Organizers urge city’s support for CDA Triathlon

A pair of community leaders and triathlon organizers urged the Coeur d’Alene City Council to encourage the city’s continued support for their annual race in the midst of community event closures and reschedulings due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Rob Litticoat, race director for the Coeur d’Alene Triathlon and Duathlon, said the community was still holding out hope the Aug. 8 event would continue as scheduled.

“Many in our community are still rooting for this event to happen,” Litticoat urged. “We are also continuing to make efforts to showcase Coeur d’Alene as a go-to place to recreate, visit, live and live a healthy lifestyle.”

The pleas come one day after IRONMAN organizers announced their June 28 event would need to be postponed until Sept. 6 in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. While Idaho is planning to almost fully re-open by the time IRONMAN was originally scheduled, its organizers said the uncertainty of current events made the move prudent.

“As you probably know, there’s been a long history of [the Coeur d’Alene Triathlon] in our city and community,” he said. “It’s been a staple event: a hometown event everyone can count on. Please consider, as we all move forward into the summer months, our event, our community, our home event for Coeur d’Alene, the Coeur d’Alene Tri.”

Longtime community leader Teree Taylor said she made her connection with the 36-year-old race when she began her work at the Chamber of Commerce.

“As the Chamber focused on different business pursuits, it became clear the enthusiasm for the Coeur d’Alene Triathlon lacked a champion,” Taylor told the council. “Some said the passion for the sport has gone missing. I want to tell you the day the passion for the Coeur d’Alene Triathlon is back.

Taylor added the race that was originally intended to capture the beauty of Coeur d’Alene continues to be a tourist draw.

“A well-run race attracts athletes from across the country that will come to enjoy what we call home and have a good race here,” she said. “We ask for you not to forget about the Coeur d’Alene Triathlon and the 36 years of history behind it. It’s our hometown race, and we want to keep it great.”