It's Over! Contest Totals = Amanda 111, Carrie 121, Elisa 110

Settle up the office pools — the wait is finally over. And the winner is ...

CARRIE! (She looks pretty excited about the win ... and the new year.)

All the girls fought hard. Each had a turn looking ridiculous, getting sweaty, and emerging victorious. In our minds, they're all winners. But the numbers don't lie and, technically, Triathablog has only one champion.

"What's this all about — what's a Physical Challenge," you ask? Check out Contest Rules in the sidebar to the right for details.

AMANDA: 11 points (111 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Swims
3 points = This Week's OMG Challenge (Butterfly Stroke)
1 point = Team Challenge (Starbucks Walk-A-Thon Relay Ultimate Challenge)
1 point = Santa Challenge (Bellydancing)
1 point = Audience Choice Challenge (Mini Me)

CARRIE: 12 points (121 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Runs
3 points = This Week's OMG Challenge
1 point = Team Challenge (Starbucks Walk-A-Thon Relay Ultimate Challenge)
1 point = Apartment (Therapy) Challenge
1 point = Santa Challenge (Fitness Walking)
1 point = Masquerade Challenge (Shadow)

ELISA: 12 points (110 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Rides
3 points = This Week's OMG Challenge
1 point = Audience Choice Challenge (Mini Me)
1 point = Peace Love Blog (Meditation)
1 point = Team Challenge
1 point = Iron Challenge

Weekly Totals = Amanda 92, Carrie 100, Elisa 86

Too bad we don't award extra credit. Some would say Elisa deserves it for getting rides in between ER visits and a mostly liquid diet (she did ride, just not all four times). And what about Amanda, throwing the year's best Mistletoe Madness party while keeping her friends full of holiday hot chocolate AND getting weekly swims, plus two more challenges?

But Triathablog, like life, is not always fair, and we don't give extra points for holiday cheer. We're happy to see Carrie become our first centurion. Will she hold her lead, or will one of her challengers pull of a Christmas miracle in the final weeks?

"What's a Physical Challenge," you ask? Check out Contest Rules in the sidebar to the right for details.

AMANDA: 9 points (92 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Swims
3 points = This Week's Touch Your Toes Challenge
1 point = Apartment (Physical) Therapy Challenge

CARRIE: 12 points (100 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Runs
3 points = This Week's Touch Your Toes Challenge
1 point = Santa Challenge (Jump Rope)
1 point = Special Report (Report to HR for Recess)
1 point = Audience Choice Challenge (H2Whoa)
1 point = Flux Capacitor Challenge (Different Time)

ELISA: 86 Cumulative

Weekly Totals = Amanda 83, Carrie 88, Elisa 86

No, Carrie, wearing a Back to the Future shirt doesn't get you points toward the Flux Capacitor Challenge. Do you really think we judges are swayed that easily? Sigh.

Again, none of the girls took the Physical Challenge ... or even met their workout minimums! Oh, we know, we know ... Elisa was in the hospital (and did get one ride in), Carrie was puking her guts out (and still got a couple runs in), and Amanda's busy baking up the holiday cheer the rest of us lack (and made a triumphant return yesterday).

We're tired of excuses! This ragtag bunch of bloggers better get in gear next week or face the wrath of the Judging Council ... not to mention their faithful readers! "What's a Physical Challenge," you ask? Check out Contest Rules in the sidebar to the right for details.

AMANDA: 83 Cumulative

CARRIE: 88 Cumulative

ELISA: 2 points (86 Cumulative)
1 point = Bookworm Challenge
1 point = Hemingway Challenge

Weekly Totals = Amanda 74, Carrie 84, Elisa 80

Looks like the holiday spirit got the best of our girls — for the first time in the history of Triathablog, no one took the Physical Challenge! As Christmas approaches and visions of sugarplums dance in their heads, the girls gear up for the final leg of Triathablog. Just 31 days left and it's still anybody's game.

Will Amanda get the gift of a rebound? Will Elisa be able to commute when the weather outside is frightful? Will Carrie feel the spirit of the season and ease up on the ass kicking?

This week's Peace, Love, Blog Challenge might be just the thing to help our team regroup. "What's a Physical Challenge," you ask? Check out Contest Rules in the sidebar to the right for details.

AMANDA: 74 Cumulative

CARRIE: 6 points (84 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Runs
1 point = Bookworm Challenge

ELISA: 5 points (80 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Rides

Weekly Totals = Amanda 58, Carrie 59, Elisa 55

The race gets closer as Carrie inches ahead of Amanda for the first time in the history of Triathablog! Can Amanda regain her position? Will Elisa ride away with the lead? Join the girls as they take on this week's APARTMENT (PHYSICAL) THERAPY Challenge, doing workout videos!

"What's a Physical Challenge," you ask? Check out Contest Rules in the sidebar to the right for details.

AMANDA: 10 points (58 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Swims
3 points = This Week's Audience Choice Challenge (H2Whoa)
1 point = Apartment (Physical) Therapy Challenge
1 point = Flux Capacitor Challenge (Swam at the Beach)

CARRIE: 11 points (59 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Runs
3 points = This Week's Audience Choice Challenge (H2Whoa)
1 point = Special Report Challenge (Running Mates)
1 point = OMG Challenge (Running without iPod)
1 point = Iron Challenge (Weight Lifting)

ELISA: 9 points (55 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Rides
3 points = This Week's Audience Choice Challenge (H2Whoa)
1 point = Flux Capacitor Challenge (Different Time AND Different Place)

Weekly Totals = Amanda 48, Carrie 48, Elisa 46

Sharpen your pencils and put on your thinking caps, because today's your LAST CHANCE to suggest a Physical Challenge!

"What's a Physical Challenge," you ask? Check out Contest Rules in the sidebar to the right for details. Then just comment on any post to suggest your own. We'll announce the winning challenge tomorrow — and the winning suggestion earns you a free Triathablog t-shirt!

AMANDA: 8 points (48 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Swims
1 point = Special Report Challenge
1 point = Santa Challenge (Basketball)
1 point = OMG Challenge (Swam 250 Meters WITH Flip Turns!)

CARRIE: 12 points (48 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Runs
3 points = This Week's Masquerade Challenge (Ladybug)
1 point = Flux Capacitor Challenge (Different Time)
1 point = Touch Your Toes Challenge (Yoga)
1 point = Iron Challenge (Weight Lifting)
1 point = Hemingway Challenge (Fitness Journal)

ELISA: 8 points (46 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Rides
3 points = This Week's Masquerade Challenge (Police Woman)

Weekly Totals = Amanda 40, Carrie 36, Elisa 38

Okay readers, the spotlight's on YOU — comment here to suggest your ideas for the AUDIENCE CHOICE CHALLENGE (to be performed the week of November 2-8). Here's your chance to design your own triathadventure. Make it crazy, make it easy, make it cleaning your apartment (hey, it might happen). Carpe Whatever! Seize the blog! (Wondering how points are earned? Check out Contest Rules in the sidebar to the right.)

AMANDA: 10 points (40 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Swims
3 points = This Week's Copycat Challenge (Running)
1 point = OMG Challenge (Something You Fear — Flip Turn)
1 point = Team Challenge (Group Swim)

CARRIE: 8 points (36 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Runs
3 points = This Week's Copycat Challenge (Biking)

ELISA: 10 points (38 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Rides
3 points = This Week's Copycat Challenge (Swimming)
1 point = OMG Challenge (Something You Fear — Commute to Work)
1 point = Flux Capacitor (Different Time and Place)

Weekly Totals = Amanda 30, Carrie 28, Elisa 28

Amanda's still out front with a comfortable lead. But with her favorite challenges — Iron and Hemingway — all used up, can she maintain her position? Tune in next week!

And remember, the AUDIENCE CHOICE CHALLENGE is coming up in just two weeks, so now's your chance to make us squirm — just leave your idea for a Triathablog Challenge as a comment on any of our posts. (Wondering how points are earned? Check out Contest Rules in the sidebar to the right.)

AMANDA: 11 points (30 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Swims
3 points = This Week's Special Report Challenge (Future Swimmers of America)
1 point = Iron Challenge (Stretching or Weight Lifting)
1 point = Hemingway Challenge (Fitness Journal)
1 point = Flux Capacitor Challenge (Different Time)

CARRIE: 10 points (28 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Runs
3 points = This Week's Special Report Challenge (To be published soon)
1 point = OMG Challenge (Something You Fear — Ran in Highland Park)
1 point = Bookworm Challenge (What I Talk about when I Talk about Running)

ELISA: 10 points (28 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Rides
3 points = This Week's Special Report Challenge (To be published soon)
1 point = OMG Challenge (Something You Fear — Rode in a skirt)
1 point = Bookworm Challenge (The Art of Urban Cycling)

Weekly Totals = Amanda 19, Carrie 18, Elisa 18

Things are really heating up here at Triathablog! Elisa has come from behind with a whopping FOUR extra challenges in just one week—how does she do it?! (Wondering how points are earned? Check out Contest Rules in the sidebar to the right.)

AMANDA: 10 points (19 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Swims
3 points = This Week's Hemingway Challenge (Fitness Journal)
1 point = Iron Challenge (Weight Lifting)
1 point = Flux Capacitor Challenge (Different Time)

CARRIE: 9 points (18 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Runs
3 points = This Week's Hemingway Challenge (Fitness Journal)
1 point = Peace Love Blog Challenge (Meditation)

ELISA: 12 points (18 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Rides
3 points = This Week's Hemingway Challenge (Fitness Journal)
1 point = Iron Challenge (Weight Lifting)
1 point = Special Report Challenge (Writing a Special Report)
1 point = Flux Capacitor Challenge (Different Time and Place)
1 point = Santa Challenge (Different Sport—Hiking)

Weekly Totals = Amanda 9, Carrie 9, Elisa 6

What an exciting race—Carrie and Amanda are neck and neck with Elisa hot on their heels. Talladega has nothing on these girls! (Wondering how points are earned? Check out Contest Rules in the sidebar to the right.)

AMANDA: 9 points (9 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Swims
3 points = This Week's Physical Challenge (Stretching)
1 point = Fitness Journal Challenge

CARRIE: 9 points (9 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Runs
3 points = This Week's Physical Challenge (Weight Training)
1 point = Fitness Journal Challenge

ELISA: 6 points (6 Cumulative)
5 points = Weekly Rides
1 point = Different Time and Place Challenge