot this to everyone so you can check your calendars.

Doug has been in contact with the directors at the Laurel Park Assisted Living Home (behind henry medical) and we will be hosting a BINGO night for the residents on Thursday, March 11th. This is FAMILIES welcome and involvement. Time frame should be 6-8pm.

There will be additional info at our next meeting on March 6th but Doug wanted everyone to get a jump start on planning for the event.

As I (Doug Delzell) went out west to Phoenix Arizona to run in support of Brenda Hall (One of our sponsors from Bulldog Marine) Brenda had a goal of trying to break under the 6 hour mark for the first time ever.

The race was very scenic with lots of beautiful mountain views along the way and a nice 60 degree temperature. The first 13 miles came along great for Brenda but shortly before approaching the 14 mile mark she started to develop painful blisters on her feet and soon after that some knee pain that began to slow down the pace. There was no quit in Brenda and it was a pleasure to run with her every step of the way.

Approaching the days before the race I was able to search myself in another aspect of being a member of FCA Endurance as well. There is a line in the Competitor's Creed that says "My attitude on and off the field is above reproach - my conduct beyond criticism. Whether I am preparing, practicing, or playing; I submit to God's authority and those He has put over me. I respect my coaches, officials, Teammates and competitors out of respect for the Lord." Thinking of that made me once again aware that I need to make sure it was not about me in this sport. I had a decision to make on a personal level. As Athlinks is a site that keeps track of all of your races and the times, the thought occurred to me early in the week that running with someone in support would bring down my average time for the marathon. What should I do? If I ran without the timing chip it would not register and I could keep up my numbers and watch my progress, but then I realized my focus was thinking of only me. I decided to wear the timing chip and allow my average time to drop and feel good knowing that I was there to coach and encourage. I was there to be an example as a Christian.

As I crossed the finish line with Brenda we unfortunately missed her goal of finishing under 6 hours as we came in at a time of 6:25, but it was one of the greatest races for me as I will always look back on this race as the one where each step was given to encourage and teach the way Christ does for us every day. Thanks Brenda for allowing me to join you and help you along your journey!

2010 TEAM MEETING:
-The SMAT kicked off the season Saturday, January 23 with our first 2010 meeting. We had a wonderful time of business info, team info, and importantly great fellowship. We look forward to an awesome 2010 and what God has in-store for our team.

-A couple of you asked about the numbers that were given out at the meeting. So here you go.

1.SMAT competed (wearing FCA-E colors) in 40+ events in 2009. Volunteered at 15+ events.
2.With 40+ events there were over 135,000 people that had an opportunity to come across our team and FCAE.
3.In 2008 there were 33 FCAE member in Ga. At the end of 2009 there are now 170 members in Ga.
4.In 2009 our state went from 0 local teams/huddles to now supporting 3 teams (SMAT, Sav., and NMAT).
5.We had 3,000 triathletes directly prayer for thru our ministry and partnership with "tri the parks".
6.We supported over 96 group rides which accounted for over 4,000 miles of cycling miles.

In just three years in our sport, Brenda Herrington (W40-44) is making some noise. Florida was only her second attempt at this distance and her time of 10:14:57 shows she has what it takes to mix it up with elite gals in Kona....

December 13th Doug Delzell traveled out to Tuscon Arizona to run in the Holualoa Tucson Marathon where he was able to set another personal record for the marathon at 4:09:15. The race was set in one of the most beautiful places as you drop almost 2,200 feet in elevation as this point to point run takes you along the Santa Catalina mountain range. Most of the race went well for Doug as he set his goal to break the 4 hr mark for the first time. Things went well running directly into a stiff wind the entire race until around mile 19 when pain began to be a factor in his knee. Doug continued to fight the pain and continue to the victorious end. Although missing his goal of running under the 4hr mark, Doug was still able to set a PR which is still quite an accomplishment and he feels another job well done!

Race recap: Oak Ridge Half Marathon (November 21) -
Only a train could stop Mike!

Teammate Mike Roby headed north to Knoxville, Tn. this weekend to visit family for the holiday and while there decided to get into the Oak Ridge Half Marathon (results). This year's race was a lot warmer (40 degrees) compared to last year's race of 17 degrees. This year's race did pose an unusual difference though....a train brought Mike and several other runner's to a sudden stop. At mile 9 Mike was cruising along and looked up to see a train approaching. Before Mike could get to the railroad tracks the train was crossing. After about 2 minutes the train cleared and race resumed. Mike finished the race and was extremely happy with the result of 1:54:13 with the hills and train to deal with.ha. Great job Mike and maybe we should work on out running trains!

Race recap: Ironman Florida (November 7) -
Brenda wins age group and qualifies for Hawaii!

This past Saturday, Nov. 7th Brenda took on the challenge known as Ironman Florida (official results). The day started with a beautiful sunrise and the rest of the day remained the same. Great temperatures with just a little wind made for a fast day. Brenda exited the water with a swim time of 1:11 and then took off on the bike. She ran down just about all of the female amateurs in the field and finished the 112 miles with a bike time of 4:57 and was the second amateur female overall coming off the bike. Brenda then changed into her running shoes and again didn’t disappoint. She ran the marathon (26.2 miles) in a time of 3:57. At the end of the day she completed the 140.6 miles in 10 hours 14 minutes and WON her age group. With her big win and finish she also qualified for the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii schedule to take place in October 2010. The team is so very proud of Brenda and all the hard work she put into the 2009 training season. We know that God will continue to use Brenda to help give the team an additional platform. Way to Rock Brenda! Read Brenda's Race Report

Last weekend teammates Doug D. and James H. made the trip to Clermont, Fl. for the “Great Floridian” Ironman Triathlon (official results). Teammates Mike R. and Brenda H. along with Doug and James’ family also made the trip to support.

The day started with a bright and sunny swim. Both Doug and James looked strong exiting the swim and heading out on the bike. As if the bike course was not tough enough (hills) the heat and humidity made the race that much more difficult. While on the bike course the temp’s reached 90 degrees. Both Doug and James fought the elements and course to finish the bike in typical strong fashion. As they started the run you could see from ALL the participants how the day had begun to wear on their bodies. The run course is a 3 loop run so Doug and James was able to seek support each loop they did. Both agree that the support helped get them thru the run. As darkness fell on the course the temperatures began to drop which help all the participants. At 13:08 on the clock James crossed the finish line and began his recovery process. Not long after at 14:50 on the clock Doug made the final sprint and finished strong at the line. Both are thankful to have done the race and also thankful the race was over! Either way…congratulation’s to our two newest “Ironman”.
Read Doug's race report.
Read James' race report

Sunday's races were held at the Monteluce Winery in Dahlonega. Beautiful venue and very difficult course. First half of the course was slippery downhill with lots of off camber turns and switchbacks. The last half was full of climbing back to the finish, which had a 120m gravel climb at 15% gradient. I decided to race two races Sunday to get as much experience as I could and good training. Wow! My body is still feeling it. The first race was the masters 35+. I finished 17th out of 22. I had a 15 minute rest and started the Men's C race. I finished 20th out of 46. I managed to wreck once in on the last lap of the masters race and twice in the Men's C race. I was sitting 6th or 7th in the C race when I crashed going into a turn after discovering I had no brakes because of mud on the rims. Lost a lot of positions because of the crash but managed to work back up to 20th place. As usual, I had a blast racing and thank God for not doing any permanent damage to myself.

FCA Endurance made a good showing this weekend at the Lake Lanier Islands sprint triathlon (formerly known as the Emerald Pointe Triathlon), which had more than 800 participants. The weather was cool and overcast, with water temp in the low 70’s. Members from the North Atlanta FCA-E huddle were racing, including Steve Harmon and David Sawyer.

Steve continued his steady and solid progress through the year, with a time of 1:31:51. Steve, who is the Minister to Students at Dawsonville First Baptist, brought along two students to race in the 15 & Under Age Group. In their first triathlon ever, Zack Wilkins posted a time of 1:38:48, while Bennett Rolle finished with a time of 1:50:52.

Dave Sawyer cruised home with a time of 1:12:45, finishing 15th in the 40-44 Age Group and 81st overall. Coincidentally, the time was only 8 seconds different from his time on the same course.

After the race, Steve, David, Zack and Bennett linked into the church service at FBC Dawsonville, via live webcast / videophone from Steve’s notebook computer. They shared with the congregation how the Lord is working through FCA Endurance in the Metro Atlanta area to bring Christians closer together in mind, body and spirit, and to take a shining light to reach the world of triathlon and endurance sports.

FCA Endurance South Metro Atlanta had a few teammates run the Atlanta 13.1 half marathon. This was the first year of the race and it surly did not disappoint. The course was great and the weather was perfect! Teammates Brenda Herrington, Doug Delzell, and James Hebebrand hit the course along with Brenda Hall one of our sponsors from Bulldog Marine. Three new Personal Records were set as well on during the race. Doug Delzell set a new PR of 1:42:21, Brenda Herrington also set a new PR as she ran a 1:41:01, James Hebebrand ran 1:47:05 which is also his new personal best. Brenda Hall ran a great time of 3:02:10 with very little training, which is quite the effort! Great job by all!

This past weekend we had several team member’s in Augusta for the first annual Ironman Augusta 70.3 race. Everyone did a great job and congrats to Brenda Herrington for qualifying for the 70.3 World Championships. FCA Endurance will be well represented!

-David Sawyer
I was pleased with my performance (5:52:24), which translated pretty consistently with my training volume and taking 2 weeks off before the race to heal. Lost the chain on the bike, which probably kept me under 20 MPH avg. Great swim (with current, wetsuit legal, but late start at 8:45 - UGH), flat bike course and the run was flat and shady (but hot – 83+). I know how to tweak my training plan for 2010…

-Brenda Herrington
I was inspired by all of the FCA representation in Augusta, GA. Met David from Miami and it was his first Half and his birthday; and visited with the Savannah Tent after my race – they shared in my joy of my PR of 4:52. It was even better that teammates finished and also had personal accomplishments. The inaugural 70.3 was a busy morning and the organizers did a very fine job of staying on top of arising potential problems. I was telling someone today that I think the Lord was working as usual as the weather had set some of us back from normal training; probably telling us to take a break. Then, allowing Sunday to be very TRI friendly – I just love that. It’s funny how before the race you think ‘geez I haven’t prepared very well’; and afterwards you’re able to reflect!

-Doug Delzell
Doug completed his first Half-Ironman this weekend at the Augusta Ironman 70.3 where he met his goal of finishing under the six hour mark. Doug finished in 5:57 and had a blast! The day before the race it was great to get charged up at the IronPrayer service where he was able to see lots of friends from the Savannah team as well as meet some great new friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. "During the bike portion it was great to have all the praise and worship still singing in my head!"

Philip Robb
I had set a goal of 6 hours for the race (as a medical student, I can't train as much as I'd like). I was so encourage by all the FCA people there! We constantly cheered each other on- we had support everywhere! I spent quite a bit of the tri (especially the run) in prayer- Asking The Lord to get me to the next aid station- as he always has.

I was also amazed when right after I finished, another FCA member from West Virginia finished behind me, we grabbed our medals and some waters- and prayed together- It was phenomenal!

We would also like to thank the FCA-E Savannah team for putting together the IronPrayer event on Saturday.

-Curtis Tucker was in Dahlonega on Sunday, Sept. 27th and took part in the always challenging 6 gap century. The ride covers 100 miles of the north Ga. mountain’s and crosses over 11,700 vertical feet of climbing. Great job Curtis!

Sorry for the delay on this race report. Busy weekend to say the least. Up first was 12hrs of Dauset on Sat. Oct.3. I participated in the Sport Team division, which is up a level from the Beginner division I am in. I ended up doing three laps (about 30 miles). All of my laps were faster than I have ever ridden at Dauset. Our team won the Sport division as well as the overall. We were the only team to do 16 laps. I was on a very talented team. The other riders were all very fast and gave me alot of encouragement. Got home and in bed by 1 AM. Second up was Macon Cyclocross race on Sun. Oct. 4. This was my first cyclocross event. I ended up finishing 9th out of a field of about 70. If you think riding in the woods is crazy, try putting some knobbies on a road bike and going offroad. This kind of racing is right up my alley. There is plenty of room to pass people. I only ended up falling once going into the sand on the last lap. I did not get my shoe unclipped and down I went. I got up quick and off I went, spitting sand. There was a crazy steep hill right before the finish. While pre-riding before the race I didn't make it all the way up. During the race however, I made it all the way all four laps. I think it was all the people at the top cheering that gave me that extra to make it. I was very pleased with ninth considering the endurance race the day before. FYI, perpetuem and sand is not a good mix. :)

This past weekend we had several teammates that were at races. Here are some of the recaps:

-Doug went down to the Alabama Coastal Triathlon in Gulf Shores Alabama where he got a taste of his first ocean swim during competition. The race went well considering some physical challenges as he struggled with bronchitis throughout the event. Doug was able to finish 10th in his division.

Donna Delzell got in on the fun as she took on the swim and bike portion of the "Tri it on" sprint version of the Alabama Coastal. Both Donna and her teammate and sister in law (who is also one of our sponsors) took 3rd place in the female team division.

-(Dave Hicks, Tri 2 Remember triathlon) Well...all was dry until the race announcer said "the weather seems to be holding off", then instantly it began to mist. The mist became rain at the beginning of the swim and it rained the entire bike. Fortunately it stopped for the run. I placed 20 out of 31 in age group with a time of 1:27. A promising note for me was the 21+mph average on the bike in the rain and on hills, my best effort so far.

-James Hebebrand also raced the Tri 2 Remember triathlon and finished 2nd in his age group and was 28th overall with a time of 1:08.

Saturday August 29th Doug took a trip up to McMinnville Tennessee to compete in the McMinnville City Triathlon. It was a perfect day for racing. The swim was a 350 meter pool swim followed by a challenging 15.25 mile bike course, and then a 5k. Doug was able to finish 4th in his age group where his training on the bike and run paid off big. The bike course was mostly on highway 55 which had several rolling hills fit nicely with the current FCA Endurance training rides held throughout the week. The run course was full of some steep climbs with a nice downhill finish the last quarter of a mile. All in all this was a great event and a race that Doug has been able to use as momentum going into the peak of his season.

What a great day for a race! With nearly perfect weather conditions you knew that the times were going to be fast and the results prove it. Teammates Brenda H. and Doug D. headed to peachtree city for the annual PTC sprint tri. Doug's wife Donna was also at the race to volunteer and set up the finish line/ aid stations. We were also surprised to see a familiar face (and FCA Endurance sponsor) Bryan Thornton at the race. Bryan has returned to the triathlon sport after taking a couple of year's off due to back surgery. Great Job Bryan!

Brenda and Doug didn't disappoint. Both exited the water looking strong and on the heels of some of their rivals. As we expected the bike was where they both made their moves. Both Brenda and Doug set new PR's (personal records) for their bike split's. Doug did the course with a 23.1 avg. and Brenda had the fastest women's bike split of the day with a 25.2 avg, showing that their efforts at working on the bike is paying off. As they both went out on the run you knew that some fast times were going to hit the clock. Doug finished with his own sprint PR and time of 1:14:05. Brenda took first in the women's master division with a time of 1:09:33. Way to go team!

The race was being followed and updated via twitter by Mike Roby and Chris Gower (FCAenduranceAtl). We also had a couple of opportunities to discuss the FCA Endurance team/ministry with folks that saw our shirts and banner.

-Chris Gower , Mike Roby and David Hicks all headed south to Cordele for the Georgia Veteran's Memorial sprint triathlon. This was a great location and very fast race. Chris placed third in the 35-39 age group with a time of 1:04:16. Congrats Chris. Even though Mike had been sick the week before he couldn't resist racing and posted a great time of 1:10:12. David had a great showing in the 45-49 age group and posted a final time of 1:23:25.

-Brenda Herrington traveled to Elberton for the Tri the Parks Olympic distance race. This was the final race in the Tri the Parks series. Brenda had a great race and finished 2nd in the female masters division with a final time of 2:28:00. Congrats Brenda!

Mike Roby traveled 2 hours east to Appling, Ga. and took part in the 4th race of a 5 races series presented by the Tri the Parks. The sprint triathlon was 600meters/12 mile bike/5k. Mike had a great day and FCA ended up being well represented at the race. Mike stated that he had a really good swim and a fast bike but ran into a challenging run that consisted of about 1.5 miles of trail running. Overall it was a great day! Mike finished 7th in the age group and looks forward to doing the race again next year. While at the race Mike ran into 3 FCA endurance teammates from Savannah and was also able to meet Philip Robb a teammate from Augusta who started the race off with the pre-race prayer. Congrats to all racers!

July 13, 2009: Team members Doug Delzell and James Hebebrand headed north to compete in the Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon. This race was Doug's first crack at the Olympic distance event and James w

as all set to share the fun with his son Pete as a family team. This event was sure to be quite a challenge as it was a Best of the USA Amateur Qualifier as well as a USAT National Age Group Championship Special Qualifier so you could be sure some of the top athletes in the land would be competing. The course consisted of a .92 mile swim in the Tennessee river followed by a 26 mile bike route with some of the most challenging hills that traveled through the Lookout mountain area of Chattanooga, the run was s 6.2 mile run filled with a few suprise challenges along the way such as some intense stair climbs along the out and back course.

Doug finished in 2:55 and felt great with his swim and managing to average 20 mph on such a tough bike course. James and his son Pete took 4th place in the family team division with a finish time of 2:37. James also tore up the road course on the bike with a 20 mph average as well. Overall Doug and James were happy with the efforts that they put forth and cannot wait to see this course again next year.

FCA Endurance was recognized throughout the race by many of the participants. There were several athletes that came by to inquire about the jerseys and a couple whom were interesested in hearing our testimony. While nearing the end of the run Doug was running next to an athlete that was encouraged by the FCA Endurance jersey and took time to share with Doug how he gave his life to Jesus Christ in 2000 and his life has never been the same. What a great race and a great time for all!

July 4, 2009: Among the huge crowd of athletes running the Peachtree Road Race you could find three of our very own FCA Endurance South Metro teammates. Brenda Herrington, Doug Delzell and James Hebebrand. The weather was great for such an event with the temperatures staying in the comfortable mid 70 degree range. The start of the race was mostly down hill for the first 3 miles but the challenge was trying to get through the mass of runners in front of you. You could almost call it a rolling road block for the first 2 miles but after that things opened up enough to allow you to hit your stride. By the end of the race it seemed that 47 minutes was the time of choice for FCA Endurance South Metro as Brenda Herrington crossed the line at 47:13, James Hebebrand was 47:27 and Doug Delzell 47:29.

Saturday, June 27th brought another race day for Team FCA Endurance. 10 members and volunteers made the short trip to Jackson, Ga. for the third race in the Tri the Park's Series. We were also excited to be joined by our sister team from Savannah, Ga. which brought 11 of their own to race and volunteer with us. The day was HOT and the times were even HOTTER. All racer's had a great day and great times. Brenda from the SMAT team had a 2nd place in age group finish while two other ladies from Savannah also placed top 3 in their respected age groups.

After the race the two teams cooked-out and stayed around for some fun. We are thankful to the Savannah team for making the trip and hope to meet up again soon.

June 20, 2009 - Chris headed over to Pine Mountain for the Callaway Gardens Sprint Triathlon. The race is a shorter sprint distance with a .25 mile swim, 9 mile bike and 2 mile run. Chris had a great showing as he finished in 44:48 to place first in his age group and sixth overall. Great job Chris!!

Mike took off to south Georgia to take part in the West Point Lake Sprint Triathlon. The race was delayed due to the race directors having to find the swim buoys that were blown off the lake from storms that came through the area the night before. Once the race started it turned out to be a great day. Mike had a strong swim and transition to the bike. Within the first 4 miles Mike took the overall lead on the bike and came to the run transition with the overall lead. Mike held the lead until the turn-around point (mile 1.5) when a group of stud runners came past Mike. Mike ended the day with a 7th place overall finish and a 2nd place in his age group. Mike also had several racer's approach him about FCA Endurance after the race which made the highlight of the day!

Doug took a trip out to Denver Colorado to run the Rocky Mountain High Half Marathon. This was his first time running in the high altitude and was not sure how well he would perform. At the start of the race Doug felt strong and stuck with the front pack for the first couple of miles running at just over a 6 minute mile pace. shortly after the 2 mile mark the taste of the first hill reminded him that the thin air could come into play as the race progressed. Doug pulled back and pretty much kept a 9 minute pace from that point on and finished with a time of 1 hour and 55 minutes. Over all it was a great race and one of the most scenic of all his races.

Saturday, June 6th saw almost the entire team compete at the Tri The Parks Sprint Triathlon at High Falls State Park. The race marked the largest turnout yet for the entire tire. Competing in the race was Chris Gower, Mike Roby, Mark Herrington, Brenda Herrington, Lindsey Partain, Noah Gower and Doug Delzell. Helping out at the FCA tent was Lora Roby, Donna Delzell and Scott Horton. The team also cheered on Steve Harmon, a youth pastor out of Dawsonville who was competing in his first triathlon.

Another week, another win for Brenda. After winning her age group last week in Macon, she turned in another great performance to grab first place in the female masters division. Brenda finished with a time of 1:14:02. She turned in another stellar performance on the bike, posting the best overall bike for all female competitors. Brenda and Mark's daughter Lindsey also grabbed some hardware. She finished first in her age group (14& under) with a time of 1:47:54.

Chris and Mike had strong swims and worked together on the bike (but didn't draft) and ran strong to finish 6th and 7th in the mens 35-39 age group. Chris finished with a time 1:11:29 and Mike finished with a time of 1:15:18. Doug, competing in the largest age group men 40-44, completed the race with a time of 1:25:12. Mark competed with Chris' son Noah in the relay division. Mark did the swim in 16:03 and then Noah took over to compete in the bike and run. Together they completed the race in 2:11:03. Steve officially became a triathlete when he crossed the finish line in 2:02:04. Congratulations Steve!!!

All team members wish to thank those who came out and supported the team. Many people noticed the FCA tent and thanked us for being at the race. The race was preceded by a prayer, which was led by Doug. We should have pictures to post soon.

Saturday, May 30th was a banner day for the FCA SMAT team. Chris Gower, Brenda Herrington and Mike Roby took the short trip south to participate in the Rock N' Rollman Sprint Triathlon and Half Ironman Triathlon. Chris and Mike tackled the sprint portion while Brenda went after the half.

Chris and Mike made their way through the swim and then showed that their bike training has paid off. Both members were in the top ten on the bike portion of the event. Both guys were strong on the run. When it was all said and done Chris placed 1st in the 35-39 age group and 12th overall with a time of 1:21:38. Mike was right behind as he placed second in the 35-39 age group and 24th overall with a time of 1:24:19. (See picture for proof of the wins.) Congrats guys!!

While Mike and Chris recovered, rehydrated and rested Brenda continued her half iron. Brenda made her way though the swim and then jumped on the bike where she showed (like Chris and Mike) that those team rides are paying off. Brenda finished the bike portion in 2:35:44 - the fastest of any female! She finished the run and the race with a big smile (see picture). Her 5:14:22 finish time placed her first in the 40-44 age group and 8th overall in the women's division. Way to go!!

The Big Frog 65 mile race is one of the National Ultra En-durance Series mountain biking events This event is a race of a mix of fast moving rolling terrain and big climbs. There is significant elevation change throughout the course. There are about 35+ miles of single track and the remainder is forest service roads. (Very beautiful, scenic route)

This year Brenda and Paula competed in the Big Frog 65 mountain bike race. The day showed up with great weather and a ton of excited cyclists. They were really just out for a good mountain bike ride; with no "accidents or incidents." Brenda stated that the course had more climbing than she anticipated, but was able to handle it very well. During the climbing, it was great conversation with Paula, as well as others such as Tom, Steve, Michael (East Ten-nessee) and Gregory (a tri guy from Memphis). Brenda says she had a handful of folks that said they liked her FCA jersey and one that said, "hey I got one of those too". Brenda reported that there was one mishap with a wrong turn (along with about 2 dozen or so other folks), took our time at the aid stations, and ended up proudly with a little over 7 hours.

Brenda is no stranger to this race, both her and Mark Herrington have been regulars in both volunteering and par-ticipation. This year as Brenda took to the trail Mark was there working hard at the aid stations. Another great day and effort from Mark and Brenda Herrington.

FCA Endurance Takes Part in the Georgia Cup Time Trials

The Georgia Cup Time Trials consist of a near 20 mile out and back route where cyclists start every 30 seconds and then push their hardest to reach the finish line in the shortest amount of time they can. Recently FCA Endurance participated in a couple of the time trials. On April 18th Mike Roby, Brenda Herrington and Doug Delzell raced in Gaines-ville Ga. Brenda Herrington took 1st place in her division with an average speed of 22.35 mph. Mike Roby finished with a strong 23.92 mph average. The race was the first of this type for Doug Delzell who finished with an 18.22 mph average. On May 2nd team members Mike Roby and Doug Delzell traveled to Juliette Ga to race in the 4th Time Trial in the series. The course was one of the most demanding courses as it was full up nothing but up hills and down hills the entire route with no level ground to be found on the course. Mike Roby finished with a 22.3 MPH average and Doug Delzell man-aged to maintain an 18.2 MPH average which was good enough to take first place in the novice division.