Ironman ... again

Ironman Coeur d’Alene gets going today at 6 a.m. Here’s everything you need to know:

The race lasts all day and goes into the night, officially ending at 11:20 p.m.

More than 1,600 triathletes from all over the world will attempt a 2.4-mile swim in Lake Coeur d’Alene, a 112-mile bike leg out to Higgens Point then out U.S. 95 and back, twice, then will go on the 26.2-mile run which will feature two laps from McEuen Park to Higgens Point.

The time cutoff for athletes to finish the swim is two hours and 20 minutes. The best place to watch the swimmers is either behind City Beach or along the water at Independence Point.

The bike course will close at 4:50 p.m. Any racers that don’t make it into the transition area before that time will not be permitted to continue the race and will receive a DNF — did not finish. Bikers can best be seen from downtown Coeur d’Alene, where athletes will pass through three times.

The finish line cutoff is at 11:20 p.m. The best place to watch runners will be at McEuen Park — where the running course passes through three times. Another great place to watch later in the day is the finish line, between 1st and 2nd Street on Sherman Avenue. The award ceremony will take place at the City Park Bandshell on Monday at 9:30 a.m.

“I’m really excited to try out the new running course,” said Ironman Coeur d’Alene Race Director Zach Ukich. “I think spectators and athletes will love it. Friends and family members can sit in the park, cheer on their racer, go to Sherman Avenue and grab a bite to eat, then cheer on their racer some more. Kids can play in the water features at the park, too.”

For those who have athletes in the race, an athlete tracker is available online at ironman.com. By clicking on ‘Live Coverage’ then ‘Athlete Tracker,’ people can enter their racer’s bib number or name and see which checkpoints along the course their athlete has gone through.

Family members and friends are not allowed in the finishers chute at the end of the race, nor are they allowed into the medical area. There will be a medical information area next to the medical tents where there will be updates on athletes who have entered the medical area.

Race day is supposed to be sunny with a high of 91 degrees.

The first 13 Ironman Coeur d’Alenes were held in June. This year, Ironman bumped the full Ironman to August, and added a half (70.3-mile) Ironman in June.

“This is perfect racing weather,” Ukich told the Press on Saturday. “The water is at 72 degrees, which is a good temperature for a swim, it’s not too cold and it’s not too warm. And even though it’s warmer in August, people expect that and can train mentally for it.”

Today’s race is a qualifying race for the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i, on Oct. 8. A total of 25 qualifying slots will be distributed among gender and age groups depending on how many racers show up for the start.

There is not a pro purse this year, so professional athletes who are competing, if there are any, are not competing as pros. Ironman upper management decided to place the pro purse in one of the other three Ironman races happening this weekend.

Traffic will be congested on U.S. 95, Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive and downtown Coeur d’Alene. There will still be two-way traffic on U.S. 95, but it will be constricted into the southbound lanes and the speed limit will be reduced to 45 miles per hour between 5 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Intersections will be flagger-controlled and no parking on the shoulder will be permitted.

Traffic will also be heavily congested along Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive from Sherman Avenue to Higgens Point boat launch from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. Access to this area will be delayed as athletes will be using both north and southbound lanes.

In previous years, Sherman Avenue, east of 4th Street, and east Lakeside Avenue have been closed all day and into the night due to the race. This year however, with a new running course, those streets will be open by 3 p.m.

“We’re excited,” Ukich said. “This is going to be a good race.”