COEUR d'ALENE - Julie Dibens called it the Ironman "vibe."

That atmosphere on race day, the camaraderie among competitors - an event unlike any other.

"It's such a big thing. It's such a long, hard day," said Dibens, a professional triathlete from Great Britain. "It's a feeling of unity."

The 36-year-old will participate in Sunday's Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene, swimming, biking and running 140.6 grueling miles. It will be her second full-length Ironman.

On Friday morning at the City Park bandshell, amid the bustle of the newly-erected Ironman Village, she and five fellow pros attended a pre-race press conference and public forum.

"I'm excited to be here, looking forward to having a good race," Dibens said. "It's very much a learning curve for me on Sunday."

Her long-term goal is to reach the Ironman World Championships in Kona, and improve on her 2010 third-place finish. But first comes Coeur d'Alene.

"I'm looking at a two-lap swim, a two-lap bike and a two-lap run," Dibens said of her mental preparation. "I try not to think about the actual distance, because that's a little intimidating."

To her left was Australian Craig "Crowie" Alexander, the two-time Ironman World Champion. He took four weeks off in April due to illness - a serious setback - but said he is now ready to race.

"I'm good. I'm healthy," he said. "Everything happens for a reason. I think you've gotta try to take the positives out of every situation."

Alexander turned 38 last week. There was no birthday bash, he said, but he did enjoy breakfast in bed before packing his bags for Coeur d'Alene.

"You don't celebrate when you start getting over 30," Alexander quipped.

Maik Twelsiek of Germany could finally enjoy a cooler climate this week. He had been training in Tucson, Ariz., logging hard miles in the desert heat.

Coeur d'Alene's mild temperature, he said, feels like his European home.

"You don't need air conditioning here. It's good. Tucson was getting really hot."

Known for his prowess on two wheels, the 30-year-old won the 2009 Ford Ironman Lake Placid and the 2011 St. George event. He said proper pacing will be important on the long, hilly bike course he will encounter this weekend.

"Everybody has his strengths and weaknesses," Twelsiek said. "I'm good on the bike."

After a disapponting DNF five weeks ago at Ford Ironman St. George (Utah), American Meredith Kessler is looking for a better result in the Lake City.

"It just wasn't a magical day for me. It just didn't go as planned," Kessler said of her St. George performance. "You wake up the next morning, you feel a bit gutted about that."

This time around, Kessler - winner of the 2010 Subaru Ironman Canada - has a revised game plan.

"I'm looking forward to (the race)," she said.

Another top male racer is 43-year-old Tom Evans, a four-time Ironman Champion. In 2008, the Canadian finally out-dueled his longtime rival, Victor Zyemtsev, to claim the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene title.

"The battles we had were always pretty intense, coming toward the finish," Evans said. "I finally beat him in '08 after he whipped me at the line in '07 and '06."

The triathletes answered questions from the crowd gathered around the bandshell. Some answers contained race-day advice on strategy, nutrition or mentality.

Caitlin Snow, champion of the 2008 Ironman Lake Placid, commented on the final few miles of an Ironman.

"I feel like by that part of the race, you're tuned in, you keep going," the Texas native said.

When asked about fighting through open-water waves, Evans offered a tip:

"Just stay relaxed. The rougher it gets, you just have to try to stay relaxed," he said. "Don't fight it."

Almost all of the pros remarked on the beauty of the Coeur d'Alene course.

Dibens rode the bike route Thursday and described it as "fantastic."

"This is beautiful," she added. "It seems like the locals really get behind the race, which is great."