It was prior to the East Germany revival, the people were lovely and our accommodation was nice but the course! Swim was 2 laps in a lake where you had to wade out about 400m for it to be deep enough to swim. Bike course was 4 laps with a lot of cobblestone roads and virtually no spectators. Run course was 4 laps too, each one through the finish area and back out, but the road surface was all potholes. First half of each lap kept turning corners, going up and down slopes, and one section of about 300m up a small side road, round a cone and back again. 2nd half was through the woods and the organisers had promised it would be lit after dark. It was - sections of it, with a car parked in the trees and headlights switched on! Ironman nowadays is MUCH more civilized!