My apologies to the participants in the Ironman 70.3 Steelhead triathlon in Benton Harbor, Mich., Saturday: it seems I was premature in declaring the weather beautiful, as it performed a rollback that would do a Kentucky Cup reiner proud, switching from Friday’s glorious sun to 35 mph wind gusts and driving rain by Saturday afternoon.

Yet, tri we did! My fiancŽ completed and can now say he’s at very least an aluminum man. And I learned that no, my usual light jacket really doesn’t cut it as a raincoat. 

Following the race we went to stay with a college friend in Kalamazoo, Mich., and as a result I am no longer lacking a raincoat. Or nice clothes. Or shoes. She seemed to take it as her personal mission that I should be decently dressed, and I must say, I needed the help! So if you notice that I look better put-together in the videos we’re shooting over there, say a word of thanks to Laura, my fairy godfriend of wardrobe.

Driving back today, I had a choice: get home early and have time to ride, pick up a few more things, eat a leisurely dinner, and pack; or, make a little detour to stop by my parents’ farm and give a carrot to my retired mare, who I haven’t seen in months (resulting in a significantly tighter schedule once back in Lexington)