1st-timer friendly 70.3 in tri-state area

Also in Philly and looking to do my first HIM this year. Good luck!

I was gonna suggest Bassman. Nice race, bike is pretty flat, run is in the park with some slight hills and some trail sections.

Hammonton was my first tri! DQ is pretty good.

I was supposed to do Pocono. I was registered, traveled to it and decided the course was way too risky considering the narrow twisty roads freezing temps and pouring rain. The first time I have ever bailed on a race. This included doing IM Lake Placid in pouring rain the entire race. I don't regret the decision as I heard some horror stories about crashes. 

In my humble opinion, start with a smaller local race. Way less expensive, way less hassle.  

What do you guys think of the Hunterdon Half? Round Valley is a nice area, I used to live near there and have been fishing and camping with the kids at the reservoir. It would be kind of fun to camp out the night before, too, and then a short drive home afterwards.

Well I did this race last year. The temperatures were chilly, like the 40's upto 50's by the end. The rain was actually not pouring, it stopped raining just as the race began and it never rained the whole time I was racing.  You might of got splashed from other bikes infront of you though.  I believe only one or two people got in a minor accident which was mostly handling skills. No major accidents.  It was relatively safe if you took your time, had good handling skills, and weren't going to mash it out there when the course didn't call for it since it was wet from several days of rain.  Also its a very technical course.  If you want a challenge and dont mind a hit or miss cold day then try the Pocono 70.3 in Oct.

Don't just think PA and NJ - think Maryland too.

Registration is closed for Eagleman, but from what I hear, you'd be hard pressed to find a better regional first-timer 1/2 iron. It's done by Columbia Triathlon, but it is a WTC branded IM 70.3 event. Crowie was just announced for this year's race. It will be my first half. It's a Kona qualifier.

If you don't mind a non-branded, non exactly 70.3, then later in the year, the same folks from Columbia Tri do the Chesapeakeman Endurance festival, which includes a full Iron, but also a comparable half route, called the Skipjack. More biking, less running, same swim, total mileage 75. I guess they don't want to just do Eagleman twice. It's a Saturday race if that means anything to you.

And finally, Rev3 just announced a 70.3 in Maryland in October. They're adding the Rev3 brand to a long existing race with Oly and 1/2Iron distances. Howard County. 

And, if you want an early season "dress rehearsal" check out NJ Devilman. Half-lite they call it. Longer than an Oly, but not quite a half. Total mileage: 50. I'm doing it this year to have a benchmark on my way to Eagleman. Devilman is run by Piranha Sports.

Get to know the websites for Columbia Tri, Piranha, and Setup events for the Mid-Atlantic region.

Thanks so much for the great responses; great to see so many options. DevilMan looks perfect, unfortunately it's Broad Street weekend!

Happy winter training, all!

So what do you guys think about National Harbor as my first 70.3?

Pros: relatively close, nice scenery, can drive with bike, actual IM event

Cons: DC in August is horrible, hills?

It's looking more and more like I'll do the Piranha Delaware Diamonman. A lot of people in my tri club recommend it as a smaller first-time friendly event. It rained last year and I heard the bike course was slippery, but it's normally a flat fast course.

I was thinking about camping at Lums Pond with the kids but I think both their college and HS start the week before so they will probably be busy.

I lived in the DC area for 3 years, it's coming back to me now how awful summer was. I remember trying to run in Rockville park during lunch and just dying from the humidity.

I used to cut school with friends and sail Sunfish in Nockamixon back in the 70's