Some of the written comments in the notebook are smudged because it was left in the rain. Some, a little too scribbled to read.

Then, there are others in bold, crisp, clear handwriting.

"You're the best."

"Awesome surprise. Thanks for everything."

"This is the coolest ever. Thank you guys so much for doing this every year."

"Nice to know there's always a safe place to stop."

Those comments bring a smile to Matt Fuller's face. It is why he and his wife Sarah and children do what they do come Ironman training time.

For the past five years, the Fuller family has supplied cyclists passing by their Rimrock Road home in Hayden with food, drink and supplies. They leave out energy bars, gels and jugs of water. There's a pump to fill tires. There's sunscreen and baby wipes, too. A porta-potty with the words, "Ironman pit stop," stands nearby.

"We had a bunch of tubes," Fuller explains on Monday afternoon, "but they've all been used. They had flats right here, luckily for them."

It's based on the honor system. If you need something, you're welcome to roll up to the small roadside stand that has the words, "Free to Ironman." All that is asked is that you give as well as receive.

It's become a salvation for those whose water bottles have run dry, their only Clif bar eaten an hour ago. The Fullers have given directions to the lost, encouragement to the weary, potty privileges to the despaired.

"A lot of first-time Ironman are the ones that are really out of everything and desperate, about ready to fall over," Fuller said, chuckling. "You don't realize how many people are out of everything by the time they get here."

The Fullers live along the Ironman bike course that winds through the exasperating and exhausting hills of Hayden and Hayden Lake.

Their home is a welcome rest stop for the hungry, the tired, the thirsty.

On a warm weekend, they'll go through 25 gallons of water. Matt estimates they spend about $500 a year on energy gels and bars alone. They're not making money, mind you, barely breaking even.

A couple years ago, someone stopped at night and Matt Fuller thought the driver of the truck was leaving something. When he walked outside to check, he cringed. They took everything. We're talking cases of PowerBars.

"I watched them do it, too," Fuller said, shaking his head.

But that's an exception.

Most donate, and some have given gifts to the Fuller children.

"One lady took off her Ironman watch and gave it to Annalise," Matt said.

He gave daughter Annalise and son Aaron credit for starting a simple stand by putting out water.

Annalise, 9, nodded happily in agreement.

"It was pretty much my idea, about the water," she said. "My dad thought of getting the gel out. Aaron helped us a little."

From May, when the stand first opens, to the end of June, when they'll take it down until the next Ironman, Annalise and Aaron do their best to keep it stocked - with mom and dad's help.

Fineas, the family's friendly 4-year-old pug, often trots out to greet guests.

"Everybody knows Fineas," Matt Fuller said. "He loves to jump up and lick everybody.'

"He loves everyone," Annalise added with a laugh.

Matt is proud of his kids.

"They've actually tried to take the initiative to help people," he said.

Aaron, 7, worries about the bikers who whiz past on the downhill slope, perhaps unaware of the turn ahead.

"The first time ever we had the stand out here somebody went around the corner and wrecked," he said, looking to the right-hand turn about 25 yards north of their home.

Fuller, a two-time Ironman, decided to do the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile race after watching cyclists go past and talking to those who stopped.

"I had no idea what it was," he said.

But he bought a bike, learned to swim, and completed the race in 2008 and again in 2009.

Aaron and Annalise have Ironman plans, too, once they're old enough.

"We do little kids triathlons," Annalise said with a proud grin.

"Running is my favorite part," Aaron added.

Come race day, the Fuller family, including 3-year-old Jayden, will be outside, lined up in chairs along Rimrock.

"We sit around and cheer for everybody," Aaron said.

And yes, if you need to use the bathroom, stop by.

Kids fun run set for Thursday

• The Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene Kids Fun Run is set for 6 p.m. Thursday.

The one-mile run starts and finishes in City Park. Entry fee is $5 and proceeds go to the Parks Department to help fund trails and bikeways.

Register at www.cdaidparks.com, at the City Hall Parks Department counter, or at the City Park gazebo on race day between 1-5:30 p.m.

Anyone who would like to volunteer can contact Monte McCully, [email protected].