Packet pick-up/Bike drop off: Be prepared for traffic and lack of parking spaces. We had to walk about a mile to the Ironman Village. Once getting your packet and swag, you can drop off your bike in the transition area. You'll see many athletes practicing their transition runs to/from swim and bike :)

Swag: finisher hat, gear bag -- I use these regularly. The bag is big enough that I was able to pack for another race weekend just in that bag.

There is an athlete "meeting" held several times during the day and you won't want to miss this! Helpful tips and rules to go over.

Race morning: The body marking was quick -- they had tons of volunteers to do this so I technically didn't have to be there as early as I did (I believe I was there around 4-4:30am). It literally took me longer to walk from the village to the body marking area than to get marked. After getting everything set up, you can take the buses to the swim start. They'll have porta-potties at the swim start!
Once there, you get in a line - faster swimmers near front, intermediate in the middle, etc. The athletes are eager and friendly to help so don't feel as if you can't ask anyone!

Swim: after a short uphill swim, you then flow downstream. It was a gradual start - in a single file line to the pier where you just jump (or slide) into the water. It wasn't overly crowded but were some kicks and hands as any ows swim.

Transition 1: There are volunteers to slide your wetsuit off of you- just lay on the mat and they'll take it off in one swoop! Then another table in the transition will have sunscreen they can lather on for you. Porta-potties are available in this area as well (for those who can't pee in the wetsuit just yet!)

Bike course: This is where there are some disagreements. Some say the hills are really challenging while others say they're fine. To a flatlander, I thought they were somewhere in the middle. Not the easiest as there are hills but none that I had to walk up because they were so bad - and I only have a road bike. You will definitely need to get some hill training in but I personally didn't think they were as bad as I expected. Drafting rule changed to 6 bikes in length - you do get a little more time to pass but once you make that decision to pass, you have to follow through within that time frame.
Aid stations are great. They do have full size Gatorade drinking bottles (with the spout) so you can carry some on your bike, if you have the space. Plenty of porta-potties as well.

Run course: Yes, there are hills but none that made me think "this must be what Heartbreak Hill is like!". There are aid stations about every mile and it's an amazing run. The volunteers are awesome and the cheering from spectators in most areas (obviously not the highways) are truly spectacular. 2 loops and you can't beat the scenery.

The chute to the finish is phenomenal. You have people screaming (for you) on each side of the rails and the more you give, the louder they get. It's the closest to feeling like a rockstar. They make the race experience the best it could be.

Post-race: you can have someone pick up your gear from transition with a ticket provided. As for the food, I can't say as I couldn't eat and left shortly to be with my family who had been out there all day.

Overall, it's an amazing time. The city is beautiful as is the course as it takes you around the countryside, riverside and the city.