Ironman to close streets, cause temporary delays

Even in the sixth year, the advice for getting around Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene on race day remains the same: plan ahead, expect delays and watch for road closures.

There are few changes to the route for the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike course and 26.2-mile run, which starts downtown at City Beach.

Elite athletes will dive into chilly Lake Coeur d’Alene at 6:25 a.m., followed by the rest of the competitors at 7 a.m. The triathletes will transition in City Park for the two-loop bike ride that stretches along the shoreline to Higgens Point north through Hayden into the Rimrock area and then back downtown.

The run takes competitors again along the shore of Lake Coeur d’Alene.

The winner is expected to cross the Sherman Avenue finish line about 3:30 p.m., nearly nine hours after the starting gun.

Once again Hayden moved its annual Hayden Days celebration to coincide with the world-class race, with prime views of the bike course at Finucane Park at the corner of Fourth Street and Prairie Avenue.

Festival atmospheres are expected in both Coeur d’Alene and Hayden.

Coeur d’Alene Municipal Service Director Susan Weathers, the city’s Ironman liaison, said getting around town is possible, but drivers should have patience and use caution.

Her advice: “Shop Saturday then you can enjoy Sunday.”

She added that anywhere along the course is a good spot to watch, even in the rural areas along the bike course where athletes might need an extra boost of encouragement.

The race typically draws about 30,000 people to watch nearly 2,400 athletes. About 160 competitors are from North Idaho, and about 120 are from Spokane County.

This year’s Ironman Coeur d’Alene features the men’s and women’s pro racers, who are each competing for a purse of $75,000, of which each winner gets $12,000.

Ironman means major street closures, curtailing weekend traffic flow. For details, see accompanying map.