Photo: 21-mile ride, 2-mile run, 50 degrees, 9 a.m., Linn County, Iowa

Weekly activity log:

Swim: 1,100 (ytd 153,200 yds.)

Bike: 60 (ytd 3,269 mi.)

Run: 14 miles (ytd 925 mi.)

On good days, I get in a nice workout before the rest of the world wakes up. Sometimes with friends, often alone. On better days, after that workout, the sun warms the patio and Lucy shares my lap with a ukulele and we howl together. Today was a better day.

Photo: 29-mile gravel ride, 7-mile run, 50 degrees, 8 a.m., Linn County, Iowa

Weekly activity log:

Swim: 2,600 (ytd 152,100 yds.)

Bike: 72 (ytd 3,209 mi.)

Run: 21 miles (ytd 911 mi.)

A bad sign.

Photo: 31-mile gravel ride, 5-mile run, 60 degrees, 8 a.m., Linn County, Iowa

Weekly activity log:

Swim: 2,400 (ytd 149,500 yds.)

Bike: 82 (ytd 3,137 mi.)

Run: 21 miles (ytd 890 mi.)

Bliss.

Photo: 24-mile road ride, 2-mile run, 45 degrees, 6 a.m., Linn County, Iowa

Weekly activity log:

Swim: 2,600 (ytd 147,100 yds.)

Bike: 60 (ytd 3,055 mi.)

Run: 19 miles (ytd 869 mi.)

Photo: 5-mile run, 26-mile gravel ride, 1-mile dog walk, 45 degrees, 5 a.m., Linn County, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 2,500 yds. (ytd 144,500 yds.)
Bike: 85 miles (ytd 2,970 mi.)
Run: 20 miles (ytd 850 mi.) 

Day off.

Photo: 23-mile ride, 3-mile run, 74 degrees, 8 a.m., Linn County, Iowa

Weekly activity log:

Swim: 1,100 yds. (ytd 142,000 yds.)

Bike: 55 miles (ytd 2,885 mi.)

Run: 18 miles (ytd 830 mi.)

A laborious commute on Labor Day.

Photo: 24-mile ride, 1-mile run, 70 degrees, 6 a.m., Linn County, Iowa.

Weekly activity log:

Swim: 2,400 yds. (ytd 140,900 yds.)

Bike: 97 miles (ytd 2,830 mi.)

Run: 20 miles (ytd 812 mi.)

The road to the empty nest continues.

Photo: 57-mile ride, 70 degrees, 6 a.m., Johnson County, Iowa

Weekly activity log:

Swim: 0 yds. (ytd 138,500 yds.)

Bike: 104 miles (ytd 2,733 mi.)

Run: 19 miles (ytd 792 mi.)

When I was young, I roamed the neighborhood with a motley crew of boys (and one girl). Steve, Scott, Joy, Peter and the others rode bikes, climbed trees, built forts, swam and played kick-the-can far into the summer night, usually accompanied by that pesky girl. She chased us, we tolerated her. It didn't help that she was faster than us and a better tree climber. Fast-forward. We're now all spread far and wide, seeing each other rarely, talking occasionally. She now tolerates us and is often the glue of communication that holds us all together. Thanks for this morning, Amelia. The boys from the West Side still have your back.

Photo: The annual three-generation tradition continues. 70 degrees, 7 p.m., Minneapolis, Minnesota

Weekly activity log:

Swim: 5,000 yds. (ytd 138,500 yds.)

Bike: 106 miles (ytd 2,629 mi.)

Run: 20 miles (ytd 773 mi.)

Photo: 2,000-swim, 30-mile ride, 60 degrees, 6 a.m., Alburnett, Iowa

Weekly activity log:

Swim: 5,500 yds (ytd 138,500 yds.)

Bike: 112 miles (ytd 2,629 mi.)

Run: 15 miles (ytd 773 mi.)

Is it worth rising at 4:30 a.m.? Absolutely.

Photo: 37-mile ride, 2-mile run, 1,500-yd swim, 70 degrees, 11 a.m., Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 3,100 yds (ytd 133,000 yds.)å
Bike: 99 miles (ytd 2,517 mi.)
Run: 10 miles (ytd 758 mi.)

The only creature who likes my smelly running shoes more than me.

Photo: long swim, long ride, long run, 60 degrees, 2 a.m., Lake Mills, Wisconsin

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 7,000 yds (ytd 129,900 yds.)
Bike: 150 miles (ytd 2,418 mi.)
Run: 31 miles (ytd 748 mi.)

Things get weird in the dark.

Photo: Long drive to longboard, 50 degrees, 3 p.m., Vail Pass, Colorado

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 1,700 yds (ytd 122,900 yds.)
Bike: 61 miles (ytd 2,268 mi.)
Run: 29 miles (ytd 717 mi.)

Yes, childhood friends, I'm still riding that darned skateboard..

Photo: 20-mile tri-bike ride, 3-mile run, 20-mile road bike ride, 3-mile run, 10-mile fixie ride, 1-mile run, 1-mile swim, 80 degrees, 11 a.m., Linn County, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 4,800 yds (ytd 121,200 yds.)
Bike: 144 miles (ytd 2,207 mi.)
Run: 20 miles (ytd 688 mi.)

Does it look like Colorado? No? It will.

Photo: 30-mile ride, 3-run, 30-mile ride, 4-mile run, 1-mile swim, 75 degrees, 11 a.m., Linn County, Iowa

Weekly activity log: Swim: 5,500 yds (ytd 116,400 yds.) Bike: 120 miles (ytd 2,063 mi.) Run: 31 miles (ytd 668 mi.)

Rain on the bike, rain on the run, rain on the swim....workout down the drain.

Photo: Iowa Indy 250, 80 degrees, 2 p.m., Newton, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 6,000 yds (ytd 106,700 yds.)
Bike: 100 miles (ytd 1,799 mi.)
Run: 27 miles (ytd 609 mi.)

Not the start line I'm used to...

 or the transition area... 

                                 

or the podium. Congrats, James! 

Photo: 2,000-yard swim, 50 degrees, 4 a.m., Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 4,700 yds (ytd 100,700 yds.)
Bike: 135 miles (ytd 1,699 mi.)
Run: 28 miles (ytd 582 mi.)

'Bout time.

Photo: 7-mile run, 7 p.m., 65 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 4,300 yds (ytd 96,000 yds.)
Bike: 126 miles (ytd 1,564 mi.)
Run: 16 miles (ytd 554 mi.)

Seriously.

Photo: 3-mile walk, 3 p.m., 65 degrees, Marion, Iowa

Weekly activity log:
Swim: 2,700 yds (ytd 91,700 yds.)
Bike: 74 miles (ytd 1,438 mi.)
Run: 22 miles (ytd 538 mi.)

What does a nature walk with my daughter have to do with the first race day of the year? Very, very little...and thank god for that.