After Rick Floyd watched the 2005 Ironman Coeur d'Alene, there was no turning back.

"Prior to that race, I did not know that the triathlon existed," said Floyd, who was working at The Coeur d'Alene Resort as a bellman and attending North Idaho College at the time.

"I was obsessed with rock climbing and transferred that passion - or borderline obsession - to triathlons. I remember thinking that I could do this. You don't have to be great at any one sport, just decent at all three."

Sunday's Ironman Coeur d'Alene, which includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run, will mark the first time Floyd competes in a full Ironman.

"From that day in 2005, everything I have done has been to get to the start of Ironman Coeur d'Alene," Floyd said. "I told myself I would not race this race until I turned pro and, nine years later, that day has finally come."

Competing in Coeur d'Alene's Ironman was a natural choice for the 2002 Post Falls High graduate, who works as an inventory manager for Fleet Feet Sports in Bend, Ore.

"Growing up in Coeur d'Alene and having my friends and family at the race, to me there is no bigger race," Floyd said. "I have watched this race seven or eight times and have dreamed about running down Sherman Avenue toward that finish. It is everything."

Floyd has been training with pro athletes Matt Lieto and Jesse Thomas in Bend.

"They show me daily what it really takes," he said. "These guys have been great mentors and friends."

One of Floyd's goals is to finish Ironman without walking.

"To be in the top 10 would be a dream race," he said. "To be honest, it's not the distance that scares me, but the time you are out there for so many things to go wrong."

Floyd, who turned pro last July, said he wants to keep his first Ironman in perspective.

"The one thing (Lieto) told me is to not expect fairy dust on race day," he said. "Go into the race knowing what you are capable of and enjoy the experience. And don't forget to drink and eat or you will have a long walk."

Ironman will be a reunion of sorts for Floyd and Coeur d'Alene native and pro Derek Garcia. The two grew up together and played against each other in baseball in high school. Garcia turned pro a year before Floyd and has competed in several Ironman events.

"I imagine Derek and I will come out of the water very close and then he will take off like a rocket on the bike," Floyd said. "I hope Derek has the race he deserves, because I can't imagine a better person to beat me at the end of the day."

Floyd said he isn't pursuing triathlons to make money, but to chase a dream.

"I only hope there is another kid just like me watching the finish line that I can inspire just like that fateful day in 2005," Floyd said.