THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: Former Post Falls athlete Schmeling just OK with a good day in first Ironman 70.3

As a kid, Sadie Schmeling remembers watching her father, Mike — in his first Ironman Coeur d’Alene — coming across the finish line after a long day on the course.

It was so inspiring to her that, for the first time, she’ll try to tackle the course on Sunday.

Schmeling, a two-sport athlete and a 2016 graduate of Post Falls High, will compete in the Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene, which includes a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and then a 13.1-mile run to close out the event.

“Growing up, my dad trained for six and competed in five Ironman events,” Sadie Schmeling said. “He was my hero and for the longest time, I wanted to do it too. We’ve got a photo of us coming across the finish line. Watching my dad do it as a young child really inspired me to do it.”

WHEN HER father competed, it was the full (140.6-mile) Ironman. This time, it’s a half, but still with its challenges.

“I remember how nervous he was and he looked exhausted in the bike section,” said Sadie Schmeling, now 27. “By the time he was on the run, it was the willpower to get through it and he just kept going and finished with a big smile on his face.”

Her father has been helping her train for this week’s race, her first Ironman.

“He’s just been going through the steps with me and calming my nerves,” Sadie Schmeling said. “More than anything, he’s just told me to be confident in my training.”

Of course, her dad has had her best interests in mind when it comes to Sunday’s race.

“I went down last year and watched Ironman, then called him and told him I was going to do it this year,” Schmeling said. “He’s walked me through every step and he’s confident in me. He made sure I swam and was on a tri (triathlon) bike a little bit so I knew what I was getting into.”

Schmeling played all four years on the Post Falls High girls soccer team and competed in the hurdles in track and field. She then went on to play soccer at North Idaho College for two years before transferring to Division III Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore.

“I’ve always been pretty confident in the running portion because of soccer and have been running half-marathons for a while,” Schmeling said. “The bike and the swim have been a lot more difficult to prepare for. It’s been a lot of training for hours, early morning and nights training by yourself. It’s really taken a lot more discipline than soccer ever did. I’ve just been telling myself to trust my training and willpower and I’ll get through it.”

SCHMELING COMPETED in the Coeur d’Alene Half-Marathon in May, which includes a route runners will compete in on Sunday.

“I really love the course,” Schmeling said. “I’ve run it a few times and really love the trees. Running along Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive, being around the water brings me some ease. It’s really beautiful to be able to train in such a beautiful area. When you come to the finish line, there’s usually a lot of people down there for the finish.”

And Schmeling, a special education teacher at Athol Elementary in the Lakeland School District, will have a group of fans rooting for her along the way.

“I’ve got some friends from soccer and work at the Lakeland School District that told me they’re coming to watch,” Schmeling said. “I’ve had a lot of people that have told me that they’re proud of me and good luck.”

During the school year, Schmeling swam in the morning, then did either bike or running training after school.

“I started taking some spin classes at the Kroc Center to help me train,” Schmeling said. “Since the weather has gotten warmer, I’ve been getting home and getting out on the bike and running a lot more. I’ve been full of training since school ended for the year a few weeks ago.”

As for expectations, Schmeling is just happy she’s made it that far.

“I’ve got a lot of people excited that I’m doing this and are going to come and watch,” Schmeling said. “They’ve always told me that they’d heard about it, but never had someone they knew compete so they’re coming down and watching. I’m just proud of getting to the starting line. If nothing else happens great, I’m just happy to be a part of it. Hopefully it goes great, but if it doesn’t, life happens and that’s OK.”

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1206 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on ‘X’, formerly Twitter @JECdAPress.