Rain to shine
<p>Caitlin Snow, US, laughs as she talks about her experiences in Ironman and what she expects for Sunday's race at the Ironman pros press conference Friday.</p>
<p>Three time Ironman Coeur d'Alene winner Viktor Zyemtsev responds to a crowd question at the Irnoman pros press conference Friday afternoon at the Band Shell in Coeur d'Alene City Park. When asked what the athletes do after completing a race, Zyemtsev reaponded by saying that he likes to eat and have a beer.</p>
<p>Heather Wurtele of Canada, responds during a question and answer press conference at the Band Shall in Caoeur d'Alene City Park Friday for professional Ironman Triathletes who will be participating in the race on Sunday.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Rainy weather leading up to race day isn't all that bad. Not for the pros, anyway.
Ben Hoffman, a former NCAA triathlete from the University of Minnesota with wins at Ironman St. George and Ironman Wisconsin, arrived in Coeur d'Alene Wednesday for Sunday's Ironman Coeur d'Alene.
"I was supposed to do a couple-hour ride on Thursday, that's what my coach had me down for," he said Friday during the press conference at the Coeur d'Alene City Park bandshell featuring top pros in Sunday's race.
It was raining all day Thursday, so the training ride was called off.
No matter, feeling good and being mentally ready is more important.
"You're not going to get a lot fitter in these last few days before the race," he said. "The weather has kind of helped us, I think. It's a little bit of a bonus just helping us taper a little bit."
It could provide a race-day energy boost.
Being flexible and adapting to changes is part of being an Ironman, he said.
And there are going to be some changes for athletes who have been here before. The bike course is one.
Heather Wurtele, 33, of Canada, a two-time champion in St. George and once in Coeur d'Alene, said the new course is "fantastic."
She said it's great terrain and challenging.
"But not quite so punchy and technical as the old course," she said. "I think it's very important to pace yourself properly because those hills always seem larger the second time through."
The course allows the athletes to get into a good rhythm because the climbs are long and gradual.
Viktor Zyemtsev, from Ukraine, who has 10 Ironman wins, said the course provides good visibility for riders.
"So you can keep very high speeds," he said.
The early swim starting time for the pros, 6 a.m., is another change.
"It makes it a little ugly in the morning - you've got to get up at like 3 (a.m.) to eat," Wurtele said. "So I haven't been looking forward to that too much."
She said she's not sleeping that well the night before anyway.
Hoffman, Wurtele, and Zyemtsev were joined at the press conference by Chris Legh, Caitlin Snow and Bree Wee.
Other quotes from the Ironman Coeur d'Alene press conference:
Why compete in Coeur d'Alene?
"I like Coeur d'Alene, I loved the course when I was here in 2011," said Caitlin Snow. "We had a great time, it's a beautiful town."
"I'm having a blast here, even though it's been a little bit rainy here the past couple days," Snow said. "I have a great home stay and, again, it's just such a beautiful town and it's so fun to be here."
Bree Wee, 32, of Hawaii, said she's back in Coeur d'Alene because she didn't finish in 2010.
"I broke down on the run," Wee said. "I think I made it just out of that finish shoot right there, and I decided to come back and finish the race."
Foods relied on?
Chris Legh, of Australia, who won his first Ironman in Coeur d'Alene in 2004, said he eats of lot of Snickers candy bars and Starbucks coffee double shot.
"Doesn't really work in Kona (Hawaii), it gets a little warm, but this could be perfect here," Legh said.