Pastor's pledge leads to 140.6 miles quest

COEUR d'ALENE — As a pastor, Mitch Ellithorpe is a man of faith.

But even he doubted Lake City Church could beat a fundraising goal in November that would mean he had to compete in Ironman Coeur d'Alene on Sunday.

They did more than beat it. They crushed it.

“I just couldn't believe it," Ellithorpe said.

He does now.

The 36-year-old will be at City Beach on Sunday morning when about 1,300 athletes begin a journey to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles.

If they do, they will earn the title of Ironman.

For most, it will take well over 10 hours on a day that is forecast for sunshine and temperatures north of 80 degrees.

“I have to hold up my end of the bargain,” Ellithorpe said.

He'll be venturing into unknown territory because not only has he never done an Ironman, he's never even tried a shorter triathlon.

Really, other than when he ran track and cross country at Lakeside High School in Nine Mile Falls, Wash., the three disciplines of Ironman have been little more than hobbies for Ellithorpe.

Still, he's both excited for and terrified of the daylong challenge that awaits.

“If me doing the Ironman in some way helps more people to give generously and help more people, that’s great," he said.

His road to Ironman Cd'A is unlike most.

Each year Lake City Church has a “One Day Offering” where people calculate what they make in a day and give that amount.

The funds collected go to the church's humanitarian effort, locally and worldwide. None of it stays at Lake City. The church usually collects about $100,000 to $150,000 that day.

In years past, funds have supported first responders, foster care and medical needs. They have gone to heating for a village in Tibet, rescued women and children from human trafficking in Kenya and provided food, shelter and water for those who often go without.

In November, Ellithorpe said that if the church gave more than $250,000 he would commit to doing Ironman Cd'A in June.

He figured that was a safe bet, as the prior year's offering brought in $180,000.

"I was half-joking, initially,” he said.

But his pledge became the talk of the church and picked up steam as the faithful rallied around Ellithorpe.

"His leadership is really leading the charge in making a real and tangible impact to meet the physical needs of people in our community and around the world," wrote a church member.

Ellithorpe decided there “may be something to it.”

“Let's go for it,” he said. “I think we can do even more to help more people."

When the One Day Offering total came in, even Ellithorpe was stunned to see more than $340,000.

"The generosity of the people at Lake City blew me away," he said.

While his training went well and he received plenty of advice, there were days of doubt.

The first time he swam at the Kroc Center pool and went back and forth, covering 100 yards or so, he was "totally gassed."

"We've got a lot of work to do," a friend said.

Ellithorpe dug in and did the work.

In the following months, he built his mileage base up to where he could bike 100 miles in a day, swim 3 miles and run nearly 20.

"That's from close to zero, before," he said, laughing.

He’s confident — kind of — about race day.

“I’m doing everything I can to get as prepared as I can possibly be,” he said.

What gave him strength is the faith people have shown in him and knowing the money raised will help others, maybe even save lives.

"The whole reason for doing this is to have a positive impact," Ellithorp said.

He found the long, lonely workouts a good time for reflection and prayer. There have been physical benefits getting ready for Ironman, but mental and spiritual as well.

“Sometimes my prayer has been very raw,” he said.

Before this journey started, Ellithorpe didn't believe an Ironman was in his future. He doubted it was possible.

But faith, discipline and accountability, "can take people from where they are to where they want to be," he said.

"There's no shortage of what we're able to accomplish. I think that we are far more capable than what we give ourselves credit for," Ellithorpe said.

He said he couldn't have reached this point without wife Lindsay and their three children.

“I'm super-grateful to them and the support they have shown," he said.

His wife, he added, took care of things at home during all those hours and miles he was swimming, biking and running for the chance to become an Ironman.

“I definitely owe Lindsay a really nice date," Ellithorpe said.