Have you already signed up for the runs online? Some places allow you to sign up day of race. We did FastCAT and then signed up for CAT there at the race. I believe they only allow two runs per day.
Expect:
-a long line to sign in (with dogs and owners in line).
-utter chaos and lots of distractions for a first timer. Dogs barking, running, yippy dogs barking everywhere, owners being pulled all over. To be expected honestly, a very amped up environment.
-a long stop/go line to get into the lane.
-I felt it better/easier to hold mine in the lane and release. Their anticipation is crazy, I compare to a bucking bull coming out of a gate. They are in such a blind amped drive that anybody can catch/leash mine at the finish.
Starts at 3pm, I would be there before 2pm. Again, possibly a long line for check in. Then walk him around and let him get a feel for the new environment. He will be on the verge of going crazy and needs to just settle in. Great place to work on obedience commands and focus on you but at same time let him let loose a little bit and have fun.
Parking for us was a ways off so I wore a back pack with water jug and bowl, a couple of treats for focus/obedience training and other oddities.
Be prepared for the unexpected. I always had my head on a swivel and kept a 5-8’ circumference from other dogs. Ragnar hated yippy dogs, not fond at all. Problem was that yippy dog owners thought it was funny and cool that their little sniffles would run up to a big black Doberman and bark/challenge. Just no sense at all from some idiots.
Good luck and above all have fun.