Changes to IM TX 2013??
No signups this weekend for next year's Texas IM. They have been making minor modifications to the bike and run course all week. Looks/Feels like many in the Woodlands are not happy with IM here. Not sure what's up, but something sure is!
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I'm probably going to sign up again for next year since it's local so I don't really care when they do it but an early spring or late fall date would be much better.
@ Bob - I'm sure you will appreciate today's announcement about the new swim venue for New Orleans 70.3. But the course looks stupid...just like this year's Florida course (which I believe is due to low water levels in the lake).
I saw the change to NOLA. Still not sure they can win me back.
Taking an earlier date would sure make sense. I doubt the wisdom of 3000 people of varying abilities racing 140.6 in heat and humidity...
As an employee for the title sponsor, I got to hear some of the behind the scenes stuff of what was going on. Keep in mind it is an election year. Some in the Woodlands and Montgomery County (the vast majority of the bike course is NOT in The Woodlands) don't like the race. Heck, the people in Montgomery County hate cyclists (John and I stopped riding up there years ago because we got tired of getting stuff thrown at us, cussed out, almost run off the road, and people using their extended side mirrors to push cyclists into ditches). Sounds like there is a split up there between those who love and those who hate the race. Those who are against the race were making all sorts of trouble and causing course changes up until Friday morning. I can't commend Scott, the RD, and everyone at WTC for putting up with it and making it a great race where the athletes didn't know what was going on behind the scenes.
Given all they trouble they caused this year, I can totally understand WTC wanting to play the "we may move the race" card (by not providing pre-registration). There are towns/cities fighting for an Ironman. Why have the race in one that is going to make everything difficult?
Personally, I think they have to keep it in the Houston area because Memorial Hermann has a 10 year (8 years left) agreement with WTC. I'm not sure about moving it earlier because that means it will probably be windier and have a stronger chance of rain/storms.
Good info. Thx.
WAsn/t aware about the t'storm/wind issue. I was in New Orleans 4 years and just remember how miserably hot and humid Mid May was...
I kept hoping lightening wouldn't strike with all the "Woodlands love this race" talk. I was in Orvis over in Town Center (where the course was last year) and one of the ladies who worked there was saying "We love the race but are glad they moved it" then went on to complain about it. Then, she went on to complain about events, like the Dave Matthews concert the Friday night before IMTX, at Cynthia Mitchell Woods Pavillion. Well, if you are right across the street from a major concert venue in the 4th largest city in the US. . .you're going to complain about it? Some people will just complain about anything.
After we closed up shop in the Medical Tent about 1AM Sunday, John, I and some of the Athletic Trainers that worked from 4:30AM to 1AM went to Baker St. Pub for a drink. One of them is up there quite a bit and never knew about the restaurants that were around the finish line. I think those restaurants are very happy.
They will send a note to all of the 2012 athletes and volunteers letting them know when registration is going to open. We will post advanced notice here. As far as the start being disorganized, it was actually run pretty well. The problem is that people don't want to get in the water without a wetsuit and tread water for 15 minutes so they hang out on shore and then have to scramble to get into the start. I was surprised 5 minutes before the gun went off how many non-wetsuit swimmers were still hanging around on shore despite all the announcements. That is just a self inflicted wound, and they get no sympathy.
I stick to my original thesis, triathletes drop 50 IQ points when they drop their bikes off in T1 the day before. Then the moring of the event they drop another 50. The one thing I hope they do next year is drop the wetsuits all together. The two starts made the swim rougher than it needed to be.
As to the swim I thought it was much better than last year. In 2011 no one wanted to get into the water until the last minute causing many hundreds of people to be caught on shore when the gun went off. This year everyone was in the water. I hate swimming in mass starts, but this was way better than CdA or some others that, in my opinion, just have too many people in a small area.
As to volunteers in general, I thought they were awesome. Friendly, willing to help, and very supportive of the bikers and runners. Even med tent folks were great. Anyone willing to work for free for 15 hours in that heat has to be pretty amazing.
The heat could have been worse, so all the locals say! High 80's/low 90's could easily have been high 90's/low 100's and very windy.
Anyway, I'd highly recommend this course to anyone and would do it again.
Below is a quote from a guy on ST. He brings up a good point about Galveston similar to a point I brought up with some friends when discussing this very topic. My point was WTC should tell The Woodlands to go f**k themselves because Galveston would kill to have this race in May. Galveston is well equipped to handle the amount of people and that time in May is a dead season for them and it would be a welcome boost to their economy. Similar to PCB and IMFL but to a lesser degree.
[quote kman74]Ed Chance the current county commish of Montgomery county is not running for reelection. It is up to him to issue the permits for all the road closures, deputies, ems, etc. there has been some grumblings by residents here about traffic (even though the bike course was changed this year to accommodate). WTC is waiting for the election to finish to see who will be the new commish. There is a few people on the township board who were fans but apparently aren't anymore. Late May is a very busy time in the woodlands. Proms, concerts, graduations , little league playoffs (some will scoff at this but we have the second largest little league org in country and baseball is a big deal here. Very big)....also we host the CB&I sprint triathlon 2 weeks before Ironman and it closes the same intersections and causes the same headaches. Over a 1000 people race this race and I think the residents here just get pissed that almost 2 weeks in a row it's hard to get around. There is plenty of warning and signs but it still is a big deal. I raced both and will continue to. I think CB&I needs to move to march or fall to ease pain. If they don't work it out I've heard Galveston is chomping at the bit to grab it and go full ironman. To everyone saying Galveston registration is delayed and that it may be to change date. 70.3's generally don't open registration immediately and lonestar didn't last year so this is normal.
I also think Galveston would *love* to have this race. It would be cool to finish the run on the strand with the Mardi Gras gateway. I'm sure Austin and Dallas are also in the game. We'll just have to wait and see what they do. I don't think they can wait until after elections in November. Maybe after the primaries?
IRONMAN is excited to announce that registration will be available for the 2013 Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Texas on Wednesday, July 11 at noon EST.
The 2013 Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Texas is scheduled for Saturday, May 18, 2013 in The Woodlands, Texas. Look for more registration details to follow.
I really want to stay at the Marriott Residence Inn Market Street but they're not taking reservations this far out. I plan on switching my reservation once the Residence Inn Market Street starts taking reservations.
There are certainly a plethora of hotels nearby but only a handful are within walking distance of transition/finish line.
I usually don't really care where I stay, but the family has decided to tag along to the next one - the first time in a while - so walking distance was important this go around.
I better get in to this IM!