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.)