Triathletes make their marks
One by one they all came in. Staggering, sauntering and trotting over the finish line in varying stages of exhaustion, but most with smiles on their faces, proud of their times, or just happy to have finished.
More than 1,000 athletes participated in the annual Coeur d’Alene Triathlon and Duathlon on Saturday morning at Coeur d’Alene City Park.
The Olympic distance triathlon – 1.5-kilometer swim, 40K bike ride and 10K run – attracted a wider range of triathletes than the Coeur d’Alene Ironman endurance race did in June.
Erika Sweigert completed her first Olympic distance triathlon in a little more than 2 1/2 hours. Prior to Saturday, Sweigert had only competed in sprint, and she signed up for the Coeur d’Alene Triathlon because she was looking for a bigger challenge.
“It really didn’t feel all that much longer than the sprint ones that I’ve done before,” said the 15-year-old from Victor, Idaho. “I’m not all that tired.”
But Olympic distance triathlons are small potatoes to Conrad Band. Band, a seasoned triathlete who raced at World Championships in 2006 and has completed the Coeur d’Alene Ironman, was gunning for a good time. He finished in 2:05.12, good for 11th overall.
“That was one of my better times,” said Band, 25. “The Ironman is all about endurance, but with these it’s all about speed and seeing how long you can redline it.”
A pair of Montanans finished first overall in the men’s and women’s categories. Matt Seeley, 36, from Poulson, won the men’s race in 1:54.03, while 32-year-old Bozeman native Holly Walker topped the women with her 2:14.37 time.
“Oh, my gosh, I’ve never done this one before,” Walker said “The bike is definitely a scenic challenge, but it was a lot of fun. And the run was a joy.
Kellie Wheelan, 32, crossed the finish line looking over her shoulder for her husband, Jason.
“I beat him, just like I said I would,” Wheelan said as she rejoined her mother and her 3-month-old son, Roan, at the finish.
Wheelan resumed her triathlon training less than six weeks after delivering Roan in May.
“I worked out at the gym pretty much until the delivery date,” said Wheelan, who also has a 6-year-old daughter. “Then I got back on the bike the second week of June, and this is my first triathlon since I had him.
“It was harder getting back in shape this time around.”
In a show of support for his wife, Jason Wheelan, 37, also competed in the triathlon – “without training for it at all,” as Kellie pointed out.
Jason finished in 2:44.55, about 3 minutes behind his wife, whose lithe, athletic physique betrayed no sign of her recent pregnancy.
“Look at her body, the baby’s just 3 months old,” Jason said. “But no, I didn’t train for this. I play hockey, that’s about it. I just thought I’d do it with her.”