It's like any other IM, but windy so train for wind on the bike. Bring your protective gear for sandstorms :D

that's hot....

Seriously just except the wind. Other then that it's not a rediculously hard race.

I checked and it is full today...I got one of the last 100 slots..

I am doing 10-13 hours a week now. Doing an oly in August and a 1/2 in Sept. Then recovery, then begin IM training in November. Should be 5 months..that is the tentative plan anyway...is 5 months enough? I just want to do t he distance

I think 5 months is plenty to get to the finish IF you have a solid training and racing plan, are generally fit & healthy, and have some prior experience training/racing (If you read "Going Long" they recommend 2 to 5 years of prior experience. Some do it in less.)

Making it to the starting line trained, healthy, and with a good race plan/mental game is the tough part.

Second the recommendation to read "Going Long" it will answer your questions and lay out what the expectations are.
The Gale Bernhardt book - I assume the one with training plans for multi-sport athletes is a good place to start. I followed her IM plan the year before I did my IM to just understand what it took to do the required training. It will certainly get you to the finish in good shape especially with your background.

I didn't try it but I was really intrigued by her sub 13 plan. It's 13 hour finish in 13 week with no more then 13 hours of training per week.