What is the course going to be like at The Woodlands race? I don’t really want to know about the difficulty, but more or less the experience.
Is the bike going to be somewhat picturesque?
Is the path around the lake paved or gravel? Shaded? Tree-lined?
I live in the Kingwood area which is almost due East of the Woodlands. Race & transition is at the Woodlands Mall. Regarding picturesque, depends on your definition. The area is wooded (for Texas) and the bike will be on rolling terrain heading West from the Woodlands. Do not believe the bike course is set yet but have raced in the area for many years. Not picturesque in the California or Colorado sense but passable. No sweeping vistas or peaks to climb.
The run as I understand it will be on the running trails around the Woodland area. These are a mix of asphalt & concrete trails much of which is tree lined. Have run a couple of races in the Woodlands, basically dead flat and lots of trees.
My coach, Dana Lyons, is the RD for the race and this what I have gleaned from him so far.
Hope this was of use
fal7 in Houston
Will the water really be 82-85F? Man that’s warm! I don’t think I’ve ever swum in open water that warm. Guess I’ll have to hit the community pool a lot which is ~84F (but I hate swimming high intensity at that temp).
Just took at look at the participants list. Looks like there are already 500+ registered!
The swim will be in a man-made waterway system that’s quite small and narrow at times. It’s used by water taxis going between the local mall and some hotels, condos and other businesses. I’ve never swam in it nor am I sure that anyone has but the water temp sounds about right for that time of year and for that body of water.
Cannot comment on water temp. Although the swim is in man made canal. Will say that in November even in Texas ambient temp should be on the cool & comfy side.
To further cloud the water temp issue. We have a Half IM just North of the Woodlands that is held the 3rd weekend of October. The swim is in Lake Conroe. One year no wetsuit swim air temp in the high 80’s.
Last year wet suit legal ambient temp in mid 50’s.
According to weather almanac ave. high temp for 11/11 is 68 with ave low of 51.
fal7
I use to live in the woodlands. I believe it is a great place for the race. The town offers a lot for tourists. I would recommend it. The roads around there are not really hilly, Its Texas, They may call them hills, but there will only be little rises. The run will be great. Paved, no dirt, concrete also. It will be a really nice pretty fun run along the paths. They call them trails, but they are paved walkways. The swim, well, it is one of those places that does not allow swimming except 1x a year, race day. I could never swim open water in Texas bc I was always afraid of the water moccasins (sp??) and all the other poisonous snakes that are in texas waters! Think of it this way, it will make you swim fast! Don’t worry they will get out of your way! In all seriousness I would really recommend the race. A great town and very friendly people.
Course maps have been posted for The Woodlands. The run and swim are final with the bike course in the final approval phase with Texdot. Based on our meetings with Texdot and Montgomery County the bike course should be finalized within the next two weeks.
Shannon Kurek
aka TOOO Man
Thanks for the update, definitely looking forward to the race,
fal7 in Houston
.
shannon,
do you think the swim will be wetsuit legal?
Bring the wetsuit - it will totally depend on how warm the weather (and the nights) is leading up to the race.
TOOO Man
Hey there!
I will be racing Woodlands too. But I fail to see how it could be rolling ‘hills’ 
unless some crazy texan build hills by then…
Hey Francois;
Hope you are well. Rolling hills in Houston area translates to overpasses at best. The area west of the Woodlands is somewhat less flat than Houston proper with some “rollers”. Nothing that will be difficult although it should hopefully lessen the viability of drafting.
fal7 in Houston
Just FYI, this is not a flat course, such as a IMFL or the parts around Houston. The northern part of the route will have some rollers and change up. No “climbing.” The most difficult, IMHO, hill on the course you will go down since going in different direction that we usually ride it. A couple of false flats will keep you on your toes. The topography will be good and variable in the north. This is a nice course that has been selected.
That is cool… seems we will meet again face to face… mwahahaha! AP
I received the following response from the Tri101 group yesterday morning:
Dear Triathlon One O One - The Woodlands Participant,
Over the last several months, the Triathlon One O One staff has been working diligently
to secure the final course layouts as well as the required permits in order to execute
this event on November 11th, 2007 in The Woodlands, Texas. At this point it is
becoming very clear after working closely with the various entities in the local
area that it is going to be next to impossible to put on this event in The Woodlands
venue.
For the last ten days, Triathlon One O One has been working feverishly to secure
an alternative venue in the Houston area. Once this is complete, we will notify
all the participants, partners and sponsors of the venue change and what the new
course layouts will be moving forward for this 2007 event.
Thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter,
Sincerely,
Triathlon One O One Staff
Looks like it’s a good thing I waited to book my hotel. 