To be fair, I'm a trail runner. But I do participate in road races throughout the year for training and experience.
PROS:
*Temps: It was between 45-50F, which is perfect running weather. I was fine in a tank and running skirt. I could have used gloves towards the end but most of us did fine without.
*Loops: You have your grab bag, water bottle(s) and port-a-potties with each lap. You're never far from your gear.
*Port-a-potties: They have total of 4, with 2 at each end of the ~400 meter track.
*Lap counts: I thought I'd hate it but I did enjoy seeing the number go down. I focused on 10 at a time. Total laps come to 95. They have 2 large screens and also a smaller screen at the mat so you can immediately see how many laps you have completed so far.

CONS:
*Tracks: 3 open ---> inner (fast), middle (passing), outer ("slow runners", as they called us). This meant longer distance for runners who didn't run 3:30 or faster. Many of us stuck to the middle lane, moving as needed for others. I understand there needs to be some type of system but it seemed to penalize the "slow runners".
*No headphone: They did play music throughout the day, with requests from runners, but I hate being subjected to other peoples' music preferences. I wanted to listen to my music/podcast/audiobook.
*Course: Yes, it's a track so it will be flat, hard surface. Some people love this - I prefer elevation changes.

SWAG: long sleeve, dri-tech shirt.
REFRESHMENTS: chocolate milk, coffee, bagels, crackers, cliff bars and this year, they had carrot cake to celebrate a runner's 100th marathon achievement.

All in all, it wasn't a bad race. But it was definitely boring. I've done a few track races before (12 hour overnights) so I figured this would be a fun experience. I think having my own music to zone out to would have been great.

This is my 2nd year back and I can say without a doubt that this is not the triathlon you want to start with. I've broken down the sports - pros and cons to be fair.

PACKET PICK UP: You have the option to pick up the day before at the YMCA or at the race. I do love that they gave us an option as the early packet pick ended at 6pm and I wasn't able to get off of work to drive an hour away.

SWAG: Tech Tee, tons of brochures, small drying towel (this year seemed cheaper), and swim cap for the race (color-cded).

RACE DAY: You do have to get your number tattoeed and though they were more efficient this year, this usually causes a long line. It also leaves the sticky residue on your skin, though easily removed with oil I heard.
Transition area is open and is large enough so that you're not squeezed in ridiculously small spaces. It is also closed and only for athletes.

SWIM: Water has been warm enough both years so that you don't need wetsuit. But it is full of seaweed and if you're squeamish, you may want to wear one. But the water really is warm (this coming from someone who hates even lukewarm pool water) so you'll have to decide it'll be worth the heat you'll undoubtedly feel during the swim. The last bit of the swim is the worst - the seaweed gets tangled in your arms and when you finally stand up, it will squish under your feet.

BIKE: The volunteers and police officers are awesome. They really make the bike course somewhat bearable, especially at the end when you just want to die. The course itself is insanely difficult. I've done Chattanooga half ironman and this is no "rolling hills". After the first 3-4 miles, you are going to be hit hard with a hill that seems to go up high and continously. Once you finish enjoying the downhill, you're going to be faced again and again with the same type of hills. From what I saw, mini marathoners turned after the first monster of a hill and can't speak for that distance. I've done both the short distance (last year) and long distance (this year) and they were worse than I remembered.
They do have some water stations along the way.

RUN: BRING YOUR WATER BOTTLE and FUEL. They only offer water at the stations - I believe there were about 3 or 4? You do hit one twice, if you run the 6.2 (long distance). There's hardly any relief from the sun and it's pretty much an out and back.

FINISH - this is the most disappointing part. I'm a middle of the pack athlete - so it wasn't that the race was ended by the time I finished the last portion of the race. As I was heading back from the bike and then out for my run, I could hear them annoucing the people coming to the finish line. This is always a great boost and I look forward to it with any multi-sports (or any race, really). But by the time I came to the finish, there was no one there. I was handed a cold water cloth and a water bottle. That was it.
They already started doing awards for the short distance top finishers.

Save the money and the frustration -- spend it elsewhere. This race isn't worth it. It's a very clique-y race and so unsupportive.

Packet pick-up/Bike drop off: Be prepared for traffic and lack of parking spaces. We had to walk about a mile to the Ironman Village. Once getting your packet and swag, you can drop off your bike in the transition area. You'll see many athletes practicing their transition runs to/from swim and bike :)

Swag: finisher hat, gear bag -- I use these regularly. The bag is big enough that I was able to pack for another race weekend just in that bag.

There is an athlete "meeting" held several times during the day and you won't want to miss this! Helpful tips and rules to go over.

Race morning: The body marking was quick -- they had tons of volunteers to do this so I technically didn't have to be there as early as I did (I believe I was there around 4-4:30am). It literally took me longer to walk from the village to the body marking area than to get marked. After getting everything set up, you can take the buses to the swim start. They'll have porta-potties at the swim start!
Once there, you get in a line - faster swimmers near front, intermediate in the middle, etc. The athletes are eager and friendly to help so don't feel as if you can't ask anyone!

Swim: after a short uphill swim, you then flow downstream. It was a gradual start - in a single file line to the pier where you just jump (or slide) into the water. It wasn't overly crowded but were some kicks and hands as any ows swim.

Transition 1: There are volunteers to slide your wetsuit off of you- just lay on the mat and they'll take it off in one swoop! Then another table in the transition will have sunscreen they can lather on for you. Porta-potties are available in this area as well (for those who can't pee in the wetsuit just yet!)

Bike course: This is where there are some disagreements. Some say the hills are really challenging while others say they're fine. To a flatlander, I thought they were somewhere in the middle. Not the easiest as there are hills but none that I had to walk up because they were so bad - and I only have a road bike. You will definitely need to get some hill training in but I personally didn't think they were as bad as I expected. Drafting rule changed to 6 bikes in length - you do get a little more time to pass but once you make that decision to pass, you have to follow through within that time frame.
Aid stations are great. They do have full size Gatorade drinking bottles (with the spout) so you can carry some on your bike, if you have the space. Plenty of porta-potties as well.

Run course: Yes, there are hills but none that made me think "this must be what Heartbreak Hill is like!". There are aid stations about every mile and it's an amazing run. The volunteers are awesome and the cheering from spectators in most areas (obviously not the highways) are truly spectacular. 2 loops and you can't beat the scenery.

The chute to the finish is phenomenal. You have people screaming (for you) on each side of the rails and the more you give, the louder they get. It's the closest to feeling like a rockstar. They make the race experience the best it could be.

Post-race: you can have someone pick up your gear from transition with a ticket provided. As for the food, I can't say as I couldn't eat and left shortly to be with my family who had been out there all day.

Overall, it's an amazing time. The city is beautiful as is the course as it takes you around the countryside, riverside and the city.

Though this is a 5K and duathlon, I've only done the duathlon the past 2 years. The hills are challenging, especially on the bike course but it can be done! I barely trained before my first race last year and still survived :) But I did have to walk up a few hills.
Duathlon distance: 5K run, 20 mile bike, 2 mile run.
The first run course is the same as the other 5K runners. It "runs" through the neighborhood near the park and does have its elevation as well. One water station about halfway through.
Bike portion is beautiful as you ride in the countryside but the cons of this is the wonderful smell of "fertilizer", chance of said fertilizer being splashed on you if the ground is wet and the hills.
Last running portion changed this year and was reduced to 2 miles (from 5k). Also hilly.

I know that going into this race means pushing myself. If you're up for a challenge, I highly recommend this race. Very friendly atmosphere; the volunteers are awesome and are greatly appreciated for course guidance during the ride.

Swag bag was a brightly colored, long-sleeved tech shirt (which I love!) and then coupons and ads (meh). Post race refreshments: bananas, cookies, chocolate milk and water.
They did have coffee and hot food available but you had to pay.