Racing To Prove They Can Record Number Turn Out To Display Their Mettle

Hundreds of people turned out Sunday to watch more than 900 triathletes battle wind, waves and exhaustion in the 12th annual Coeur d’Alene Triathlon.

People in the crowd craned their necks and cradled their cameras as the 900-plus competitors - the largest turnout in the history of the event - sped down the final yards at North Idaho College.

To get to the finish line, triathletes swam 1.5 kilometers, biked 40K and ran 10K - a total of about 32 miles. Another 115 three-person teams split the race into three legs, with one person swimming, one biking and one running.

Seven-year-old Ryan Matern was there to cheer on his mother, who dove into Lake Coeur d’Alene with the other swimmers in the first leg of the race.

“FREEZING!” opined his brother, four-year-old James Matern, his eyes wide.

But the 50-degree morning temperatures made the water seem warm by comparison, triathletes said.

“The bike ride was cold, but it was nice that it was chilly on the run,” said 23-year-old triathlete Rachel Avery, of Great Falls, Mont. Her mother, runner on a three-person team, crossed the finish line two minutes later.

Lee Brack, who helps organize the race, didn’t mince words when asked what drives triathletes to compete.

“Every one of them’s an idiot, and they’re out to prove it to their families and friends,” he said, chuckling.

“Hear, hear,” agreed a competitor.

Then Brack turned serious. “We have people out there who’ve been in a terrible accident, or smoke, or are alcoholics, whatever,” he said. “It’s just an overcoming, to prove they can do it.”

Nearby, nine-year-old Megan Roup watched the finish line expectantly, waiting to cheer on her baby sitter, Kathy Salvadore of Hayden Lake.

“It’s really exciting, the relief on people’s faces when they come across the finish line,” said Megan’s sister, 12-year-old Bailee Roup.

“They’re like ‘Ahhh, I’m done,”’ said her sister Lindsay Roup, 9.

The three girls said they want to compete in next year’s children’s triathlon.

They might have changed their minds if they’d seen competitor Jeff Jones of Boise, his knees and elbow bloodied.

Jones was running the course on Tubbs Hill when he caught his running shoe on a rock and sprawled out, 100 yards from the end of the trail.

“If anything, it made me mad so I ran faster,” he said.

Sunday’s event was small potatoes for Jones, who plans to compete in the Canadian “Ironman” competition in two weeks. Ironman competitors swim 2-1/2 miles, bike 112, then run 26.

“So this is just kind of a warmup,” he said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo