It's been a year since I did this race. I won't be racing it this year due to my stupid meniscus, but I'll be on the bike course with my wife volunteering for my friend Rich who's the organizer and race director of the Toughman Triathlon.
Last year’s race was fantastic. Rich, who I've known for years training with the Westchester Triathlon Club, had a goal to make his race the best run race in the region. He's a veteran of numerous full Ironman triathlons and wanted his Half-Iron distance race to have all the same support and amenities that you'd receive, and come to expect, at a full Ironman distance race. And he's doing just that. More bands on the course, cheerleaders on the tough climbs of the run, wetsuit strippers as you head into T1. Really top notch amenities.
Packet pickup: One of the most well run I've been to. Incredibly well organized and very quick "in and out". And let's just talk about the SWAG. Great stuff. Tech shirt from Zoot, water bottle, Hammer products. Very nice.
Vendors and race village: Having massage therapists on site for pre-race was nice. A nice, easy rub down (no deep tissue the day before a race please) was great. Lots of local vendors, including Westchester Road Runners, was a nice addition. Everyone in the greater New York area knows about Andy's store in White Plains. In my opinion, the best running store in the tri-state area.
To top things off in regards to pre-race, the Toughman triathlon had a few training camps that allowed for open water swims, bike and run clinics, all on the actual race course. A great opportunity to become acclimated with the course with water stations, sag wagons, and elite athletes there to help more novice athletes - or those new to the Half-Iron distance - with transition area tips, racing insight, and be available to answer any questions that may come up.
Race day proved to again be one of the most well organized events I've participated in. The location is easily accessible from anywhere in the tri-state area. To that point, racers coming up to Croton Point Park in NY from Manhattan had the option to have their bikes shipped up to the race site, and back down to Manhattan, via a local bike shop that the race organizers partnered with. This allowed participants coming up from the city to take the Metro North mass transit to within a mile of the transition area and not have to worry about their rigs.
Pre race again was great. Local bike shops were on hand for repairs and emergency blown tube replacement. Marshaling of waves was painless and efficient.
Personally? I felt great on the swim and felt just as good on the bike. But whatever I neglected on the bike (not enough Heed or nutrition) the run handed my ass to me. My legs just didn't come around like I thought they should. The bike was a little more taxing that I thought it would be - even though I'd ridden it a few times before race day.