The sunny North Idaho sky isn't the only reason these six Coeur d'Alene teens will need their sunglasses this summer.

Courtney Bissell, Nick Bogar, Megan Forster, Hailey Jackson, Tayler Petticolas and Claire Wardian have bright futures ahead.

Before they set off at the end of summer for diverse college careers in four different states, the six Class of 2014 high school graduates share the same goal - to finish Ironman Coeur d'Alene today.

"Ironman is something I always wanted to do," said Petticolas, who worked as a volunteer at the finish line two years ago. "I've always been a runner, so running is my confident part of the race." The busy 18-year old played volleyball at the Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy for four years, and was team captain this past season.

Petticolas also competed in the 2013 Distinguished Young Women program where she won a scholarship for the interview portion of the competition. She will attend Northern Arizona University in the fall to major in hotel and restaurant management.

Forster, a Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy classmate who will head to Seattle Pacific University to major in pre-med and minor in psychology, said she wanted to do "something big to end senior year." Forster said her father suggested she do Ironman, and signed her up. She learned she was registered after receiving a confirmation email from the Ironman organization, but said the surprise was pleasant.

Forster, 18, who also works part-time as a lifeguard and swim instructor, said she started intense running and swim training this winter, and "century" bike rides (100 miles) in April. She skipped wearing her usual workout headphones to help model the Ironman setting. Forster said the long training sessions can be transformative. "Being out in the open - you definitely find out about yourself and think about things you wouldn't think about," she said. "It was soul searching."

Wardian graduated Coeur d'Alene High School and will head to North Idaho College for an environmental studies program. Wardian, 18, said she became an active runner three years ago when she and her father started running with a group organized at the Fleet Feet Sports store in downtown Coeur d'Alene.

"It's such a big goal for me," Wardian said of the Ironman triathlon. "I thought about it for a long time, but only recently thought it was a possibility."

Wardian said she wanted to increase her base level of fitness before thinking about timing. Wardian, who said her triathlon experience includes races in Coeur d'Alene, Moses Lake, and Grand Coulee, said she looks forward to spending more time with her mother later this summer. With busy schedules over the past three months, the two women seldom saw each other, Wardian said.

Bogar, who graduated from Lake City High School and will attend Boise State, said he has been training for Ironman since the beginning of junior year at Lake City, where he ran cross country. Part of his Ironman preparation included waking up early daily to run, bike, or swim at Independence Point or at the Kroc Center.

Bogar, who trains with the triathlon club CdA Tri Team, said he wanted to do Ironman since his father participated in 2005.

"It's a great accomplishment," said Bogar, "If you can do this, you can do anything." The 18-year old said he has always been interested in the medical field, and hopes to be admitted to the radiology program at Boise State.

Jackson, a Lake City High School classmate, said she started training for Ironman in August 2013 but stepped up her workouts in January. The young athlete also trained with the CdA Tri Team where she met some of the other five teens.

Jackson, 18, who will attend Daytona State College on a softball scholarship will major in either communications or fitness, and hopes to be a sportscaster. Jackson also was offered a basketball scholarship to Brigham Young University-Hawaii, but Daytona was a better fit, she said. "Softball is the sport I have played my whole life."

Bissell, a Coeur d'Alene High School graduate and admitted NIC student, will pursue business administration in the fall. Bissell, who played soccer during her first two years at CHS, also rode motocross with her family through her elementary and middle school years. During her senior year she focused on Ironman training.

"I've always been one of those girls who's done odd sports, so I knew (Ironman) was something I could take on," said Bissell, who said her parents are very supportive. "I wouldn't be anywhere without them," she said.

Thirty-four friends and family members, some from Texas and Seattle, will wear team T-shirts today to support Bissell. "I think once I get through the swim I might cry," she said, "After I finish Ironman I just know it will be a great feeling."