The weather as I'm sure you've heard was absolutely awful. I've been told that is an anomaly. I expected potential for rain but apparently the wind and the HEAVY rain and the fact that it was that cold were all totally unexpected. If we'd had a swim, the water would've been pretty cold, but also not unexpected. Personally I like tough, fair bike courses and this was for sure the toughest bike course I've done. Others that were easier by comparison for me were Lake Placid, St. George, and the 2015 version of South Africa. First half of the loop isn't too bad and can actually be fairly fast, but there is a lot of climbing in the second half, and a whole lot of rough road surfaces. You also can't take advantage of the downhills as much because many of them are on narrow roads with lots of curves, although they did a good job of having warning signs on any of those that you might have to worry about. Bike courses like this seem to go by fast though because you never get the opportunity to zone out and just ride a straight line in the aero bars, and personally I find that kind of fun. There were definitely spots where I got sick of the rough road but for the most part I actually enjoyed the bike course. Or maybe would've a lot more if I wasn't being pelted with hard rain. I was fortunate that I dressed well for the conditions and was only cold when waiting for the start and when I had to stop to change flat tires.
Also on the bike course the crowds were amazing. You rode through several villages and every one of them had people watching and cheering, even in the horrible weather. I remember riding by a house that had a little tent set up so the family could watch but still be sheltered. If you've heard of Windmill Hill, that is I think the steepest, hardest hill I've ever had to climb on a bike. Not in a race, but ever. I only did St. Croix once and perhaps I'm remembering wrong, but I think this was harder as I've never wished for another gear like I did on that hill. But I did make it up both times and the crowds on that hill were amazing.
The run was pretty "easy" by comparison. Although I could still see my breath when I sat in the transition tent and left on more clothes than planned, but that worked out fine. 4 loops which is a lot but wasn't too bad. You start with about a mile slightly up out of T2 and then get a bit of a downhill and then the rest of it is pretty flat. Again the crowds were amazing and people were everywhere.
There were some logistical issues apparently, that I didn't have to deal with. For example, they had an athlete's parking area that happened to be in a big field. Traffic was pretty backed up getting everyone parked there, and then after a whole day of torrential rain a lot (most?) people got stuck in the mud. But just one example of how great the locals are, the farmers showed up with their tractors to help tow people out.
Personally, with the exception of the weather, I loved it. And I signed up to come back next year in the hopes of getting a more typical sort of race day and to get to do the swim. You need to expect a cold swim (though it really should be calm as every other day aside from race day was calm), a really challenging bike, and a good run and great crowd support and amazing locals.
Also on the bike course the crowds were amazing. You rode through several villages and every one of them had people watching and cheering, even in the horrible weather. I remember riding by a house that had a little tent set up so the family could watch but still be sheltered. If you've heard of Windmill Hill, that is I think the steepest, hardest hill I've ever had to climb on a bike. Not in a race, but ever. I only did St. Croix once and perhaps I'm remembering wrong, but I think this was harder as I've never wished for another gear like I did on that hill. But I did make it up both times and the crowds on that hill were amazing.
The run was pretty "easy" by comparison. Although I could still see my breath when I sat in the transition tent and left on more clothes than planned, but that worked out fine. 4 loops which is a lot but wasn't too bad. You start with about a mile slightly up out of T2 and then get a bit of a downhill and then the rest of it is pretty flat. Again the crowds were amazing and people were everywhere.
There were some logistical issues apparently, that I didn't have to deal with. For example, they had an athlete's parking area that happened to be in a big field. Traffic was pretty backed up getting everyone parked there, and then after a whole day of torrential rain a lot (most?) people got stuck in the mud. But just one example of how great the locals are, the farmers showed up with their tractors to help tow people out.
Personally, with the exception of the weather, I loved it. And I signed up to come back next year in the hopes of getting a more typical sort of race day and to get to do the swim. You need to expect a cold swim (though it really should be calm as every other day aside from race day was calm), a really challenging bike, and a good run and great crowd support and amazing locals.