So I registered for a shorter sprint Tri that is coming up in 3 weeks or so.  My goal sprint Tri is Otober 6.  The October (SRI TRI) is 600yd swim 18mile bike, 5k run.  The September one (Tri It On Tri) is 300yd swim, 10mile bike, 2 mile run.
http://www.team-magic.com/events/alcoastal/info.html

The SRI TRI is done in waves of 100 starting the swim.  The Tri it On is done by "time trial starts" and then staggered 5 seconds between each person.

What is a time trial start? And the reviews talk about a "pre-race run through" - is that just the pre-race meeting?

What have i gotten myself into?  Again   :)

 Time trial start is one person starts at a time.  so if it is a pool swim you will be in the water or on the edge and they say go, next person gets ready and in xseconds they go.  One right after the other.

Don't stress it just have fun with it.

Thanks!
  Oh I'm not stressed, I am super excited - I just don't know if I will be totally clueless when I am actually in the midst of it all. 
 It will be a Gulf swim if weather permits, otherwise they will change it to a duathlon. Boo. 

  I will be going by myself - my first tri and nobody to take my pic crossing the finish line!! Hope they have a photographer there.

time trial starts are my preferred method for tri's... the other way is a wave start which can be stressful with everybody jockying for position.  best of luck and can't wait to read the race report.