Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas

The Woodlands Texas Ironman 2012

The second Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas will take place in The Woodlands on May 19, 2012. TWE! is excited that World Triathlon Corporation has selected The Woodlands for its Ironman Texas event as this world-class event is expected to bring major international exposure to The Woodlands as well as extended recognition for the surrounding community. The Woodlands is also host to several other annual sporting including Run Thru The Woods, 10 For Texas, The Muddy Trails 5K, The Woodlands Marathon, the Triathlon - The Woodlands, as well as a wide assortment of festivals, concerts, and more. The Ironman competition is estimated to generate about $16 million in economic investment to The Woodlands area.

An Ironman triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike and a 26.2-mile run, and athletes must complete the three disciplines in succession within a 17-hour time frame. Ironman Texas competitors will begin with a swim across Lake Woodlands, entering the water at Northshore Park and finishing at Town Green Park near Market Street, which will serve as a transition area. From there athletes will begin the bike course that will take them west through The Woodlands before heading northeast through rural farmland and then returning to The Woodlands where the final portion is a marathon 26.2-mile run course entirely within The Woodlands that concludes with a spectacular finish at Market Street.

Registration for the event in 2011 filled quickly and includes racers of all ages and backgrounds. The Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas will offer 50 coveted slots to the 2012 Ford Ironman World Championship, taking place on October 13 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Additionally, there will be a prize purse of $100,000 for distribution among the top professional male and female finishers. While space is available, online registration is available here.

IronMan Texas Course Outline

The point-to-point swim takes place in Lake Woodlands. Athletes will enter the water at Northshore Park and swim toward South Shore Park. After reaching the turn-around buoy, athletes will head back toward North Shore Park, turn slightly right and swim down the Lake Woodlands waterway system before finishing at Town Green Park, which will serve as the transition area.

The 112-mile one-loop bike course will take athletes west through The Woodlands, starting at Town Green Park, entering onto Lake Robbins, then left on Grogan's Mill Road to Woodlands Parkway, proceeding west out to FM 2978. In Magnolia riders will head north on FM 2978 and bear right onto Egypt Road then straight onto Conroe Huffsmith, left onto to Weisinger Drive, a left onto Mahogany Way, followed by a right onto Honea Egypt Road to take riders into the Sam Houston National Forest when they bear right on to Sendera Ranch Road before turning left on to FM 2854 to ride straight onto Lone Star Parkway before turning right to ride along FM 149. At the fork, riders will turn right on to Osborne Road, followed by a sharp left on to FM 1375 for several miles before turning right to return to FM 149. Next will be a right on to Bethel Road, followed by a left on to Taliaferro Road, left on to County Road 209, and left on to Bays Chapel Road to the next right back on to FM 149. About five miles later, riders will begin to turn back eastward by turning left on to FM 2562, then left again on to FM 2819 before starting the southward return to The Woodlands via a right on to FM 1486, a right on to North Mount Mariah Road, left on to Mock Lane and back onto FM 1486 by turning right again. Continuing southward, riders will turn left on to Jackson Road, make a left on to FM 1488, then a quick right on to Tamina Road before making a right on to FM 2978 to enter The Woodlands by making a left on to Windfern Place. Continuing east towards the transition area, riders will make a right on to May Valley Circle, turn left on to West Branch Crossing, right on to Woodlands Parkway, right on to Flintridge Drive, right on to South Panther Creek Drive, right on to Woodlands Parkway, down the exit ramp to turn left on to Grogan's Mill Road and finally right on to Lake Robbins Drive, returning to the start point to being the final leg of the IronMan. The course is mostly flat but features some rolling hills.

The three-loop run course takes place entirely within The Woodlands. Make a right out of the transition area on to The Waterway, then right on Lake Robbins Drive, left onto the trail adjacent to Grogan's Mill Road, then left onto Lake Woodlands Drive, westward out of Town Center. The next left will take runners onto Panther Creek Drive, which they'll follow across until making a left onto Woodlands Parkway, eastward past South Shore Park before entering Eastshore by turning left on Lake Front Circle. Following along the shores of Lake Woodlands, runners will turn left on East Shore Drive, left on East Bay Boulevard, left on back on to Lake Front Circle, a right on High Timbers Drive then bearing left toward the Waterway Path System. Once on the Pathway runners will turn right once on the Waterway Path System which they will follow towards the end of the Waterway Path System before turning right on Timberloch Place, then right on Woodloch Forest Drive, a left on Waterway Square Place, left on the Waterway Path System and head towards The Woodlands Mall and back towards the transition area. To complete second and third loop, runners will continue on the Waterway Path System, make a right on to Lake Robbins Drive, continue on trail adjacent to Grogan's Mill Road, and after the third loop, turn right on to Waterway Square Place to reach the finish line.

The bicycle course has had several changes made to it from the 2011 course to better accomodate vehicular traffic, as well as increase athelete safety. The running course has also seen some modifications since 2011 as the finish line has been relocated from Market Street's Central park to Waterway Square Park on The Waterway. Additional course details are available on the Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas Web site.