COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho. Thirteen months of preparation were put to the test Sunday when KREM 2's Executive News Director Noah Cooper competed in IRONMAN Coeur d'Alene.
Cooper crossed the finish line just after 9 p.m., carrying a 'No White Flags' banner to honor Steve Gleason, a Gonzaga Prep graduate and former football player for the New Orleans Saints and Washington State University.
Gleason's fight against ALSinspired Cooper to compete in IRONMAN. Cooper took-on the challenge to raise money for Team Gleason, a charity that raises money for ALS research.
Gleason is a proponent of pushing people out of their comfort zone to try something new. Noah also wore Gleason's 'no white flags' motto on his jersey Sunday.A group of supporters including Gleason's mother and KREM 2 News staff members met Cooper at the finish line.
Cooper admitted swimming was not his strong point, but finished the swimming portion of the race in less than two hours on Sunday. Cooper finished the triathalon strong in 14-hours and 18-minutes.
