I'm definitely not ready for an IM, but this seems like really good advice for future.

I am about the same distance from a couple Danskin sprint tri race locations, and I had initially thought I'd do the NY Metro one b/c I had lived in NYC for so long.

But after some research I weighed flat vs hilly and ocean vs lake swim too.

I'm really glad that I chose Webster for the lake swim, though being out of shape and having a crappy ancient mountain bike with no gears, the NY Metro flat bike and run courses were very tempting! The hills on the Danskin Webser are killer--they say 80% of the women get off and walk at some point. I was so proud that I made it all the way.