YEARS TO COMPLETE. THOUSANDS OF ATHLETES ARE ARRIVING IN SACRAMENTO FOR THE FIRST IRONMAN CALIFORNIA. HAPPENS TO COINCIDE, OF COURSE, AS MARK JUST TOLD US, WITH OUR FIRSTAJ M STORM OF THE SEASON AND THAT IS ALL THE TALK AS THE ATHLETES ARE CHECKING IN IN DOWNWNTO SACRAMENTO. BRANDI: KCRA 3'S DIERERD FITZPATRICK CAUGHT UP WITH THE VOICE IRONMAN. >> I'M HERE AT IRONMAN VILLAGE WITH LEGENDARY IRONMAN ANNOUNCER, MIKE RILEY. WELCOME TO SACRAMENTO. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME. >>OU Y ORDERED RAIN? >> I'M A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GUY, I DIDN'T ORDER RAIN. THE REPORTER: US THE FSTIR DAY OF EVERYBODY COLLECTING IN AT THE VILLAGE. HOW MANY ATHLETES ARE W EXPECTING? >> OH GOSH, WE DHA 3800 REGISTER, EDI DON'T KNOW HOW MANY WILL SHOW UP, BUT MOST OF THEM. THEY'RE TOUGH PEOPLE. >> THEY ARE IN HERE, PICKING UP THEIR RACE INFORMATION AND DOING WHAT ELSE TODAY. >> OH MY GOSH, GOING INO T A MERCHANDISE TENT, BUYING ALL THE GREAT IRONMAN CALIFORNIA ARGE WITH THE GOLDEN BEAR ON IT. I HAVE SO GET SOME OF THAT. >> WATER GEAR IS VERY POPULAR TODAY. >> WATERPROOF IS VERY POPULAR. IT'S A DAY OF JUST THE FIRST ATHLETE MEETINGS HAPPENING AND ATHLETE ARE GOING TO GET A LAY OF THE LAND. THE REPORTER: LET ME ADDRESS THE RATHER LARGE ELEPHANT IN THIS TOWN RIGHT NOW AND THAT IS THE WEHER.AT WHAT ARE THE THINGS HAPPENING BEHIND-THE-SCENES TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN PULL OFF A SAFE RE?AC >> JUST EXACTLY THAT. MAKING SURE IT'S SAFE. WE CHECK OTHER TNGHIS OUT ON THE BIKE COURSE AND THE RUN COURSE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS GOING TO STAY UPRIG.HT WE JUST TRY TO KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE AND THE ATHLETES HAVE AOT L OF RESPONSIBILITONY THEIR OWN, TO DO THE VERY SAME FOR THEMSELVES. SLOW DN,OWOU Y DON'T NEED TO GET A PERSONAL RECORD AT THIS RACE, JUST SLOW DOWN AND GET TO THE FINISH LINE. THE REPORTER: SAFELY. RAIN OR SHINE, IT IS QUITE A SITE TO SEE ALL THESE ATHLETES DOING THEIR THING OUT HERE IN SACRAMENTO AND WITH THE INAUGURAL ONE, WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE IT HERE. >> OH MY GOSH. I HAVE BEEN TO A LOT OF FIRST-TIME IRONMANS AND I'VE BEEN MOST EXCITED ABOUT THIS RACE, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT'S INM HOME STATE TOO AND IT WAS DESIGNED AS A BEAUTIFUL COURSE, AND THESE ATHLETES, REGISTERED RIGHT AWAY FOR IT, BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT'SOI