Swim, bike and run - sprint style

With a community so supportive of those with active lifestyles, the progression of events like the Race The River sprint triathlon may seem smooth to an outsider.

Look a little deeper, and you’ll see that the event has gotten better (and bigger) by design.

Event Organizer Issac Mann, Operations Director Curt DuPuis and Kids Race Director Cathy Stevens spoke recently about the race’s origin, its present state and their commitment to its future.

The race, in its ninth season, features a half-mile swim, a 15.75-mile bike segment and finishes with a 3.02 mile run.

“The idea (of this event) is to try to continue to keep this idea of the triathlon culture,” Mann said, prior to convening a staff meeting to go over logistics for Sunday’s event at North Idaho College.

Dupuis started Race The River with his ex-wife, and Isaac came on board four years ago.

“The race originally started in Riverstone, with John Stone,” DuPuis said. “John fronted the money to get the race going, but he didn’t want to own a race, so we said ‘if you pay for it, we’ll own it,’ and he said ‘OK, here’s the money.’”

However, DuPuis said every year after that, Riverstone saw more development “and we had to keep changing things, and finally last year we moved here to (North Idaho College),”

“A while back, we saw the movement was away from duathlons and course triathlons, and that’s when sprint triathlons started to catch on,” Mann said. “But there was nothing here — everything similar was over the border in Washington or beyond, so Race The River was groundbreaking.”

Race The River and the Rathdrum sprint tri (at Radiant Lake) were real catalysts that came before the other sprint races going in this area, DuPuis said. “Now we have the sprint Coeur d’Alene Triathlon, and sprints tris in Hayden and Priest River (which includes a mountain bike course).”

Mann said their organization really can’t hold another event like RTR in Coeur d’Alene, due to the lack of available city permits. “We have this date, and their calendar is full. But we have talked about the fact that there is room for a sprint-distance triathlon in the Sandpoint area, and we have talked about putting on such an event.”

“It’s tough (to get another event going here) since the season is so short, but we are just blessed since logistically, everything is so close for what we are doing here,” DuPuis said. “We’ve got great green spaces here, and the parking and infrastructure is built in, the NIC beach is exactly a half mile to our exit point.”

Mann said that since they retain the same crew, the city is allowing them to run the event without requiring city police involvement. “And our impact is low, since we are all done with our main thoroughfare by 10 a.m.”

The popularity of the event is not lost on the directors. “We have a family that has done this event as a family reunion for all nine years,” Mann said. “And family friendly is what we are aiming for.”

Stevens said the kids race has doubled in participants in just one year. “It is a true family weekend for those who are intent on making it so.”

Mann added it’s a great race for people who love the sport but don’t want to do Ironman distances anymore. “Some athletes just want to stay in shape and do outdoor activities with their families and with over 200 kids in that race now we have a great problem — they are bringing new energy into the sport and they are the future of our event as well as other similar ones in the area.”

Stevens said adding the kids race to the event wasn’t a difficult transition, since the event itself was already up and running. “And being attached to those (RTR races) has helped make it successful and attractive for families.”

The event’s popularity mirrors the growth of triathlons in the region. “Next to the two Ironman events, this is the third largest race in Coeur d’Alene as far as the number of participants,” DuPuis said. “We are still just in our ninth year, and we’re now outpacing the Coeur d’Alene Triathlon and the other events in the region.”

Mann said that 75 percent of the participants come from the North Idaho and Spokane regions, but that many are coming in from Portland, Seattle and other areas. “We do get those out-of-towners, but it is hard for me to not think of Spokane as local, since 100 miles is not too far for an triathlete to travel (to compete).”

DuPuis pointed out that the event is the USA Triathlon (USAT) Northwest Regional Sprint Championship for this year and last. DuPuis also sits on the USAT NW council.

Thursday afternoon the trio met with the event staff to go over transition areas, road closures, barricade placement and to discuss any other last-minute issues before they show up at 3:30 a.m. Sunday to work the event.

“When you field an event with 5-600 athletes, you also field over 100 volunteers,” Mann said. “In our event, I kind of consider myself as an engaged innkeeper, and I am throwing a party for 600 of my best friends and their family members, so at the finish line it is free food for everybody, and my rule is you can only eat if you’re here.

“We just make it a real fun family atmosphere at the finish line.”

Advanced Dermatology has increased its involvement since the beginning, and is now sponsoring the entire event. DuPuis said that Newton running shoes has also been with them from the start, “We fell in love with their shoes, and we were able to get their brand out there and (their business) has kind of blown up from there.”

DuPuis added that the swim course is perfect for beginners to get their feet wet before transitioning to larger triathlons. “You’re never farther than 60 feet from the shore, whereas most swims you have to go out into deep water.”

Mann said North Idaho College loves how the event brings people to their campus, and he was especially enthusiastic about the new bike course. “It only took us nine years to get a good one, since originally the athletes had to ride down Seltice for multiple laps. Finally we got the permits, and we can go all the way out to Higgens Point and back and then they have a nice (Centennial Trail) run as well.”

For street closures and more information, visit racetheriver.com.