Ironman.

The mere mention of that word is inspiring to many locals, as more and more each year give the grueling day of swimming (2.4 miles), biking (112 miles) and running (26.2 miles) a try - or tri, as it were.

And even for those not competing, it's cool to go downtown and watch the final finishers come in just before midnight (or 11 p.m. tonight, as the race was moved up an hour because of the heat) - inspiring in its own right.

But to some locals, the word Ironman evokes cringing - a reason to get the heck out of town for the weekend, or at least, to stay away from downtown.

Though in recent years, since the Ironman bike course no longer loops out to Hayden Lake and back, getting around town during the race is much easier. Getting downtown still takes a little bit of creativity, but those who want to watch the race will find a way.

In short, people have had more than a decade to figure out how to watch the event - or how to avoid it.

Either way, Ironman Coeur d'Alene, in its 13th year, is ours.

THEN THERE's Hoopfest, which is Spokane's baby, and is in its 26th year.

When both events are on the same weekend, which they often are, like this year, it taxes area motels, and for some, makes locals decide between playing in or watching Hoopfest, or competing in or watching Ironman.

For those who say they want a taste of both, well, they'll get their way next year, when Ironman moves to August (if you think it's hot this weekend, it's USUALLY hot in August), and a half-Ironman replaces it on this weekend next June.

Hmm ... run the shorter Ironman in June, when it's (usually) cooler, and the full Ironman in August, when it's (usually) hotter ... OK, then!

(Wonder what the P.A. guy says to the finishers of what they call Ironman 70.3 (as opposed to the full Ironman, which is 140.6 miles total) - " ... YOU. ARE. A. ... HALF-IRONMAN!" Guess we'll find out next year.

Boise, which as you know is our capital city, has had a half-Ironman the past eight years, while Coeur d'Alene, in lil' ol' North Idaho, has a full-Ironman.

Now we have both. And Boise has nothing.

Because, after eight years in Boise, including this year's race which was on June 13, Ironman 70.3 is pulling out of Boise (the Ironman website says the event in Boise has been "discontinued." Apparently it will be "continued" in Coeur d'Alene next year.)

WHILE HOOPFEST is more regional - though it's technically Spokane's event, folks from North Idaho, eastern Washington and beyond come to play in it and watch it, much like the group that participates in Bloomsday. Folks from outside Spokane consider Hoopfest and Bloomsday their events as well.

With Ironman, other than a few people who might trickle in from Spokane to watch the finishers, pretty much everybody who comes from out of town does so to compete in the event, or have a connection to the people competing in the event. Ironman is considered Coeur d'Alene's event. It's not Ironman North Idaho. It's not Ironman Inland Northwest.

Hoopfest and Ironman draw mostly two separate crowds, so there's no reason they can't continue to co-exist on the same weekend. Maybe they'll even co-exist more in the future, when Hoopfest and Coeur d'Alene's new half-Ironman share the same weekend.

Either way, if you really need your fix of both events, go watch Hoopfest on Saturday, and enjoy Ironman on Sunday.

Just remember to hydrate.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.