Bummed, not bitter, about final run
There was plenty of emotions released as runners came across the finish line in Sunday’s Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene.
Some thrilled they’d finished, others a little overcome with emotion after tackling the course and the 90-degree temperatures that greeted them that day.
And for a few, a little disappointment.
Not because of the times they posted, but those they’ll miss out on around this time next year.
While Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene is still scheduled to continue in 2018, August’s full Ironman is the final time the race is scheduled to be ran in Coeur d’Alene.
COEUR d’ALENE native and professional triathlete Derek Garcia finished seventh overall in Sunday’s 70.3 men’s race.
“It’s everything to me,” Garcia said of Ironman. “The whole reason I got into doing triathlons was coming down here in 2003 and being inspired by the race. It was kind of a pipe dream when I first saw it and kind of a joke to think I could actually do it. I’d never ran more than 3 miles and didn’t know how to swim when I started doing it. But everyone around here has encouraged me to do it and been around me the entire way. Just the allure of coming down Sherman (Avenue, where the finish line is located) was big.”
The full Ironman, which started in 2003, will no longer be hosted in Coeur d’Alene, the chamber of commerce announced at a recent meeting.
“It’s sad to me that it’s going to be over this year,” Garcia said. “Especially since there’s not going to be a pro race in August. Today was a good chance to have one last race here. It’s a bummer to me. It had a good run and I’m hoping it comes back someday. Hopefully we can just be thankful for what we got out of it.”
While he won’t be competing in the full race in August, Garcia will be involved in the final Ironman.
“Without having a true pro race, it just doesn’t feel appropriate for me to be on the start line,” Garcia said. “I’ll be out supporting people as I’ve got participants I coach that will be competing. I’ll definitely be a part of the last one here.”
ANDY POTTS, who won the full Ironman Coeur d’Alene in 2010, ’14 and ’15, and the 70.3 in 2016, finished third on Sunday.
“I’m not a little sad about the full Ironman leaving, I’m really sad about it,” said Potts, who resides in Colorado Springs, Colo. “I feel like the Coeur d’Alene community has the support to host two races, especially the full Ironman.”
Potts, who took a few minutes to celebrate with his family before the flower and champagne ceremony for the top three placers, added it was nice seeing those familiar faces in the crowd.
“I’ve got my family here and we’re from the lakes region,” Potts said. “When we come out of the water and a couple times on the bike and a couple of times in McEuen Park is where we see them. It’s still a family-orientated race. When I see them, they’re wanting me to dig in and show them what guts are all about. And it’s inspiring.”
EVEN SUNDAY’s overall men’s champion Matt Hanson will cherish his time on the streets of Coeur d’Alene.
“This is where my triathlon career started (in 2012),” said Hanson, of Storm Lake, Iowa. “The weather today was beautiful and the course is stunning. The course is really fair and there’s a lot of different climbs on the bike that really separates the competitors in the race. It’s a lot of fun to be a part of it. It was my first one and first top five as a pro here. Maybe it will be back someday.”
It will, at least for one more day later this summer.
Whether there’s another day in the sun remains to be seen.
Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at (208) 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @JECdAPress.