Ironman officials finalize last-minute route
Athletes, race organizers and Woodlands area businesses breathed a sigh of relief Friday when Ironman triathlon organizers announced that they had finalized the route for the 112-mile cycling portion of the race, which had thrown the May 14 event into jeopardy just weeks before the set date.
The North American Championship Ironman Triathlon — which starts with a 2.4-mile swim in Lake Woodlands and a 26.2 mile run finishing at Waterway Square — had to reroute its bike course after Montgomery County Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley said the originally planned course would be unsafe due to construction.
With just over a month to make the change, race planners pursued approval for two alternate routes: one using the Grand Parkway, and another taking
roads through northern Harris County.
Texas Department of Transportation officials quickly shot down the proposed Grand Parkway route, and Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle’s office initially was skeptical that there would be time to approve the route for the rapidly approaching event.
“This is a hugely complicated matter,” said Precinct 4 spokesperson Mark Seegers earlier this month. “Things like this take months and months to plan.”
However, Ironman officials released an announcement Friday that a bike route had been finalized and that the triathlon would not be canceled.
“Ironman has worked diligently to secure a bike course for the 2016 Memorial Hermann Ironman North American Championship Texas. We are pleased that we have finalized details for the new 112-mile bike course and are looking forward to a fantastic race day on Saturday, May 14 in The Woodlands,” the release said.
Race organizers plan to release an updated course map in the coming days.
The race — which is one of only nine championship events offering qualifying spots for the World Championship Ironman in Kona, Hawaii — is expected to generate $13 million to $15 million in local economic impact and has taken place in The Woodlands each year since 2010. It has an especially strong impact on area hotels, which are generally booked well in advance for the week of the race.
“This is the single most important event to (The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center), and probably to The Woodlands,” said the hotel’s general manager, Fred Domenick. “It is the most valuable piece of business throughout the year.”