Post Falls out of Ironman bike loop

Ironman Coeur d’Alene is rerouting the triathlon’s 112-mile bike course through Hayden and into the Rimrock area, completely removing the race from Post Falls.

“At this point we are fully committed,” Race Director Andy Emberton said Wednesday. “I think it’s going to be a good course and we are looking forward to it.”

Hayden has lobbied Ironman to change its course for nearly three years. Now that the world-class event has agreed, Hayden officials say it’s a first move toward making their town North Idaho’s recreation capital.

“This is just one step closer to having that happen,” said Hayden Councilwoman Nancy Taylor, who is training for her fourth Ironman. “Thrilled. I’m just thrilled to finally see this happen.”

The city of Hayden Lake preliminarily agreed Monday to have the bike portion of the race go through the town in June, when nearly 2,500 athletes attempt to finish the grueling 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run.

Hayden and Dalton Gardens had already signed off on the new route.

Hayden Lake Mayor Bob Prince said his town, a bedroom community with no businesses, won’t see an economic boost.

“We’re going along with it to benefit the other communities,” Prince said. “We are asking our community to basically have fun with it.”

Prince said that Ironman has promised to publicize and educate residents about traffic delays and road closures. Yet he has reservations.

Before the town completes the agreement with Ironman, Prince wants city engineers to review the route and ensure it’s a safe and workable plan.

Although the exact route isn’t sealed, Prince is concerned about a mile-long, narrow and windy stretch of Lakeview Road.

“There’s pros and cons,” he said. “Hopefully it will work out well.”

Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin said he hadn’t spoken with anyone from Ironman about the route change that will remove the race from Post Falls.

“We’ve enjoyed having them in our community for the last four years and understand why they are moving,” Larkin said.

Emberton said the Hayden course is safer and will alleviate traffic concerns in quickly-growing Post Falls. He said that change isn’t directly related to Post Falls’ annual request for reimbursement to pay for city costs associated with the one-day event.

In contrast, Hayden for the past two years has included about $10,000 in its budget to cover traffic control and other costs associated with the event. Taylor said that was done to prove Hayden was serious about welcoming the event.

Larkin didn’t say whether Post Falls attempted to persuade Ironman to stay.

“If they chose to come back, we would have welcomed them, but they didn’t, and we wish them the best of luck,” he said.

Even though the bike race won’t loop through Post Falls, Larkin expects the town’s hotels and restaurants to reap the same benefits. The event has drawn about 30,000 spectators since it came to Kootenai County in 2003.

Emberton said the new bike route may be a little more difficult for athletes because there is a succession of hill climbs that are closer together than those on the Post Falls course. That means cyclists won’t have as much recovery time.

Taylor, who often runs and bikes in the Rimrock area, doesn’t think the new course will be more physically challenging. She believes it will be easier on athletes’ minds and said that is just as important.

No longer will competitors have to fight the windy Rathdrum Prairie or bear the makeshift bridge over about 300 feet of railroad tracks so the route can cross over Seltice Way or loop the former Greyhound dog track twice.

In addition, Taylor said the Rimrock area is beautiful and that Hayden and Dalton Gardens plan to have official gatherings to cheer on athletes, unlike Post Falls. Some people want the annual Hayden Days celebration moved to coordinate with the triathlon.