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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ironman returns next weekend

Drivers should plan ahead, but Ironman Coeur d’Alene officials say spectators shouldn’t have much difficulty getting downtown for the world-class triathlon next Sunday.

This is the fourth year of the event, which is expected to draw about 30,000 spectators. Nearly 2,500 athletes will attempt to finish the grueling 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run that will take them from the waters of Lake Coeur d’Alene to Liberty Lake.

The course that stretches from Higgens Point to Liberty Lake is nearly identical to last year’s event.

The finish line is on Sherman Avenue, so Front Street will remain open, giving drivers access to downtown.

People can park in the Fourth Street parking lot near the Coeur d’Alene Resort. Parking also is allowed in residential areas north of Coeur d’Alene Avenue.

Motorists should use 15th Street as the main north-south route, because Northwest Boulevard is closed during the race. Third and Fourth streets also will be open to Coeur d’Alene Avenue.

This year Ironman Coeur d’Alene is featuring the women’s pro racers, who are competing for $50,000. The winning competitor is expected to cross the finish line about 3:30 p.m., nine hours after the starting gun fires. The race also is a qualifier for 80 spots in the 2006 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.

The men’s pro race is in July in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Coeur d’Alene City Clerk Susan Weathers, the city’s Ironman liaison, said the women pros will start their swim from City Beach at 6:30 a.m., a half-hour before the rest of the athletes. Weathers said that was to ensure that the women pros cross the finish line first.

After stripping off their wetsuits in the City Park transition area, the athletes hop on their bikes for the 112-mile ride. Then they transition again at City Park and start the marathon.

Weathers hopes that the city’s Cable Channel 19 will broadcast live from the finish line, but officials won’t know until later this week if that’s a go.

The best spots to watch the action are downtown Coeur d’Alene and along Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive where athletes will have to cruise up Bennett Bay hill, Weathers said.

“If they really want to cheer them on that’s the hardest part,” Weathers said.

Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive is open only to local traffic, so Weathers suggested that people who want to watch from there arrive early or use the Centennial Trail.

Volunteers are still needed to make sure athletes are going the right direction, to locate gear bags and for crowd control. Each year about 4,000 volunteers participate, earning a T-shirt and tickets to the volunteer appreciation banquet June 27.

Last week was the deadline for volunteers to register online, but anyone interested can sign up in person through June 24 at the volunteer booth at the Athlete Village Expo in City Park. The expo begins Thursday at noon.

“If you didn’t have volunteers we wouldn’t have a race,” Volunteer Director Donna Wemple said. “End of discussion. That’s how important volunteers are.”

The first street closures begin Thursday afternoon when Sherman Avenue, between Lakeside and Second Street, is shut down so workers can start erecting the finish line bleachers. These two blocks will stay closed until the Monday after the race.

Although there will be reduced lanes on U.S. Highway 95 from the Northwest Boulevard overpass to the turnoff for East Riverview Drive, the Blackwell boat launch will remain open.

In Post Falls, the bike race will reduce the lanes on Poleline Road from Compton Street to Huetter Road.

The intersection of state Highway 41 and Poleline Road is the biggest concern. The intersection will remain open, with flaggers directing traffic. Long delays are expected, and officials recommend that drivers use alternate routes.

Motorists trying to access Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Spokane should avoid Highway 41. Instead, they should use Highway 53 or take Prairie Avenue and go east or west.

Sections of the Centennial Trail from Liberty Lake to Post Falls Greyhound Park and Events Center also will be closed, because cyclists are using the path.