COEUR d'ALENE — Chad Wallin usually trains in North Dakota, where mountains are few.

On Sunday morning, though, the 31-year-old distance racer - once a runner at North Idaho College - conquered the tough climbs of the 2011 Coeur d'Alene Marathon.

"You know, it was a good course. I don't think you ever, as a runner, want something that's completely flat," Wallin said. "Especially coming from North Dakota, you know, that's what I get to run in all the time. I have no complaints with the course ... very good race."

Setting a swift pace for 26.2 miles, Wallin was the first marathoner across the finish line at Riverstone. His official time was 2:39:09.

"I had an injury about six months ago," he said. "So my goal was anything under 2:40. I would have liked to be a little faster. I'm happy with the time."

A former teammate of Charlie Miller, manager of the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation, Wallin returned to the Lake City with winning on his mind. The resident of Minot, N.D., was participating in his first Coeur d'Alene Marathon, but he was confident he'd be running in the lead pack.

The fine May weather didn't hurt his cause.

"I don't think we could have gotten a much better day," he said. "This is the nicest day I've probably seen in a couple months. I think it was almost ideal. Perfect."

Jody Aslett of Sandpoint, back to defend her 2010 first-place finish, battled some bad luck during the long race.

Twice, her shoes came untied. Her hamstring cramped up. On the home stretch, she felt a painful stitch in her side. Through it all, Aslett kept running.

When the 42-year-old crossed the line, the digital clock read 3:02:14. Once again, she was the women's marathon champion - but she wasn't quite satisfied.

"I thought maybe I could break my three (hours), but I couldn't," Aslett said. "I mean, I'm super happy, don't get me wrong, but a three-hour (is) on my bucket list. I was close."

About midway through the 26.2-mile race, she was in the lead pack, cruising along in second place.

"Until the turnaround, I was just happy as a clam running second," Aslett recalled. "All the pressure was off."

Then the woman in front of her dropped out, and Aslett was suddenly the first female.

"It's a wonderful privilege ... but the pressure's on," she said.

Aslett kept her stride and pushed to the finish. Her husband, Dennis, also ran this year's race.

"He's my inspiration and support, and the one who got me into all this craziness," she said.

More than 2,500 people experienced the 2011 event. Roughly 600 ran the full distance, while 1,500 raced the 13-mile half marathon.

Another 400 or so took part in the 5-kilometer run.

"The half is always largest of the three," said race director Keats McGonigal. "It's a challenging distance, but it's a doable distance."

Inland Northwest runners have participated in the Coeur d'Alene Marathon for the past 34 years. 2011 marked the 20th edition of the half-marathon.

All proceeds benefited the Centennial Trail Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and developing the North Idaho Centennial Trail System.

"This is our biggest (event) by far," McGonigal said. "Each year we continue to grow. The feedback I'm getting from athletes has been real positive. It's a good family event."

Young guns and old-timers alike galloped along Riverstone's Main Street. According to McGonigal, athletes hailed from 40 states and Canadian provinces.

"Nice, beautiful course," said John Yowek, a marathoner from Nelson, British Columbia. "(Coeur d'Alene is) very nice. Beautiful place."

The route looped around the NIC campus, wound through downtown Coeur d'Alene, turned toward the lake and traveled along the Centennial Trail. Those who completed the full 26.2 miles jogged all the way to Higgens Point and back.

Shawn Burke, 51, of Post Falls completed the half-marathon, finishing second in his age group. He said the race was challenging, but he still posted a good time.

"It went pretty well. A little bit tougher course than I thought," he said. "Other than that, it was great. Personally, had a great race."