Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene

More than 2,000 athletes hit the water Sunday, June 21, 2009, morning for the seventh Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene. The calendar may have indicated it was summer, but the race started with temperatures in the 40s and wind picked up speed as the swimmers slogged through 2.4 miles of choppy water.

Section:Gallery

Sun., June 21, 2009

Mike Orseno, 36, left, from Chicago, races past family members as they cheer him along the 112 mile Ironman bike course in downtown Coeur d'Alene, June 21, 2009. His supporters wore shirts that read "Go Mike O".

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A participant feels the pain after swimming in the lake at the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene.

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Dennis Melowski of Kohler, Wisc., has his wetsuit removed with the help of the volunteers after he swam the 2.4 miles at the start of the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene, June 21, 2009.

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Scott Smith, a firefighter from Hermosa Beach, Calif., flies away from the bike transition area during the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene on Sunday, June 21, 2009.

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Matthew Wehrman of Royal Oaks, Wisc., streaks down Lakeside Avenue during the first bike lap of the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene on Sunday, June 21, 2009.

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Jason Midgarden, 37, of Golden Valley, Minn., blazes his way down Lakeside Avenue on his first bike lap of the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene on sunday, June 21, 2009.

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Scary rabbits watch Ironman participants ride their bikes along Lakeside Avenue on Sunday, June 21, 2009.

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Max the dog gets a front-row view of the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene along Lakeside Avenue Sunday, June 21, 2009.

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Ironman participants transition from swimming to biking Sunday, June 21, 2009, in Coeur d'Alene Park.

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Spectators line the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene course cheering on the participants Sunday, June 21, 2009.

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Participants wait on the beach for the 7 a.m. start of the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene on Sunday, June 21, 2009.

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Thane Boysen, 36, of Raleigh, N.C., honors the singing of the national anthem before the mass swim start of the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene on Sunday, June 21, 2009. "I'm just trying to survive," Boysen said about his second Coeur d'Alene Ironman.

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Arthur Halttunen, 59, a dentist from St. Petersburg, Fla., gets his race number written on his arm by volunteer Rebecca Shaw before the start of the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene on Sunday, June 21, 2009.

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Spectators watch the bikes roll down Lakeside Avenue as participants head out on the first bike lap of the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene.

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Pro racer Scott Curry transitions from swim to biking during the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene on Sunday, June 21, 2009.

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Pro racers Heather Wurtele, left, 2008 womens winner, and Edith Niederfriniger hurry through the transition area on the way to the bikes at the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene on Sunday, June 21, 2009.

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Pro racer Maximillian Longree scoots past a water station on his way to the bike area at the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene on Sunday, June 21, 2009.

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Pro races hit the water for the start of the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene on Sunday, June 21, 2009.

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Pro racer Bryan Rhodes gets his game face on as he waits for the swim to begin at the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene on Sunday, June 21, 2009.

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Age-group participants swim the first lap of the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene on Sunday, June 21, 2009.

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Participants love the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene race Sunday, June 21, 2009.

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Spectators cheer on their favorites at the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene on Sunday, June 21, 2009.

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Pediatrician Lauren Kearney, 43, of Carlsbad, Calif., flashes the victory sign as she completes her first swim lap at the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene on Sunday, June 21, 2009.

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