Bill McCarrick outfits a bike with rental wheels from Race Day Wheels at Ironman Village on Thursday afternoon. Race Day Wheels rents each set for between $150 and $200 for Ironman events. (Coeur d'Alene Press photo: Tess Freeman)

It takes a village. For the large delegation of Ironman athletes and their families awaiting Sunday's race in Coeur d'Alene, that village has to be filled with the latest in apparel, equipment and plenty of free schwag. The Ironman Village officially opened Thursday at Coeur d'Alene City Park, and for Tom Aylward, a two-year volunteer and competitor, the opening signifies the start of the competition. "The feeling you get when you come through here is like 'it's really happening,'" Aylward said. "This is their village, this is their chance to make friends from around the world." Most importantly, according to Aylward, the village gives the athletes a chance to shake away some of the pre-race jitters/Keith Cousins, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: Does Ironman Village at City Park interest you?