Ironman Triathlon Brings Visitors, Traffic Headaches To The Woodlands This Weekend

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas North American Championship is set to get underway in The Woodlands on Saturday, which means lots of visitors, traffic delays in and around the area.

Motorists will experience lane closures and traffic disruptions beginning at 7 a.m., and concluding at 11 p.m. Saturday

The Ironman triathlon includes a 2.4-mile swim that begins at Northshore Park and ends at the canal in Tom Green Park in Lake Woodlands, a 112-mile bike route and ends with a 26.2-mile run in The Woodlands.

Last year triathlon hit a bump in the road when the bicycle route was changed two weeks in advance of the race, due to construction in The Woodlands, sending cyclist through the streets of downtown Tomball.

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Although the cyclist drew visitors to the city for the race, the ensuing traffic headaches and what was construed as a real lack of advance notice by the Tomball City Council drew criticism.

As a result, the bike route for the 2017 race has been changed to include segments of Interstate 45, the Grand Parkway, and the Hardy Toll Road that will included two loops on the tollway.

The 26.2 mile run will take place entirely in The Woodlands, with the finish line at Waterway Avenue.

Click the link to view the course map for The Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas North American Championship.

Image: Grayskullduggery via Flickr

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