What to expect at Ironman

Registration:

1. Open Thursday & Friday for Sunday races
2. Open Wednesday & Thursday for Saturday races

Bring:

1. Valid ID
2. USAT Card (If you do not have one there is a single race day fee of $10.00)
3. Print out of your Active.com registration/confirmation
4. Print a copy of the Athletes Guide

All Participants:

1. Will be weighed
2. Receives a Ironman ID wrist band (this gets you into everything IM has to offer, athletes welcoming dinner, award ceremony, transition, ect.)
3. Swim Cap
4. Timing Chip
5. Transition Bags
6. Special Need Bags
7. Race numbers (bike, run, sticker race number to be put on bike, transition & special needs bags)
8. Swag Bags
9. Event Poster.

Setting Up Transition & Special needs Bags:

1. Lay out all of your gear by event
2. Pull out your check list
3. Check All gear
4. Place Appropriate Gear into Transition Bags

Transition Bike Bag:

1. You should have everything you need in these bags before turning them in.
2. Helmet, shoes, glasses, gloves, socks, jersey, shorts, sun screen & body glide.
3. You can add your bags on race morning.
4. If you have to add something keeps it to a minimum.
5. Only change my gear if there has been a change in the weather.
6. "Nothing new on race day."

Transition Run Bag:

1. You should have everything in this bag before turning it in.
2. Shoes, shorts, hat/visor, glasses, jersey, body glide, water bottle, gel bottle, race belt, fuel belt & sun screen. 

Special Needs Bag:

1. You get two bags one for the bike and one for the run.
2. These get dropped off race morning.
3. There will be boxes in a designated location labeled Bike Special needs and Run Special needs.
4. Place the right bag in the right box.
5. Do not put anything valuable in them, you may not get these bags back.

Bike special needs bag:

1. You can put food, extra tubes & co2, clothing, gels, water, powders, b-glide, pre-mixed bottles & sandwich.

Run special needs bag:

1. You can put food, clothing, water, socks, gel, pre-mixed bottle, powders & body glide.

Bike Prep:

1. Inspect bike
2. I suggest taping your gels to the bike before turning it in. During the race you should be able to tear off the tops while riding. When you pull the gel up to eat, it should open up. This will minimize any fumbling around trying to open the gel pack.
3. Do not fill tires to their max psi the day before the race as they could pop.
4. Store tire levers, extra tubes and co2 on bike.
5. Water bottles should be added race day morning.

Transition Tent:

1. You may not be aware but you can fully change in the transition tent.
2. If you are caught changing outside of the tents you could possibly be DQ'd. Grab your transition bag run into the tent, grab a chair and maybe helped by a volunteer (that depends how many people are in there at the same time).
3. The tent is divided; there is a boy's side and a girl's side. Most tents usually have water, Gatorade, ice, sun screen, & Vaseline (but don't count on it).
4. If you need something ask a volunteer and they will help you out.
5. You will use the same tent for the bike & run transition.

The Day before the Race isTransition Drop of f Day

Bring:

1. Bike
2. Bike Transition Bag
3. Run Transition Bags

During transition drop off:

1. Rack your bike by an assigned number
2. Drop run transition bag at assigned location
3. Then drop the bike transition bag at it's designated area.
4. I suggest walking the transition area, making a mental map.
5. Walk from the end of the swim to your bike bag and then to the changing tent.
6. From the changing tent walk over to your bike.
7. Go over to the bike dismounting area, walk to your run bag and then to the changing tent.
8. Walk over to the run exit.
9. Try to have plan.

Race Day: 7:00am start & Transition Opens @ 5:00am

1. Drop off Special Needs Bags
2. Get body marked
3. Place nutrition & hydration on bike
4. Pump Tires (bring a light to see the pump pressure gauge)
5. Lube your body
6. Put on wetsuit, goggles & swim cap

Morning of the Race Bring:

1. Special need bags
2. Nutrition
3. Hydration
4. Wetsuit
5. Swim cap
6. Goggles
7. Body glide
8. Timing chip
9. You will not turn your swim gear in on Saturday.

FYI:

1. There will be over 2000 people registering Thursday & Friday/Wednesday & Thursday.
2. The lines may be long.
3. Try to be in line early, this will give you time to tag and separate your gear.
4. The expo and registration area is located in the same place.
5. There will be message booths, however some races charge.
6. You can buy just about anything you may have forgotten back at home.
7. I suggest making a list of all the local bike and tri shops in town.
8. Athlete welcoming diner is two nights before the race
9. Award ceremony is the day after the race
10. Finishers gear is usually sold the morning after the race, they may open the store up the evening of the race.

A Word About Special Needs:

1. They do not supply any water/Gatorade in this area.
2. You have to supply your own in you special needs bags.
3. Special needs are generally located about the halfway point, of both the bike and the run
4. Do not place any valuable items in these bags as you may not get them back.

Suggestion:

1. Break the race down into small races with in the race. 2.
2. The race is 140.6 mile total.
3. Break the swim down into little chunks and goals.
4. Break the bike down by aid stations. Thinking about 112 mile may drive you nuts.
5. Break the run down into four 10k events. 26.2 miles is a lot to think about.

Remember:

1. There are cut off times for each event.
2. Swim: 2 hours 20 minutes
3. Bike:
4. Run
5. Total Race: 17 Hours, with an exception to some races overseas.
6. if there are any other special cut off times, they will be posted in the Athletes guide and told to everyone at the mandatory course review.

You have prepared yourself for this race by putting in the time and effort. Now just go out there, relax and enjoy the day. Complete an Ironman, you can brag for a life time.

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