Ironman 70.3 New Orleans was amazing!  It is the biggest half in the world with 3000 athletes and more spectators than I have ever seen at any other event.  The city is so welcoming to any event and everyone loves to party and cheer on the athletes.  The 09 was it's first time, so it was a little disorganized at the end but they should learn from last year to make 2010 even better

2 thoughts:  1. Rev3 in Middlebury CT in early June.  A very beautiful course but rather difficult.  Matty Reed won this year and claimed it was the hardest race he had done. Very nice swim, brutal bike and then a hard run.  2. If you have family and want to make a vacation, do the Florida 70.3.  Its in Disney and if you can deal with the heat, you can do very well. The rest of your time can be with the family at all the parks.  Both races are very well run and organized, but the geography is dramatically different.  Florida - flat and humid, Rev3 - hilly and cool.

I'm also a huge fan of Timberman.   Not only is it a great race, but it's a fun, party atmosphere which lasts the entire weekend!