Spirit of Ironman volunteers continues

Cowbells and cheers rang out through Coeur d’Alene early Sunday morning as over 1,300 Ironman hopefuls raced into Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Pockets of people perused downtown wearing brightly colored shirts that read “Irondad” and “Tom’s Team.”

As athletes came out of the water and into the bike transition, they had the options to get help stripping their wetsuits off, use the restroom and lather up on sunscreen.

One of the wetsuit peelers was Shaylia McHenry, a local who got hooked on triathlons this year, completing the Ironman 70.3, Race the River, the Coeur d’Alene Triathlon and the Krocman Triathlon. The former Coeur d’Alene High basketball star decided not to do the full Ironman Sunday, but still wanted to be a part of it.

“I’m volunteering here in the morning and then I’m catching people at the finish line later tonight,” she said.

Deeper into the transition area, Kathy Garcia directed a group of volunteers responsible for helping out in the women’s changing area.

“We have the best team,” she said. “They really care for the athletes and want them to have a phenomenal race.”

Garcia’s husband has been running Ironman Coeur d’Alene for many years now and Garcia herself has volunteered at every race since Ironman came to town.

According to Garcia, working in the changing rooms is the best job there is on the race course.

“I like getting that face-to-face interactions with the athletes,” she said. “We give them kind words, and as an athlete those kind words could change your day.”

As racers left the changing area to get their bikes, they passed eight-year-old Robert Liddicoat Jr. from Rose Lake handing out cups of water.

When his dad ran the Ironman 70.3 in June, Liddicoat volunteered at the race. He loved it so much, he asked his dad if they could volunteer at Sunday’s race.

“He was a trooper last time and wanted to do it again,” said Liddicoat’s dad, Robert. “He earned his T-shirt, I’ll tell you that.”

As racers moved from swimming to biking, cheerleaders and motivators moved to the streets, lining Lakeside Avenue.

People hung onto the rails that separated them from the race course, hoping to get a glimpse of the inspiring racers as they whizzed by. Jennifer and Tony Develice of Seattle brought their nine-year-old and 11-year-old sons to Coeur d’Alene to cheer on a family friend while local Glenn Wright set up his chair and huge mug to watch the race from a distance.

“Every year I just come and watch,” Wright said. “I like all the events like the swimming and the biking.”

Another avid cheerleader was Doneen Pellegrom of Michigan. Dressed as a bumble bee, complete with bumble bee earrings, hat, wings and striped stockings, she stuck out like a sore thumb. But that was the point.

Her husband was running the Ironman race and she wanted him to be able to spot her in the crowd.

“I have so much fun with [the costume]. I love that he can see me from far away,” she said. “I will never do one of these, but I will always support him as best I can.”

As the day wore on and bikers turned into runners, the mass of spectators migrated to McEuen Park. Kids played on the green fields, flying kites and running through the water features. Most sought shade to lay down for a while — some had been downtown since before 5 a.m.

Ed and Julie Adamchak of Post Falls found a nice patch of shade to watch their son, Joseph, run. Joined by other family members, friends and their dog Soni, the Adamchak group pulled out all the stops for their athlete. They made T-shirts, had huge neon signs and had a portable speaker from which they played Joseph’s favorite songs.

“The course is set up so well for us to watch him,” Julie said, remarking on how many laps the course was.

“It gives us an opportunity to participate and support the runners because you see them so often,” Ed chimed in.

The family had been in downtown Coeur d’Alene since 4:30 in the morning. They came well prepared for the day with snacks, water and chairs and signs.

“It’s been a long day,” Ed said after he watch his son run by for the second time. “But it’s been quite fun and very entertaining.”