Photo: Flat-shortened bike/run brick, 5:30 a.m., 50 degrees, outside Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 8,600 yds (ytd 169,900 yds.)
Bike: 180 miles (ytd 2,661 mi.)
Run: 39 miles (ytd 721 mi.)

pssssssssssssssssssssss

Photo: Following a small swim, small bike and small run, comes an even smaller award. 1:00 p.m., 70 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 6,150 yds (ytd 161,300 yds.)
Bike: 94 miles (ytd 2,481 mi.)
Run: 18 miles (ytd 682 mi.)

Photo: 2.5-hour run-bike-run, 6:00 a.m., 50 degrees, Decorah, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 7,200 yds (ytd 155,150 yds.)
Bike: 117 miles (ytd 2,387 mi.)
Run: 30 miles (ytd 664 mi.)

You CAN go home again.

Photo: 30-mile bike ride, 5:30 a.m., 50 degrees, somewhere northwest of Toddville, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 8,000 yds (ytd 147,950 yds.)
Bike: 172 miles (ytd 2,270 mi.)
Run: 37 miles (ytd 634 mi.)

Going to work early instead of going to work early.

Photo: 70-mile bike, 6-mile run brick, 6:30 a.m., 55 degrees, Linn County, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 8,000 yds (ytd 139,950 yds.)
Bike: 148 miles (ytd 2,098 mi.)
Run: 36 miles (ytd 560 mi.)

Good weather, good miles, great company...

Photo: 8-mile run, 7:00 p.m., 70 degrees, in front of the high school, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 8,700 yds (ytd 131,950 yds.)
Bike: 147 miles (ytd 1,950 mi.)
Run: 38 miles (ytd 524 mi.)

Photo: Following a wonderfully warm and sunny 1-hour ride/2-hour run, 10:00 a.m., 60 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 8,400 yds (ytd 123,250 yds.)
Bike: 134 miles (ytd 1,803 mi.)
Run: 34 miles (ytd 486 mi.)

Welcoming committee...

Photo: 9-mile run, 8:30 p.m., 50 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 8,300 yds (ytd 114,850 yds.)
Bike: 131 miles (ytd 1,669 mi.)
Run: 31 miles (ytd 452 mi.)

Photo: 7-mile run, 6:30 a.m., 32 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 8,750 yds (ytd 106,550 yds.)
Bike: 118 miles (ytd 1,538 mi.)
Run: 30 miles (ytd 421 mi.)

Enough already

Photo: 10-mile run, 5:30 a.m., 20 degrees, Armstrong Field

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 7,800 yds (ytd 97,800 yds.)
Bike: 142 miles (ytd 1,420 mi.)
Run: 38 miles (ytd 391 mi.)

Back to the track...

Photo: Post-2.5-hour run/bike brick, 5:30 p.m., 50 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 8,500 yds (ytd 90,000 yds.)
Bike: 122 miles (ytd 1,278 mi.)
Run: 30 miles (ytd 353 mi.)

Back in the nick of time...

Photo: Post-2.5-hour run/bike brick, 8:30 a.m., 62 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 5,050 yds (ytd 81,500 yds.)
Bike: 104 miles (ytd 1,156 mi.)
Run: 30 miles (ytd 323 mi.)

pfast3r?

Photo: 3-hour bike/run brick, 6:30 a.m., 25 degrees, Bertram, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 8,300 yds (ytd 76,450 yds.)
Bike: 118 miles (ytd 1,052 mi.)
Run: 34 miles (ytd 293 mi.)

Not until it's over.

Photo: 12-mile run, 6:30 a.m., 30 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 5,700 yds (ytd 68,150 yds.)
Bike: 106 miles (ytd 934 mi.)
Run: 31 miles (ytd 259 mi.)

Photo: 10-mile run, 6:30 a.m., 5 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 7,400 yds (ytd 62,450 yds.)
Bike: 94 miles (ytd 828 mi.)
Run: 26 miles (ytd 228 mi.)

Winter's last gasp?

Photo: 10-mile slip-n-slide, 7:00 a.m., 34 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 5,350 yds (ytd 55,050 yds.)
Bike: 92 miles (ytd 734 mi.)
Run: 26 miles (ytd 202 mi.)

Power in the legs, but no electricity in the house.

Photo: 9-mile run, 7:00 a.m., 10 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:

Swim: 7,650 yds (ytd 49,700 yds.)

Bike: 84 miles (ytd 642 mi.)

Run: 22 miles (ytd 176 mi.)

"...as children fear to go in the dark."

Photo: 10-mile run, 6:45 a.m., 10 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 7,850 yds (ytd 42,050 yds.)
Bike: 98 miles (ytd 558 mi.)
Run: 26 miles (ytd 154 mi.)

Warm enough for a run, but too cold for a shaved head.

Photo: 7-mile run, 6:00 a.m., -2 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 8,200 yds (ytd 34,200 yds.)
Bike: 107 miles (ytd 460 mi.)
Run: 27 miles (ytd 128 mi.)

Wishful thinking...

Photo: 2-hour bike/run brick, 6:30 a.m., -26 degrees outside/ 69 degrees in the basement

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 7,500 yds (ytd 26,000 yds.)
Bike: 84 miles (ytd 353 mi.)
Run: 24 miles (ytd 101 mi.)

Boredom outweighs frostbite.

Photo: 3-hour bike/run brick, 8:00 a.m., 6 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 7,300 yds (ytd 18,500 yds.)
Bike: 97 miles (ytd 269 mi.)
Run: 29 miles (ytd 77 mi.)

Brrrific.

Photo: 9-mile run, 7:00 a.m., 22 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 6,500 yds (ytd 11,200 yds.)
Bike: 86 miles (ytd 172 mi.)
Run: 27 miles (ytd 48 mi.)

And so it finally begins.

Photo: Chilly dip, 10:00 a.m., 32 degrees underwater, 25 degrees on the dock, Excelsior, Minnesota

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 4,700 yds (ytd 4,700 yds.)
Bike: 86 miles (ytd 86 mi.)
Run: 21 miles (ytd 21 mi.)

It's easy... swim the very short distance from dock to dock... in VERY cold water.

Photo: 7-mile run, 8:00 a.m., 25 degrees, Decorah, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 2,200 yds (ytd 224,925 yds.)
Bike: 79 miles (ytd 5,427 mi.)
Run: 35 miles (ytd 1,678 mi.)

Over the river and through the woods...

Photo: 8-mile run, 8:00 a.m., 30 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 4,700 yds (ytd 222,725 yds.)
Bike: 99 miles (ytd 5,348 mi.)
Run: 27 miles (ytd 1,643 mi.)

Just me, the deer and the hunters... KaBLAM!

Photo: 5-mile run, 6:00 a.m., 47 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 0 yds (ytd 218,025 yds.)
Bike: 104 miles (ytd 5,249 mi.)
Run: 25 miles (ytd 1,616 mi.)

47 degrees???

Photo: pre-work ride/run brick, 6:30 a.m., 20 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 0 yds (ytd 218,025 yds.)
Bike: 95 miles (ytd 5,145 mi.)
Run: 22 miles (ytd 1,591 mi.)

Pool: Closed for maintenance

Photo: 2+ hour single-speed ride, 7:00 a.m., 15 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 4,900 yds (ytd 218,025 yds.)
Bike: 85 miles (ytd 5,050 mi.)
Run: 19 miles (ytd 1,569 mi.)

Windchill: horrific

Photo: 5k Thanksgiving Day run, 9:00 a.m., 40 degrees, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 4,100 yds (ytd 213,125 yds.)
Bike: 67 miles (ytd 4,965 mi.)
Run: 27 miles (ytd 1,546 mi.)

Thankful for my kids, relatives and friends... but not necessarily the thousands who joined us.

Photo: 2-hour single-speed ride/mishap, 9:00 a.m., 29 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 3,100 yds (ytd 209,025 yds.)
Bike: 75 miles (ytd 4,898 mi.)
Run: 28 miles (ytd 1,519 mi.)

Tattoo courtesy of Ritchey

Photo: foggy morning run, 6:00 a.m., 42 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 2,800 yds (ytd 205,925 yds.)
Bike: 73 miles (ytd 4,823 mi.)
Run: 25 miles (ytd 1,491 mi.)

Photo: 10-mile run, 7:00 a.m., 32 degrees, Squaw Creek Park, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 2,700 yds (ytd 203,125 yds.)
Bike: 87 miles (ytd 4,750 mi.)
Run: 20 miles (ytd 1,466 mi.)

Just me and the deer.

Photo: 8-mile run, 8:00 a.m., 35 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 2,200 yds (ytd 200,425 yds.)
Bike: 84 miles (ytd 4,663 mi.)
Run: 8 miles (ytd 1,446 mi.)

...made the final turn toward home to find... a police barricade?

Photo: post-26.2-mile run, 11:30 a.m., 35 degrees, Mason City, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 2,100 yds (ytd 198,225 yds.)
Bike: 32 miles (ytd 4,579 mi.)
Run: 32 miles (ytd 1,438 mi.)

I feel a trip to Boston coming on.

Photo: 2-hour single-speed ride, 7:00 a.m., 35 degrees, Bertram, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 5,100 yds (ytd 196,125 yds.)
Bike: 73 miles (ytd 4,547 mi.)
Run: 22 miles (ytd 1,406 mi.)

Taper, sweet taper.

Photo: 40-mile road ride, 7:00 a.m., 45 degrees, Robins, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 5,100 yds (ytd 191,025 yds.)
Bike: 98 miles (ytd 4,474 mi.)
Run: 31 miles (ytd 1,384 mi.)

She's got a point.

Photo: 26.2-mile run, pacing my sis with help from The Faker, 11:00 a.m., 70 degrees, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 4,900 yds (ytd 185,925 yds.)
Bike: 102 miles (ytd 4,386 mi.)
Run: 44 miles (ytd 1,353 mi.)

Slow and steady does NOT win the race... but it's good for some laughs along the way.

Photo: 15-mile run, 7:00 a.m., 50 degrees, Robins, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 4,600 yds (ytd 181,025 yds.)
Bike: 103 miles (ytd 4,284 mi.)
Run: 39 miles (ytd 1,309 mi.)

Ah, Iowa.

Photo: post-run, 6:00 p.m., 70 degrees, Decorah, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 4,250 yds (ytd 176,725 yds.)
Bike: 58 miles (ytd 4,181 mi.)
Run: 53 miles (ytd 1,270 mi.)

Nothing quite like being rousted from sleep by a stranger telling you that 70-mph winds are 10 minutes from your campsite.

Photo: post-run, pre-mow, 9:00 a.m., 60 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 1,800 yds (ytd 172,475 yds.)
Bike: 125 miles (ytd 4,123 mi.)
Run: 45 miles (ytd 1,217 mi.)

Photo: 3-hour single-speed ride, 8:00 a.m., 60 degrees, in the shadow of I-380, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 3,500 yds (ytd 170,675 yds.)
Bike: 97 miles (ytd 3,998 mi.)
Run: 35 miles (ytd 1,172 mi.)

Photo: 10-mile run, 6:30 a.m., 60 degrees, Robins, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 3,300 yds (ytd 167,175 yds.)
Bike: 126 miles (ytd 3,901 mi.)
Run: 44 miles (ytd 1,137 mi.)

George was right!

Photo: 30-mile ride, 6:00 a.m., 55 degrees, Toddville, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 3,300 yds (ytd 163,875 yds.)
Bike: 120 miles (ytd 3,775 mi.)
Run: 44 miles (ytd 1,093 mi.)

Photo: 4-mile run, 4:00 a.m., 70 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 2,500 yds (ytd 160,575 yds.)
Bike: 155 miles (ytd 3,655 mi.)
Run: 34 miles (ytd 1,049 mi.)

I-N-S-O-M-N-I-A

Photo: 70-mile road ride, 5:30 a.m., 62 degrees, Linn County, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 1,750 yds (ytd 158,075 yds.)
Bike: 146 miles (ytd 3,500 mi.)
Run: 35 miles (ytd 1,015 mi.)

Photo: post-race, ol' Highway 52, 5:00 p.m., 95 degrees, Winneshiek County, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 1,100 yds (ytd 156,325 yds.)
Bike: 146 miles (ytd 3,364 mi.)
Run: 21 miles (ytd 980 mi.)

What's better than a podium finish? Driving home in MAX A/C

Photo: 70-mile ride, 9:00 a.m., 70 degrees, Linn County, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 9,000 yds (ytd 155,225 yds.)
Bike: 140 miles (ytd 3,218 mi.)
Run: 41 miles (ytd 959 mi.)

The perfect place for a photo break, food break & bladder break...

Photo: 65-mile ride, 8:00 a.m., 80 degrees, near Stone City, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 9,700 yds (ytd 146,225 yds.)
Bike: 125 miles (ytd 3,078 mi.)
Run: 33 miles (ytd 918 mi.)

Into the foggy abyss...

Photo: Post-17-mile run, 10:00 a.m., 85 degrees, 1 billion percent humidity, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 5,200 yds (ytd 136,525 yds.)
Bike: 150 miles (ytd 2,953 mi.)
Run: 36 miles (ytd 885 mi.)

Happy kids use them for summer fun. Gassed, overheated, middle-aged "athletes" use them as a lifesaver.

Photo: 3-hour single-speed ride, 8:00 a.m.; 45 degrees; alt. 10,000 feet; on the way to Leadville, Colorado

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 4,600 yds (ytd 131,325 yds.)
Bike: 131 miles (ytd 2,803 mi.)
Run: 32 miles (ytd 849 mi.)

The fastest way isn't always the bestest way.