Coeur d Alene Idaho- As the sun went down back in August 2017 many thought that is would be the year that athletes looking to become Ironman would be riding of into the sunset. It took two years and a major effort from the newly formed North Idaho Sports Commission, and the city of Coeur d Alene along with Ironman regional director Dave Christen announced that Ironman Coeur d Alene will be back in 2021 as a full Ironman.
The last time a full branded Ironman race was held in the beautiful city of Coeur d Alene was back on August 26th 2017. It has been two years since the full Ironman has been held in Coeur d Alene. It was welcomed not only by the mayor of Coeur d Alene but also by many local businesses. Fleet Feet owner Julie Pannell said when asked what having the full Ironman back in Coeur d Alene meant to her and her business, “Having the full Ironman is a wonderful thing not only for our local community but also for us as many not only local athletes, but athletes from around the world come to us for all there running needs”
North Idaho Sports Commission Vice President Britt Bachtel-Browing was the driving force behind getting the full Ironman back to Coeur d Alene, her efforts began back in 2017 when she along with many people considered the 2017 full Ironman to be the sunset year for Coeur d Alene. When asked why she formed the North Idaho Sports Commission and what the group stand for she proudly said “NISC is a non-profit organization comprised entirely of volunteer community members who want to harness the power of sport to make our community even stronger. We are neighbors, business people, parents, students, athletes, and Idahoans. Some of us run and some of us swim, and some of us can never be paid enough to do either but you can find us on the river with a fishing pole in our hand on any sunny weekend—and some rainy ones, too. We love our community and seek to make it the premier destination for sporting events of all types, to see our economy flourish and benefit from sports tourism, and to see our region gain the national—and even international—media attention it deserves.”
The contract between the city of Coeur d Alene and the North Idaho Sports Commission will allow for the Ironman to be in town through 2023. Coeur d Alene will be host to Ironman Coeur d Alene 70.3 in 2020 as well as 2022 and will host a full Ironman again in 2023, which will mark the 20th year that Ironman has hosted an Ironman branded event in Coeur d Alene.
Professional triathlete Matt Hanson was in attendance for the major announcement, saying “Coeur d Alene is one of the most beautiful races courses I have raced, Lake Coeur d Alene is the cleanest lake on the entire Ironman North America Series. Hanson who is a five-time Ironman Champion holds the record for the fastest run and bike during a pro Ironman Coeur d Alene race. Hanson also currently holds the record for the faster time to complete a full Ironman branded event with a time of 7:39:25.
Written by Branden Clearwaters
