'There's just lots of energy'

COEUR d’ALENE — Sherman Avenue was a wave of energy throughout the day Sunday as the friends and family of Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene competitors lined the streets to cheer their loved ones on.

One of the smallest spectators, 4-year-old Parker Calkins of Liberty Lake, held a large, neon-green poster that almost engulfed him. The sign Parker held, which read “Mom is my hero! Go Nikki!,” was in support of his mother, who was well on her way to completing her first Ironman 70.3 early in the afternoon Sunday.

In a brief interview with The Press, Parker said he is very proud of his mom before informing his uncle, Mark Calkins, that he was hot and needed a break from cheering.

Mark said that his sister-in-law has been training all year to take on the 70.3-mile event.

“It’s awesome being here, there’s just lots of energy,” Calkins said. “The work Nikki did is just really impressive, she’s just been grinding. I don’t know if I’d do it myself, but it’s pretty inspiring to see this.”

On another stretch of Sherman Avenue, multiple Ironman finisher Scott McGeachy of Camas, Wash., was surrounded by family members shortly after completing the race. McGeachy said it’s great to have his family’s support while he races, and hearing their voices gives him the energy needed to finish.

“It’s fun,” McGeachy’s daughter, Eva, said of coming and cheering on her dad.

When asked by The Press if he gave his son a pep talk or tips before the race McGeachy’s dad, Irv, smiled and laughed. McGeachy, Irv said, is the one that gave him tips and a pep talk when the two completed the full Coeur d’Alene Ironman together last year.

“I wanted to do one with my son before I got too old,” he added.

Thousands of local volunteers from around the region worked tirelessly before and after the race, ensuring competitors were safe and had plenty of water and sunscreen.

In past Ironman years, triple-digit temperatures and other weather conditions have kept the race’s mostly volunteer medical staff busy. Dr. Kevin Chang, medical director, told The Press that, although there was nothing out of the ordinary on Sunday, the staff was still treating Ironman hopefuls and finishers.

“It’s mostly just the typical, post-race dehydration issues like cramps,” Chang said.

Medical volunteers, Chang added, were so readily available this year that some had to be turned away and asked to volunteer in another area.

“It’s great that the community is able to come out and support this large of an event like that — it’s the key to its success,” he said.

Dani Zibell-Wolfe, Ironman volunteer director, estimated the event brought in more than 1,400 volunteers from throughout the region to lend a hand. The race, she added, would not happen without the work of these volunteers.

“I can’t thank them enough,” Zibell-Wolfe said. “I love the fact that we’re so successful at getting communities involved and can say, without a doubt, that we have the absolute best volunteers in the world.”

Alyssa and Kristen Glyshaw, first-time volunteers from Spokane Valley, work in the medical field and said that prompted them to volunteer their time wherever they were needed. They loved volunteering Sunday in Coeur d’Alene, they added, and can’t wait to do it again.

“Why not come out and enjoy all of this, it’s beautiful out here,” said Kristen.

“It was such an amazing experience, there’s so much energy,” added Alyssa.