Racing At An Early Age

Sun., Aug. 7, 1994

Triathletes began racing at an earlier age two years ago when the Coeur d’Alene Triathlon added the Coeur d’Alene Youth Triathlon.

The first race was such a hit with the younger crowd that it’s become an annual event attracting children from all over the nation.

The day before the adult event, children ages 7 to 14 slip into their swimsuits, let adults scrawl numbers in waterproof ink on their arms and legs, and dive into the cool blue water of Sta-Fit Athletic Club’s pool.

The younger children, ages 7-9, swim 100 yards then board a Londonstyle double decker bus for North Idaho College where their bikes await.

They bike a scenic flat one-mile course along Lake Coeur d’Alene and through NIC, then head back to the transition zone to park their bikes and take off on a one-mile run.

The run takes them through the historic Fort Grounds neighborhood, through shady City Park and along the lake to the finish.

Older competitors swim 200 yards, bike three miles on the course through the college and along the lake, and run two miles. The run takes them through the park, past the Coeur d’Alene Resort and back along the lake to the finish.

Every finisher receives a medal, water bottle, swim cap and designer t-shirt. They also get all the muffins, fruits and juice they can hold.

While children’s triathlons are popular in the western half of the nation, the west has few and the Northwest nearly none. This year, the Post Falls Biathlon in June added a children’s event that attracted nearly 150 competitors. The biathlon is a run-bike-run race.

Organizers of the Coeur d’Alene Triathlon chose to fill the void in youth races. The first year, 100 children registered for the race and 94 finished. Nearly 100 adult and child volunteers lined the bike and run routes, timed swimmers and handed out food and hugs.

Parents aren’t allowed to interfere with the young racers. Children are expected to make it to the finish on their own. Volunteers are everywhere along the race route to lend helping hands and encouragement.

Spectators are surprised at how tough the small competitors are. Bike helmets fly as kids race their bikes into the transition area and take off on the run. Some breakfasts fly too, as children give their last ounce of strength to finish the race.

To watch the children this year, spectators should gather along Hubbard Avenue and West Lakeshore Drive at 8 a.m. Children will finish the race at the corner of Hubbard and Lakeshore.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.