The first 30 hands online is the first half hour. Considering that a big tourney can last from 3 to 8 hours, the first 30 minutes is whatever it is. You have to play fairly aggressively to get into trouble in the first half hour. Or to gain a big stack in that time. I tend not to be in either of those camps. I try to keep my stack at 30BB to average, but it will go up and down. It's a long haul, and I try to conserve my energy and my chips.
In a big tourney, the early chip-leaders are seldom there for the money. They take too many risks. And, of course, the early losers are out. My goal is to survive, to stay in and stay healthy, to feel comfortable and in control of myself.