Welcome Laura!

Agree with Knot.
Also, be sure to train without the music at least a few times before your race. I did my first race in December and ran without the iPod for the first time. I was surprised at how "trained" I had become to run to music, and it made my run more difficult than it could have been.

If it is a sanctioned USAT event, the rules will probably be more restrictive than an unaffiliated, local race. My coach is having me run in some minor sprint tris and 5k/10ks (more for fun, learning about transition, race etiquette, etc) before going to a USAT event - which can mean bigger fields and much more experienced competitors.

Good luck! You will find a lot of supportive and helpful women here.