Location
|
The Woodlands, Texas
|
Race
website
|
|
Time
of year held
|
May
|
Approx
Athlete Numbers
|
2250
|
Does
it typically sell out?
|
Yes; sometimes
|
One
word description for the event
|
Hot; humid
|
Good
for first iron distance race?
|
Yes
|
Tips for overseas athletes getting to
the venue:
- Fly into Houston International. The Woodlands is just north of the airport, and hotels should have shuttles to get you there. Or rent a car for extra ease.
- You will need a car unless you are staying right on site at the Marriott or Hyatt Market Place.
SWIM
One
word description for the swim
|
Murky
|
Single
or multi-lap course?
|
Point to point
|
Typically
wetsuit-legal?
|
No
|
Swim
course description
|
Lake, rolling start
|
Swim tips
- Be sure to check the position of the far turn buoy. The guiding buoys don't always leading you on a direct path to the turn.
- The course has to use angles in the lake to create the full distance. If you can swim a straight line, you can cut the swim short.
BIKE
One
word description for the bike
|
Great! Rolling
|
GPS
map link for the bike course
|
|
Video
link for the bike course
|
|
Single
or multi-lap course?
|
1 lap
|
Bike Course description
- Single loop course, mostly flat. Some great sections through national forest.
- The course is most flat in The Woodlands and switches to rolling as you enter the National Forest.
Bike Course tips
- Can be very hot - be sure to carry plenty of fluids!
- There will be wind on the way back. If you are lucky, it will blow from the north and push you back in. However, it is more likely to be a headwind.
- There are significant cracks in the road on Osborne; stay alert and do not get your wheels caught in them.
- The chip and seal on 1486 can be rough depending on how recently they resurfaced certain sections.
RUN
One
word description for the run
|
Hot
|
GPS
map link for the run course
|
|
Video
link for the run course
|
|
Single
or multi-lap course?
|
3 laps
|
Run course description
- The section along the canal is great with lots of supporters. The back half is quieter.
- Flat
Run course tips
- The run is always hot, make sure you practice and know where aid stations are.
- It typically will be about 90 degrees Fahrenheit with about 70% humidity about 2pm. The focus should be on conserving early.
- Hippie Hollow is about mile 6. Make sure you do not walk through there as you will likely be chased by a banging trash can if you do.
SUPPORTERS
Tips for supporters get the most out
of watching the event?
- The canal area has plenty of restaurants and shaded areas to sit. It gets busy during the run, but you can easily move around and see athletes several times.
- The run and swim take place around The Woodlands Waterway. You can see your athlete multiple times on each lap.
- The bike course is very difficult to watch the athletes on because the roads will be mainly closed.
Great places to eat:
- Market Street has a wide variety of restaurants, and there is a mall within walking distance of the race course as well.
- For Pizza - Grimaldi's
- For Mexican - Cyclone Anaya's
- Beer/Pub - Goose's Acre
- For High-end - Jasper's
Best bike or tri shop in town:
- Bike Lane is the most known, but it is about 5 miles away.
- Cycles Texas is right in Town Center of The Woodlands
Best pick for accommodation:
- We stayed at the Drury Inn twice and it was great.
- Marriott Waterway is by far the most convenient for the racer.
- Hyatt Market Street is the best for families.
Best things for the kids to do:
- There is a big mall and plenty of shopping areas. You can walk everywhere via trails.
- There is a splash park at Waterway Square as well as one in Market Street.
- There is a Tinseltown movie theater near the finish line.
- Also, there is a riverboat that cruises the waterway.
- For the teenage girls, there is a fantastic mall about 3 blocks from the finish line.
Cool things to do after the race:
- Hang out on Waterway Square
- Go to a concert right on race course (in 2015 Dave Matthews was playing same day as the race)
Any warnings that people should know
about before entering:
- It is May in Texas, so it is going to be hot. The race is moving to April in 2017, but that could still be warm.
- It is HOT and HUMID.
OVERALL
General tips:
- Crowd support is great, and it is a very family friendly environment.
- The Woodlands was designed as a master planned suburb, and it is outfitted with a number of amenities designed for families.
Best thing about this
race:
- The canal area on the run.
- Community support
Anything negative about
this race:
- It's hot - deal with it.
RACE REPORTS AND OTHER VIDEO LINKS SUPPLIED
- 2015 Race Report by Patrick ?
Have you done this
race?
Thank you to the
following people who have contributed content to this page: Mike Threadgould; Michael Collins
