Kootenai Health has been the official medical service provider of the Coeur d’Alene Ironman since it’s inception in 2003. In that time, countless Kootenai Health employees have volunteered in the Ironman medical tents, and many of them have competed in the race itself. Actually, they have completed several half and full Ironman’s. In the words of Stan Foster, Kootenai Health nurse and Ironman athlete, “It took me completing four Ironman races to realize just how crazy doing even one Ironman is!”
With the full 2021 Coeur d’Alene Ironman just a couple weeks away, nerves can be high for first-time competitors. They say the key to success is preparation, but feeling prepared can be difficult if you have never done something before. We spoke to several Kootenai Health employees who are Ironman finishers for their best advice for first time Ironman athletes.
Blaire Smith, RN
Labor and Delivery Nurse
Completed the full Coeur d’Alene Ironman and the Chelan Man Half Ironman
What are three things you wish you knew before competing in your first Ironman?
- How to change a flat tire on my bike. Luckily I didn’t get one!
- The arrow bars on the bike are kind of important, especially when it is really windy out. That was the case during the full Ironman I did, and I was the only one without them on my bike.
- Enjoy the swim because little do you know it’s the best part of the race, other than crossing the fish line. There’s nothing like diving into the water at the crack of dawn with your adrenaline pumping. At this point, you’re not exhausted yet, and you’re pumped because it’s finally race day, and what you’ve been working for is finally here.
With less than two weeks until race day, what should athletes be doing?
Two weeks prior to race day you are starting your taper… Hallelujah! I tend to always
What should athletes be doing the week leading up to race day?
One week prior to the race soak it all in! The registration, the environment, the nerves, and adrenaline. It’s so fun. Rest, stretch, eat, and hydrate. The biggest preparation during your training is not only physical training, but it’s the nutrition part. Fueling your body to avoid cramps and stomach problems is just as important as the physical part. Salt tablets saved me from cramping. Just remember to not be so obsessed with the training that you forget to enjoy it.
Robert Scoggins, MD, PHD
Kootenai Health Chief of Staff, Critical Care Unit Medical Director, Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician
One Full Ironman and five 70.3 Ironman’s in Coeur d’Alene and Victoria, BC
get sick during my taper because I think my body has been under so much stress from the training. Consume lots of water, vitamins and electrolytes. Swim a little, bike a little, run a little, and rest.
What are three things you wish you knew before competing in your first Ironman?
- It’s harder than it looks.
- The swim is the easiest part.
- To take the next day off. For my first 70.3, I worked the next day. It was hard to walk around the hospital.
With less than two weeks until race day, what should athletes be doing?
Taper. It is really important to continue to work out but in shorter time periods and with a little less intensity to let the body recover and be ready for race day.
What should athletes be doing the week leading up to race day?
Continue short productive workouts. Make sure all your gear is ready and organized. Checklists help, especially for packing the transition bags. Lastly, enjoy the weekend, it’s a lot of fun.
Stan Foster
Charge nurse and Clinical Coordinator in the Emergency Department
Completed four Ironman races in Coeur d’Alene and Florida
What are three things you wish you knew before competing in your first Ironman?
- How much I REALLY needed to train.
- The race was going to be harder than I thought.
- It was still going to be amazingly fun and satisfying!
With less than two weeks until race day, what should athletes be doing?
- Sleep… a lot.
- Don’t do anything crazy different from your daily routine.
- Enjoy every minute of your pre-race experience!
What should athletes be doing the week leading up to race day?
- Relax… a lot.
- You’re going to feel bouncy and energetic from your taper, but refrain from doing any last minute “extra” training.
- Take in the full Ironman race week experience!
Stan has helped coordinate the Coeur d’Alene Ironman tents for the last 18 years. He wants to remind athletes to not expect an IV if they go to the medical tent. Also, “You’re going to be really tired and hurt everywhere,” he quipped, “that’s normal and will go away.” While Stan’s race days are behind him, he has the honor of firing the canon at this year’s race, which signifies the start of the Ironman race.
We wish all of the 2021 Coeur d’Alene Ironman athletes a healthy and successful race!
