Help me choose my 2013 HIMs

This is a great set of questions S. I think it comes down to what you really want. Obviously the two Mdots on there are Florida and Augusta. I would also suggest New Orleans as an option in April for Mdot.

From what I can tell, the new Florida course wasn't all that special or inviting and is further away, but I would check race reports of 2012. New Orleans had the swim cxd last two years and moved to a marina? to guarantee the swim happens this year. And it ends in the French Quarter, so I am going there!

Of those, I think, living around here and needing an Mdot, you really need to lean towards Augusta and have your Spring be the non-Mdot. So many of the locals do it, have done it, and some of your friends probably are doing Augusta. Its an easy in and out, not to mention the course being the perfect PR course as you have heard. You would crush it. 

The flip side is to do New Orleans or Florida and then bang out the inaugural Charlotte which will be nice, less expensive, and much less packed most likely. Or do Rev3 Anderson again and get some paybacks!

You did Rev3 so you know you can't go wrong. They are the best races. The courses are honest and there is not much difference from Knox or Anderson. I can't argue against either but you wanted an Mdot. And, if you did one of the two, Anderson is the easier in and out, but I like new expereinces so I would lean towards a pairing of Knox/Augusta if you preferred a Rev3 in the equation.

So to summarize, Spring, I'd point you to Charleston (easier course) or Rev3 Knox (harder course) and Fall, I'd point you to Augusta. Plan B would be New Orleans then Charlotte (easier course most likely) or Anderson (harder course). Rev3 gets the bumps for fun and the other two get the bump for easier course profile/PR potential.

I just want to thank you guys for all of the advice/analysis. I'm still thinking! When I put New Orleans on the list, hubby and I both perked up briefly, but then realized the kids are still too little to appreciate it (or for him to want to manage them there on race day) and we're not prepared at this point to take a kid-free trip. So it's on the list for future years, for sure.

I think the more I consider it, although I like to stay off the beaten path (hence Rev3 Anderson last year instead of Augusta), sometimes I do want to hang with the cool kids and it would be fun (and fairly convenient) to do Augusta. So I am leaning that way, but not settled. 2 transitions wouldn't turn me off Charleston for the spring (it was fine in Anderson), but I'm undecided there as well.