Judgte Newton completes and Ironman
JUDGE CYNTHIA NEWTON of Clearwater fulfilled a dream when she braved choppy waters and gusty winds to complete her first Ironman competition in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. It took 15 hours and 52 minutes, but Newton swam 2.4 miles in Lake Coeur d’Alene in waters that were both rough and cold before she bicycled 112 miles, and then ran 26.2 miles through a stretch of the Pacific Northwest. “The course was brutal, but the crowd support on the run was amazing,” Newton said. “The whole city was out cheering into the dark hours of the race. It was so painful to get through that marathon, but at mile 25, you feel an adrenaline rush that lasts all night long.” Newton’s goal was to finish an Ironman competition and win the Ironman designation on what is considered a very difficult course for first-timers. She enjoyed it so much, she plans to complete the Coeur d’Alene competition next year, too. “I plan to work on becoming a better marathon runner, as this was only my third one,” Judge Newton noted. “It just takes a long time to adapt to this distance, and a very big commitment to the sport.” Previously, the judge completed Ironman Florida 70.3, which is considered a half Ironman.
