Kind of surprised to see the panning of the local riding. I’m like the biggest bike wuss ever and I’ve got no problems other than the same five usual suspects of routes get a little repetitive after a while. If you go north of the bay, there are a couple of good safe bike routes out of the Niceville/Bluewater Bay area. Route maps in the menu on the right here:
And local bike club. Since we’re a smallish area, the trifolk and the roadies generally cross polinate in order to get a decent turnout.
Inland riding is pretty similar to what you get for IMFL, even those small bumps that folks down here consider to be hills. CR 30-A east of the Sandestin resort/outlet mall is also generally a good ride early in the morning before the touristas are too active. I think the bike route rep is bad because people think US 98 when the truth is that few of the locals consider that rideable and hit the usual alternate routes. Some people will ride the Mid Bay Bridge, and the shoulder is wide enough to be pretty safe, but there’s so much debris you’re asking to shred a tire.
Running’s pretty straightforward, and you’d be getting down here before the heat got bad. Open water swimming is pleasant that time of year. I’d check with Dragon Sports to see if they’ve still got an open water group.
Pools are actually the hardest part. Unless you’ve got a Department of Defense ID (nice big 50M pools on the Air Force bases) or your resort has a lap pool you’re limited to the Destin YMCA and its irregular hours, the Ft. Walton Beach YMCA, or buying a short term membership to the Bluewater Bay Pools network. I’d get in touch with Bluewater Barracudas and/or the YMCA and see if they’ve got a masters option. I’m pretty sure there were some tri swimmers out at the Destin Y when it was open.
http://www.bwbswimteam.com/Home.jsp?team=sesbwb
In addition to Gulf Coast, I’ve seen some info about a possible 70.3 at Navarre Beach that time in 2011. If you like flat (as in the highest point on the course is five feet above sea level) and windy, it’s the perfect course.
If you’ve got more questions, give a yell!