Won a big satellite, now I want to learn MTT's

Ok, so I haven't been playing poker all that long, I started playing online about October last year and went to my first live tournament in December. Online I have been focusing on cash games, I have about 70k hands under my belt and am in the process of moving to 10NL. Live, I play in some local tournaments, usually 2-3 times per week. These are $10 entry and generally only around 30 people but every now and then they get up to 60. I do well in these, I am at the top of the season leader board at the venue and have figured out a decent strategy for them.

Now yesterday I played in a $50 satellite tournament. This is the most I have ever spent on a buy in but it was too good of an offer to pass up. The winner was guaranteed a seat at the NPL 500 which is worth $2200, In the end only 21 people turned up for the satellite which left a huge overlay on the prize pool. So I managed to play a nice tight game and push my weight around at the final table and won the ticket.

The NPL 500 is capped at 250 players and since they are only obtained through satellites I'm sure it will be full. I have only played in one live tournament with over 100 players so it is a bit of a daunting prospect at the moment but I want to make sure I'm prepared for it when the time comes. (which is August btw)

I want to know what you guys think the best way is to prepare for it. I will be looking around for some bigger live tournaments to play in as I think the structure will be a lot different to anything I find online plus any live experience against strangers will be good. They haven't released the structure yet but I think it will be something like a 10,000 starting stack with blinds at 25/50 and half an hour levels. Does this sound about right for a decent live tourney?

I know playing tournaments online will help me with getting through the different stages of the tournament and knowing the best times to make a move etc. I have also just bought Mike Caro's book of poker tells recently and I am half way through reading that.

Any help or suggestions will be much appreciated, Thanks

1. Relax
2. Play the best game you can
3. Aquire as much information as you can before, during and after you play.

Always make sure you get enough rest before any big tournament and of course get enough of the good old H20. Good luck on your tournaments. Oh and avoid distractions, focus is the key.

Here are my top tips for playing a biggish tourney:

1. Arrive in good time, refreshed, fed and clean.
2. Make sure you know the rules (level increases, how people are moved, payout etc etc).
3. Don't be a dick - remember good etiquette.
4. Don't get sucked into dumb hands early on; there's usually some maniac who goes crazy early doors - your AJo is not an all-in hand...
5. Be patient - the hands will come.