I have! I whole-heartedly recommend it, even for your first. And it is not harder than any other to "finish"; that race is still my PR several years later. It was my second half, I believe, back in 2004 (?).

It is well-run with a competitive field. I distinctly remember James Bonney (pro) getting out of the water in about :20 and coming in from the run when I was leaving T2. Anyways, Arkadelphia is beautiful: pine trees, clear lake, and hills. From the race-promotion department, I remember that they hyped DeGray Lake as one of the Top 10 cleanest fresh-water lakes in the US and it lived up to the billing: on my warm-up swim (before everyone else murked-up the water), I could see way, WAY down to the bottom. In other words, I could see probably 50 feet down, about 200 yards off shore: sunken trees, fish, etc. Very unique experience compared to staring at a black tile line along the bottom of the pool. Brace yourself for that. But it also had the advantage of being very drinkable while you swim. Kinda cool. Wetsuit not necessary in Arkansas in August.

The bike course is nothing but rollers and is deceptively fast. If you maintain momentum over one roller you can keep rolling up and over and get a good time on the bike. Winds are non-existent because on either side of you there are 100' loblolly pine trees, and the sun is still below the tree tops so you are ride in the shade. I didn't even notice Iron "mountain."

But on the run, those trees become your enemy. By the time you get to the run, the same factors that made the bike so enjoyable turn the run into a meat grinder: up-and-down-and-up-and-down hills, no flats; the sun is straight over head and the trees block any breeze; and Arkansas in August has 90+ heat and very high humidity.

Good luck with that!!