At lunch today, I drove down to check-in for the Ironman California 70.3 race in Oceanside, CA that is being held Saturday April 2nd.

This is my first Ironman brand race, and only my second half iron distance race. They have registration and check in open on Thursday and Friday from 12-7pm. No check in race morning. I figured I’d go Thursday rather than Friday as it’s less likely to be busy (2500 expected racers at this sold out event). Plus I didn’t want to be walking around in the sun getting dehydrated on Friday. In fact, I don’t plan to do much of anything physical on Friday.

Upon arriving in Oceanside – it was a pretty much a zoo to find parking. Open registration, coupled with a 78 degree day had people flocking to the beach in droves. Drove around a bit and scored some free parking and headed down to the Expo area. I checked out the Nytro booth (bought some GU), the Specialized tent, the Ironman Expo store and a few other vendors here and there, I found my way to the check-in building.

Check-in was an interesting ordeal. Again – I haven’t done any Ironman brand races before, so registration as I’m used to it, is basically walk up to a smiling volunteer that has either a range of numbers or last names assigned to her, show your ID and grab your swim cap and race number. Not in Ironman. Registration was held in a building… much like a conference center. The first level of “authority” the Iron team (those not taking a cigarette break nearby), split us into two lines. Left for people who need a daily USAT license, right for people who already have a USAT license.

Once in your proper line, you need two fill out 2 waivers. Once basically stating you release Ironman from all liability, another staying you release the county of any liability. Initial, sign, sign. Proceed inside.

Inside the building I wait my turn and get greeted by 2 volunteers to check me in. They look at my USAT license, and ID, find me on their computer and hand me a yellow ticket with my race number (956). Now I can proceed into the conference room. Ok, onward I go. At the door, another volunteer checks my yellow ticket, allows me entry, and directs me to another volunteer with a crate of files labeled 750-1000. I’m in that range so I go there. He hands me a green form and a blue form. More waivers. Go to a table, verify all the information, add emergency contact information, local stay information. Sign, sign, and proceed to another table where I drop it off. At this point I think I’m done with the paperwork. I get directed to the packet pickup table. Again look for the volunteers servicing my range of numbers, and they had me my race packet, in which I find a blue swim cap, timing chip, various numbers, and 2 bibs. They also furnish me with a bracelet which I am to wear until after the race. Cool, now we are talking! Off to the next table!

At the next table I get my race swag. An Ironman Oceanside 70.3 bag with a shirt, and some various promotional flyers, a small box of Wheaties, and a few other things. Not bad, not great. Off to the next table.

At the next table I get ankle strap for my timing chip (that was easy), and I get directed to a briefing room where a video is playing in a loop talking about what to expect race day, where everything is, etc. Basically the same information found in the athlete guide. Which I read.

After 15 minutes (and this was with no lines!) I was checked in, had my race packet and was ready to go home.

Get one more day of rest, and do some last minute checks for race day!