Join me by pulling up a chair and pouring yourself a cup of coffee. As always, though, I’m sticking to water since I don’t care for coffee or tea. Let’s take a break and try to talk about more than just fitness-related topics. Sound like a plan? I’ll kick us off…

 

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that…..

I spent a good chunk of February trading the cold and snowy Virginia ‘snowcrete’ for over two weeks in sunny Florida. It was such a gift to find warmer weather and—most importantly—ice-free trails! The trip gave me the perfect excuse to live outdoors, whether I was logging miles on my bike, walking in parks, or hiking through some stunning wetlands and bird sanctuaries. There’s nothing like a dose of Vitamin D to reset the system.

 

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that…..

I finally hopped on the AI trend to see myself as a cartoon personal trainer! I gave ChatGPT a photo of Pablo and me from last fall and told it to get to work.

I asked for the work mode version: swap the sunglasses for my eyeglasses, trade the tee for a pink tank, and—most importantly—leave the pupster at home. ChatGPT clearly understood the assignment… and apparently gave me some “bonus” gains, making my arms and legs look more like they did in my 40s than now in my late 60s! 💪😂

 

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that…..

While in Florida, I had the chance to meet up with bloggers Darlene and Jenny for a scenic bird-watching walk! The birds were out in full force, and I’m honestly not sure who had more fun: the three of us catching up as we wandered through the wetlands, or my husband, who was in his element testing out a new lens. He ended up with over 4,000 shots! I’ve managed to whittle the collection down to just a few of my absolute favorites.

Little Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron with Hungry Babies

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Wood Stork

White Ibis

Purple Gallinule

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that…..

The basement gym transformation is officially complete! We’ve officially swapped the running theme for a National Parks tribute.

Our son and daughter-in-law gifted us these beautiful 10-inch plaques of our favorite parks. It was nearly impossible to narrow it down to ten! Bryce Canyon and Mesa Verde were top contenders that just missed the cut. I actually rank Bryce higher than Zion, but my husband disagreed—and since the Zion plaque looked better with the grouping, I let him have the final say. 😉

 

On the opposite wall, our national park map is framed by photos of our past adventures. Looking at it gives me that extra push to keep training—I work hard in the gym so I can continue exploring our beautiful national parks for years to come.

 

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that…..

The Dawn Patrol crew loved the Winter Warrior Challenge so much that I’ve officially launched our March challenge: I Tri! 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♀️

To complete it, we’re aiming for:

  • • 1 Swim per week

  • • 2 Runs/Walks per week

  • • 2 Bike sessions per week

The rules are simple: indoor or outdoor sessions both count, and there are no minimum distances. That said, though: I have zero intention of getting in the pool. I’m officially failing the swim portion of my own challenge before it even starts!

 

  • Questions:
  • • Have you jumped on the ChatGPT cartoon trend? ~ It took me a while, but I finally did it!
  • • If you were participating in the I Tri Challenge, which would be your weakest link? ~ I’m not a very good swimmer and have zero desire to get any better because I really don’t enjoy participating in the sport.
  • • If we were having coffee, what would you tell me?

 

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Today I’m joining Deborah at Confessions Of A Mother Runner and Coco at Running With Perseverance for their monthly Ultimate Coffee Date linkup which goes live the first Friday of every month.  Be sure to stop by their blogs for a cup of coffee and to say hello; and while you’re there, be sure to check out some of the other bloggers who are participating in the linkup.