Ironman finishers wind down
Some Ironman finishers were stiff-bodied while others stretched out for follow-up runs in downtown Coeur d’Alene on Monday.
From a long line of Ironman USA Coeur d’Alene athletes waiting for race certificates, the buzz of race stories and snapshot reviews bounced back and forth between strangers.
“I’ve decided it’s like childbirth,” said Ron Dent, of Durango, Colo. “It looks horrible – like, oh my God, how would I ever do this again?”
But the pain goes away, he said. This is Dent’s second Ironman, and he plans to run in Coeur d’Alene again next year.
He and other athletes agree the Coeur d’Alene venue was prime this year – from the weather to the volunteers.
Jeff Bryan, of Lake Tahoe, Calif., also plans to sign up again for next year’s race.
“If you could put that feeling you get when you finish into a drink, it’d be worth a million dollars,” he said.
He and his wife, Lisa, headed out to look at real estate in the area Monday after waiting in line for Jeff’s finishing certificate.
Shelley Bramblett, race director, said about 100 people signed up early Monday for next year’s event. But many more are expected to sign up online.
“The phones are ringing off the hook,” Bramblett said of the Ironman headquarters office in Florida.
She was awakened at 7 a.m. Monday by people wanting to sign up.
“People are anxious and want to start registering,” she said.
About 2,000 race slots for next year are expected to fill faster than last year, which took about eight days. The rates are up $25 to $425, she said.
Aside from a wave of aches and pains, the race went well overall, said race spokesman Shane Facteau. He said moving the finish line forward a block was a “big improvement.”
Facteau said three bike accidents occurred along the way, one involving a volunteer who was sent to the hospital and another head-on accident between two cyclists. But he said no accidents were life threatening.
P.Z. Pearce, medical director for Ironman Coeur d’Alene, said high humidity caused several severe heat injuries that made athletes sicker longer. About 10 athletes were sent to Kootenai Medical Center. But total injuries seemed less frequent than last year’s 500 caused by high temperatures, he said.
Sgt. Andy Boyle, of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department recreation and safety team, said dive teams pulled three to five swimmers during the race.
“Unfortunately, with an event this size, there’s always going to be something,” Facteau said. “We’re fortunate at this point that nothing real crazy happened.”
Facteau said about 250 more athletes finished this year compared to last year, citing better weather conditions. Of 1,789 competitors, 1,627 finished the race.
The volunteer appreciation party will be held at 6:30 p.m. today at the banquet tent near the Third Street boat launch. Volunteers must wear their T-shirts for the party, which will include a barbecue, prizes and live entertainment.