COEUR d'ALENE - If you're a marathon runner, chances are the competitive juices are also there to try swimming or biking.

Organizers of the Coeur d'Alene Marathon, Coeur d'Alene Crossing and Coeur d'Fondo are collaborating on a new program called the CDA Iron Series that honors finishers of the longest categories of all three events with a medal.

"We have created the program to promote healthy lifestyles and help people with their summer goals," said Craig Brosenne, a board member for Coeur d'Alene Crossing, a 2.4-mile swim on Aug. 16.

"This whole series is about the challenge of staying fit for three months."

The 26.2-mile Coeur d'Alene Marathon will kick off the CDA Iron Series on May 25 with its new start/finish next to the new McEuen Park on Front Avenue. The series concludes with the Coeur d'Fondo, a 108-mile bike race on Sept. 27 along Highway 97.

The medals will be presented to finishers of all three events at the Coeur d'Fondo.

While the three events will still stand on their own, all of them incorporate a natural jewel of the region in Lake Coeur d'Alene.

"You can run along it, swim in it and bike around it," Brosenne said.

Ben Tran of Tran Creative has unveiled a conceptual design of the medal. He said the type of metal used and the size haven't been finalized, but it will be much larger than typical sports medals. It will feature the name and logo of all three events in a pie shape.

"We want to capture the spirit of the Northwest with the lake, green landscape and sun," Tran said of the design. "We want to showcase the natural aspect of the area."

Tran is working on a Race CDA website that will incorporate not only the three events in the series but other endurance events as well, such as fun runs, for one-stop information shopping.

Steve Rozier, a Coeur d'Alene Crossing board member, said the hope is that the series will boost participation at all three events and encourage a runner to also try swimming and biking and vice-versa.

"It's meant to encourage people to stay fit, take one challenge at a time," he said. "It will be nice to say that you've done all three."

The three events are comparable to the distances of the June 29 Coeur d'Alene Ironman triathlon, which includes a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2 mile run.

Coeur d'Alene Crossing benefits the North Idaho College Booster Club, Union Gospel Mission and the Coeur d'Alene Area Swim Team (CAST). The Coeur d'Alene Marathon and Coeur d'Fondo benefit the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation.

Those interested in helping sponsor the CDA Iron Series medal program can contact Brosenne at cbrosenne@hagadonemarine.com.

"This series helps solidify Coeur d'Alene as an endurance community," said Charlie Miller, executive director of the trail foundation. "Even if you're not doing Ironman, you can get that same experience over the course of the summer."