I got a free race entry to a half marathon in Safety Harbor and currently, I'm only comfortable running 3 miles... So here's what I look for when I preview a Course.
Look at the pdf on website
Find start and what direction you go from the start
Look at the finish and the last mile of the finish. - there's nothing like the unknown to make things feel longer. Toronto Marathon Story.
Drive over to the course and drive as much of it as you can
Get out and walk a bit of it or bike some of it.
Bike all of it
Bike it again looking for inclines
Bike it again mental noting where elevation starts and stops (in order to ease off effort) btw, this is the clever/laxy way to get ahead. To work smarter not harder.
Run parts of it and rehearsing the last bit of the race the most.