Expensive as with all IM events but with the amount of organisation involved I'm ok with that. super slick registration process.  Lovely river swim, a bit smelly in places but a decent straight forward swim course. 2 lap bike course, lots of flat French countryside, well supported through the villages and a nice rolling 11 miles to the end of each lap. Run course is lots of fun. Lots to see, great atmosphere, parks, river edge, town etc.  Loved it loved it.  

I really cant say enough about how amazing this race was.  Maybe I am biased as it was my first IM race, but there was so much to love about it.

Ease of Travel

It is only 7 hours easy motorway drive from Calais, which means you can take all the extra bits you want and not worry about your bike being lost on the plane

Where to stay

Plenty on ofer fro hotels to houses, to camping. BUT book early, by Christmas everything is full!

Organisation

IM get it absolutely right! slick process, transition is well set out, great for spectators and marshals amazing!

Course

Swim is safe and easy to navigate, but be prepared for a non-wetsuit swim as the water gets warm.  Bike is on good roads and well sign posted.  Good aid stations and pretty flat.  One hill and a few false flats. Only 4000ft climbing. Fast course.  Run is 4 loops around the lake and into town. Flat as it comes, aid stations every 2km, well stocked Marshals awesome.

Atmosphere

Brilliant. On the ride lots of people out shouting, run was exceptional. Each lap you come through the main stadium and at the end it was rocking!  the party went on until the last person came in

Overall, couldn't fault it.  Great race all round

Situated in central France in a beautiful spa town. First warning it's central France at end of August and it is usually hot! Briefing wasn't great due to technical issues. Lots of unanswered questions following announcement of non-wetsuit swim and vague explanation about what you were allowed to wear for the swim. Swim was a rolling start and people seemed to go in holding pens based on aspiration rather than capability. Not convinced about the format and ended up overtaking people all the way. Feedback from those wearing GPS the swim was long somewhere between 4 & 4.2k. Bike start is a bit twisty as you weave out of the town. Once out road surface is OK but it is along small country roads. Partial closure with traffic allowed on opposite carriageway but the roads are narrow. Not much traffic out on the road but you do need to be aware when picking your line on corners etc. Pretty quick course mainly rolling. Conditions changed with a heavy shower that lasted about 20mins just as I was getting to the end. As roads are generally very dry any rain makes them slippery.....trust me hit a rough patch about 800m from end front wheel lost traction / jumped and I went over the front! Aid stations well manned and positioned although the last one was at the bottom of one of the small climbs. Makes it a bit harder to get straight back on the pace. Overall would rate it 8/10 although I'm a bit anti the IM corporate merchandising bandwagon.

There were some organisation hiccups, such as briefing (no one knows when and where to go) ...etc

Swim: a bit lumpy and non wetsiut, ok  fine I take it but the distance was surly not right. Thumb up for rolling start.  overall 6/10

Bike: Flat course, pretty fast too but I find it a bit boring. On some partsthe tarmac quality wasn't great. overall 8/10

Run: Magic run course, flat and fast 4 lap in great atmosphere. family, friends, supporters will love it too. Loved it despite me nutrition issue. overall 10/10

This was my first ironman and although it hurt like a b*stard I absolutely loved it. 

The whole Ironman expo and buzz is great and you really feel part of a bigger experience and then becoming part of a band of brothers/sisters when you cross the line.

Swim - non wetsuit - felt a bit longer than 3.8 but was easy to navigate and the rolling start works well.  Marshalled well with large and clear buoys. Australian exit - get out and jump back in.  The only issue with jumping back in is that it is not as deep at the start so I hit the floor very quickly which thankfully I bent down to jump in or else it could have hurt!

Bike - Great bike route - essentially closed roads.  Great surface as you generally get in France and some support through the small villages and very well marshalled with no slowing or stopping at any point.  The feed stations were very well staffed and the marshalls and helpers were really fantastic and helpful.  Lots of brits doing the race so you didn't even need to know the french for water!!  The referees around drafting was very on it!! Absolutely no drafting at all..  got told off in French a couple of times.  Most of the penalty boxes actually had people in them through the feed stations.  It was generally flat too, really easy to get into a nice rythmn in the tt position. 

Run - Great run through the pretty city of Vichy.  Support around the city, with your race number having your nationality you get supported in English as well as an awful lot of 'allez' and 'courage' which is just amazing.  Four laps of 10 and bit km so you know exactly where you are and it's great to see your supporters four times around the course.  Although mine didn't turn up till the end of my second lap (apparently I did the bike too quickly!!)

Overall - It hurt like hell but I loved it.  Just before I ran into the main area a guy at the side of the course said 'well done Matt, you're an Ironman now'..  I think I might have shed a tear.