CdA Triathlon attracts nation

Coeur d'Alene beat out New York City, Lake Tahoe, and New Orleans for the rights to the 2001 National Triathlon Championships. And after the success Sunday of its 17th annual triathlon, there is little wonder why.

"I love this triathlon, it's one of my favorites," said Rebecca Broeder, who arrived in Coeur d'Alene at 2 a.m. after driving from Missoula, Mont. She took home the women's crown with a time of 2 hours, 24 minutes, 19 seconds.

"The weather and temperature is beautiful, and I like the variation of the terrain."

For Matt Seeley of Polson, Mont, who finished first in the men's division with 2:05:44, it was the 40k biking leg that brought him back for his fourth Couer d'Alene Triathlon victory since 1995.

"I've always liked this bike course because of those long hills. It separates out those who are really fit, and there's no way you can fake it.

"The fancy bike and gear doesn't make a difference."

There were 369 participants, minus two who aborted the race due to bicycle malfunction, and 82 teams of three who began the competition on a cool morning along the beach of Lake Coeur d'Alene. Some had come from as far as Florida, Texas, and Alaska. At 7:20 the first group of women started their 1.5k swim into the warm, choppy lake.

The turbulent water was the hardest part of the triathlon, depending on perspective.

"The swim was the worst," remarked Broeder. "The wind really roughed it up. I'm not used to any movement in a lake, and this lake is the biggest I've swam in."

Seeley saw differently. "I like battling those waves and the wind. I try to enjoy it, pretend like I'm a ship crashing through the waves."

The crashing waves were the worst peril the athletes faced. According to Lt. Dave Dodson of the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department, the only injuries were minor scrapes. "Nothing like the road rash we had last year," he said.

The atmosphere felt like a family reunion in someone's enormous backyard.

Maxwell Drever of Spokane loves the CdA Triathlon because it's a family thing.

"We brought 17 friends and family to this event, which we've been doing for the last 10 years," said Drever. "They do such a good job running this, and it's one of the prettiest and most scenic triathlons in the world."

Drever competed with his 16-year-old son Noah, and had two other sons who were part of a team. For both Maxwell and Noah, it was an experience that can't be duplicated.

"It's a natural high," agreed the father and son.

The excitement of the particpants coupled with the gorgeous weather and scenery is reason enough why USA Triathlon has selected Coeur d'Alene for its National Championships next year. The only negative is the climb up Tubbs Hill.

"Tubbs Hill is perfect for this kind of local race," said Tom Ziebart, director of sponsorship development for USA Triathlon. "But it's not good for a national championship."

Since the national championship is an all-professional contest, they can't afford obstacles that could lead to serious injury. Many participants commented on the steep and rocky hill.

"Either Tubbs Hill has eroded through the years, or I have!" said 70-year-old Sister Madonna Buder of Spokane who finished first in her age group with 3:15:44.

"I dearly love that portion of the race, but it has gotten steeper and stonier," said Buder. "I used to envision myself as a deer, but after today I feel like a klutz."

The winner of the Most Spontaneous Award was 15-year-old Katherine Mooter of Seward, Alaska, whose shoes became so loose a half-mile into the 10k run that she kicked them off and ran the rest of the race in her socks.

And that wasn't nearly as spontaneous as her decision to compete in this triathlon.

"I'm visiting some relatives right now, but I'm missing a couple of runs for cross-country back home," said Mooter. "I decided to do something big like this to train."

Despite never having competed in a triathlon, she finished third in her division with a time of 3:50:14.

"I loved it," she said. "It gave me a chance to test my body to the limit, and I could have done more!"

Copyright 2000 Cowles Publishing Company
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.