The stars behind the race
Ironman volunteers Dave Durand and Michele Boyd help Chris Morales get out of his wetsuit in the swim-to-bike transition area during Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene on Sunday. LOREN BENOIT/Press
LOREN BENOIT/Press Ironman volunteer Jena Meyer helps athlete Meghan Faulkenberry at the finish line of the Ironman 70.3 on Sunday in downtown Coeur d’Alene.
Ironman volunteer Ron Ferraro gives an athlete water during the Ironman 70.3 run leg on Sunday. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
Ironman volunteer Lita Whitehead congratulates athlete Justin Thornley with an Ironman finisher medal during Ironman 70.3 on Sunday. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
COEUR d’ALENE — Nearly 1,300 volunteers worked behind the scenes on Sunday to ensure Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene was a safe and happy day for all.
"It’s really amazing just coming down here," said Brandon Chavez, 14, of Hayden, who helped control the crowd along the run path by the clock tower between The Coeur d'Alene Resort and Independence Point.
"You're seeing all these athletes, you’ll hear all their times for the biking and the swim, and even where they are already in the half marathon, and you see all the excitement, you feel the energy," he said. "It’s just an amazing feeling."
Brandon worked his station with his good friend Taylor Hancock, 14, also of Hayden, who signed up to volunteer with his troop, Boy Scout Troop 201.
"It’s cool to see all the athletes as they’re working so hard,” Taylor said. "It feels good to be able to help them as they try and achieve their goals."
Volunteers in blue shirts worked approximately 100 different areas, groups and shifts as they handed out water, scrubbed picnic tables, managed intersections and helped keep things running smoothly.
"I just think it's important to support your athletes, but it's also a way to give back to the community," said athlete food tent volunteer Georgia Polacek of Hayden, who donated her time as part of her membership in the Red Hot Mamas and because her daughter was an Ironman competitor.
"Ironman is so big in Coeur d'Alene, and Coeur d'Alene is so gracious to host it," she said. "I think it's important we show our support."
Natalie Thornton, 15, of Post Falls and Autumn Clem, 12, of Coeur d'Alene, kept a keen eye on Northwest Boulevard as they directed foot traffic while cyclists whizzed by at the Government Way intersection.
This was about the ninth time Natalie volunteered. She said she enjoys "definitely seeing the athletes doing what they love to do" and "cheering them on and helping them get through the day."
Autumn said this was her fourth time volunteering at an Ironman.
"I get out of the house," she said, laughing. "I like just watching it. I like how fast they go, I love when they're swimming because I love water. I just like helping out."
In McEuen Park, volunteers from the nonprofit Spokane Fantasy Flight set up Christmas displays and motivated runners to keep going, celebrating their third year volunteering for Ironman in yuletide style.
"We love it, it’s Christmas in June," said volunteer Linette Swensen. "Any time for us to sparkle, we do it.”
Ironman 70.3 Coeur d'Alene volunteer coordinator Dani Zibell-Wolfe said she was quite pleased with the turnout and energy of the day.
"One of the things I’ve always said is how incredibly generous our community is. When I say community, I’m talking about all of North Idaho," she said. "Their generosity of time, their commitment to making this a wonderful experience for the athletes is beyond anything I could ever ask for.
“It’s been really awesome to have all of the people in our community come together again for another Ironman race," she said. "How can you go wrong having a race in North Idaho?”