Buffalo Springs in 2014 was very hot, high 90's at least. But after a not great swim I rocked the bike course, then negative split the run and beat my '97 time by about 30 minutes (better training, better gear). Haven't been in that kind of shape since.

I did the race that year as well.

I woke up Sunday morning, and my race partner (two-person team category) said, "C'mon, let's go get ready." My response was, "I'm not racing. I don't want to race. You can't make me!" He talked me into at least setting stuff up in transition which ultimately got me in the mindset to race. It's the only race I've seen when the gun goes off to start the swim where people slowly walk into the water exactly as you describe...like zombies. It was the March of the Dead into the water.

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Tad

It took awhile, but I finally discovered that its not the destination that's important, but rather the journey.

is the new TTT course harder than the original one?
I have fond memories of my legs going full cramp during the 2nd tri on Saturday.

If I remember right, you cut the Fire Tower hill short because the road was too washed out after a nasty storm, and you felt like you needed to put an aid station on top that you couldn't cover. I don't think it was because it was too hard.

I think going through Westernport is the better way to go -- you get a modicum of rest after town, which gives newbies some hope that the worst is over.

The bike courses are harder

St.Croix

Auburn, 70.3 named by pros, toughest Half in the world)
~ 5500 ft elevation gain in 56 miles, with 1200 in the first 8-9 miles
run is double out and back, single track, gravel on the western 100 course and little or no shade.
Unfortunately it is no more, but what an event.

Branson only lasted 2 years bike course big ass climbing then run through a outside shopping center

Tyler Texas. March 2014, temp was 50. Lake swim, frozen feet, stayed frozen on the bike and didn't thaw until the run. Bike was a cold 56 miles of hills and chip and seal roads. Very hilly run.

I'd join others and say easily TTT (Shawnee), for some reason I ran a disc wheel in the back that day not sure why.

I would have to say without a doubt SavageMan. I have done that race every year except for one when I was injured.

Not many people come back to this race repeatedly. The transition area is very sadly shrunken from the first few years.

Kind of a shame for a sport that likes to advertise its "toughness", but competition from much easier M-Dot courses has really taken a bite out of participation numbers.

Having done that race 12 times with a few different wheel set-ups, a disc with a 60 or 90 front was the fastest for me.

This is something I don't understand but has been a trend for years.

St Croix was my hardest. Wind, heat, the beast, Coming from the northeast to race in what felt like an inferno the first weekend of May.