Strong as iron

COEUR d’ALENE — Krista Lapan believes anyone can be an Ironman.

She would know. The Coeur d’Alene woman completed her 16th Ironman in 11 hours, 31 minutes and 49 seconds. She was the first local woman to finish Sunday.

“I’m tired but I’m good,” she said with a smile, after embracing her best friend at the finish line.

Lapan was one of more than 1,300 athletes who came from around the world to converge on Coeur d’Alene for Ironman 70.3. This is the 20th year of the race, which featured a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run throughout Coeur d’Alene.

In years past, Lapan has finished Ironman Coeur d’Alene in temperatures that soared above 100 degrees and on bleak, windy race days. This year, she said, the conditions were perfect — mostly sunny, with a high near 80 degrees.

The final 5K is always the hardest part, she said. But she pushed through, as she always does. She’s never considered giving up during a race.

“I have thought about when I’m going to hang up my hat,” she said.

It didn’t happen this year, during her ninth race in Coeur d’Alene. Lapan, 46, is still thrilled by the challenge Ironman represents.

“There’s a lot easier things you can do,” she said.

As tough as it is, Lapan really does believe everyone has it in them to be an Ironman.

“You don’t have to be the fastest,” she said. “You just have to put in the time.”

For the third time in a row, 39-year-old Scott Voyles of Post Falls was the top local finisher.

The crowd lining Sherman Avenue cheered as Voyles cruised across the finish line nine hours, 41 minutes and 58 seconds after he started.

“This is probably the best I’ve ever felt after a race,” said Voyles, who mentioned he’s finished “seven or eight” Ironman races.

Who’s counting?

For Voyles, there was a moment when it wasn’t a sure thing. He began to feel dizzy and sick around mile 20 of the run. But he pushed through and the feeling passed.

Voyles completed the race at 28th overall and fourth in his age group.

“It feels so good,” he said. “The accomplishment is overwhelming. To grind out 140 miles, it makes you feel like you did something.”

TOP 10 LOCAL FINISHERS — 1, Scott Voyles, Post Falls, 9:41:58. 2, Krista Lapan, Coeur d’Alene, 11:31:49. 3, Scott Langhans, Post Falls, 12:18:23. 4, Adam Mayer, Coeur d’Alene, 12:47:55. 5, Ivan Tucker, Coeur d’Alene, 12:52:29. 6, Mike McKinney, Post Falls, 13:21:55. 7, Matthew Baker, Post Falls, 13:24:45. 8, Randy Astin, Hayden, 13:27:36. 9, Todd Craigie, Coeur d’Alene, 13:12:52. 10, Alyssa Gersdorf, Hayden, 13:50:41