Top Gun Tri

I dont think you can go wrong. The venue is very nice - multiple races held there through the summer. The swim is saltwater, the bike flat, and the run goes partly on a path through the sand which can be a bit of a bother, but these races are well run and there is always a great crowd.

They have several races at Ft Desoto every year, including Top Gun and the Publix Family Fitness Weekend. The bike course used to be a little bit jarring, as the roads were kind of a gravel0live pavement. They recently re-paved though and it's much smoother. Only thing to warn you about is there is normally quite a bit of wind on the bike course, and for the run they normally make you run up a couple of flight of stairs to get to the top of the Fort, then back down on the other side. That took me by surprise the first time I did a race out there = )

It will be my first tri as well, but it is a great course. I have already been training out there, and it can get really windy on the bike.

I think this is the one I'm going to do.

I got to go watch the Subaru Women's Tri a few months ago, so at least I'm familiar with the venue. I don't remember seeing the stairs to the fort though...

Thanks for the info! And good luck since it's your first as well!