New IM Woodlands (Page 15)

fattyfatfat - 2010-06-24 3:09 PM

aredeef33 - 2010-06-24 3:11 PM Just a quick question from a BT newbie....

The way things are working out, it looks like volunteering the 1st yr and racing the 2nd year would be MUCH better for me.  It would allow me to work on some race goals I had already set my mind/training on for 2011..AND be better prepared for a full IM in 2012.

1. Does volunteering GUARANTEE a race entry for the next yr?  Some of you have mentioned it, but just want to confirm.
2. This is a 5 yr contract between WTC and the Woodlands...should I be worried about the race not happening in 2012?  My fear is that I'll miss THE one chance to race in my backyard.  I know there are no guarantees, but what are your thoughts?

Ok, that was 2 questions, not one.  Sorry.  Thx in advance.

 

duutri - 2010-06-24 3:19 PM fattyfatfat - 2010-06-24 3:09 PM Trin2bfast - 2010-06-24 2:34 PM I booked The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention center for Fri & Sat nights - last week online (no problems). 

same here 
me too actually doing thursday as well need recovery time for the drive from Kingwood

aredeef33 - 2010-06-24 3:11 PM Just a quick question from a BT newbie....

The way things are working out, it looks like volunteering the 1st yr and racing the 2nd year would be MUCH better for me.  It would allow me to work on some race goals I had already set my mind/training on for 2011..AND be better prepared for a full IM in 2012.

1. Does volunteering GUARANTEE a race entry for the next yr?  Some of you have mentioned it, but just want to confirm.
2. This is a 5 yr contract between WTC and the Woodlands...should I be worried about the race not happening in 2012?  My fear is that I'll miss THE one chance to race in my backyard.  I know there are no guarantees, but what are your thoughts?

Ok, that was 2 questions, not one.  Sorry.  Thx in advance.

 

jah2212 - 2010-06-24 4:09 PM

please tell me the swim is not a time start like kentucky. PLEASE tell me that much. i am not interested in that kind of swim start. at. all.

dodgersmom - 2010-06-24 5:59 PM

So the BT Host hotel appears to be the Residence Inn

Gaarryy - 2010-06-24 4:36 PM

 I thought TJ said it was a water slide from the 3rd floor,,, that's fine with me

tjfry - 2010-06-24 7:20 PM FYI, while the Market Street area is great and convenient, be sure to check out the Woodlands Resort and Conference Center. http://www.woodlandsresort.com/. It's a whopping 1 mile away, Huge pool with 3 story water slide, 36 holes of golf, spa, massage, restaurants, etc. Great place if you're bringing a family. They have ongoing free shuttles to market street, so I'm sure race day they will have plenty of support. Plus, as an added bonus, I live on the 18th fairway, just a 100 yards or so from it. So maybe we can put together a huge BT party (Sponsored by Swim Shops of the Southwest of course!). Beer and bacon? Kegs and Eggs? errr....we'll figure it out.

tjfry - 2010-06-24 8:20 PM FYI, while the Market Street area is great and convenient, be sure to check out the Woodlands Resort and Conference Center. http://www.woodlandsresort.com/. It's a whopping 1 mile away, Huge pool with 3 story water slide, 36 holes of golf, spa, massage, restaurants, etc. Great place if you're bringing a family. They have ongoing free shuttles to market street, so I'm sure race day they will have plenty of support. Plus, as an added bonus, I live on the 18th fairway, just a 100 yards or so from it. So maybe we can put together a huge BT party (Sponsored by Swim Shops of the Southwest of course!). Beer and bacon? Kegs and Eggs? errr....we'll figure it out.

 I'm there..

uh... not ... just checked the website for that weekend.. no available rooms,, I'll call tomorrow maybe it's an internet glitch since it's so far out???

damm you people filling up the rooms before registration

OldAg92 - 2010-06-24 8:10 PM

With my kids, the Woodlands Resort is a much nicer option than the Residence Inn (aka BT LoveInn), but unfortunately, the resort will only accomodate 4 people per room, and we've got five.  Not to mention I really value the space and the kitchen, as well as the ability to go into a bedroom and shut the door if I want to rest for a bit.  At that time of year, a pool is going to be a BIG deal to my kids, and it appears the Residence Inn has your basic rectangular hotel pool. 

TJ, can you tell me if there are other good activities close by for the kids? Mine will be 15, 11 and 3 on race day, so things like a water park, miniature golf, moves, etc are probably ideal.   

tjfry - 2010-06-24 3:09 PM

first off, yes Waterway Marriott is the host. That was one reason for the delays. They were booked up for other events for some of the other dates proposed. It will be a perfect host. You can walk down to transition if you want, and there's a chance the run course may go right next to it, which makes it perfect for family and friends. As an added bonus the pool is on the 3rd floor (4th?). So family can potentially hang out at the pool, pop their head over the site and see the race going on.

The Course...They are still crossing their 't's on this. I doubt Keith will say anything as he is good at being tight lipped. I, on the other hand, am a blabber mouth on this topic, so I'll tell you what I know.

2 options are being being thrown around from what I hear.
#1. Shoot down Woodlands parkway out the back of the woods. turn left on 2978 and then right on hardin store rd. This gets you to 249 and a couple options. I was told they were looking at Waller County, and that means pretty much due west. If that's the case then the turn could be the Hempstead area. If they use a bunch of backroads we ride on and not 1488 then it could be a closer turn.

#2 Out the woods to 242, lft 1488 and right on 2978. This takes you north to 2854 then 105. Turning rt on 149 will take you through the national forest just west of lake conroe and pretty much the Ironstar bike route. Great ride with some good rollers. On to richards and maybe anderson, then home. What I can't get my head around on this option is crossing 1488 and 105. These are pretty busy roads and clogging traffic could be a rough day for the cops. These guys know their stuff though so maybe they pull an IM Arizona and block a couple lanes on the same side of the road to keep crossing to a minimum. Or they deal with 1488 and take some back roads further north to cross 105 (karen switch, tri lakes, etc.) where the traffic is much lighter.

Add to this the political process. The roads in the woodlands are split between 2 county commissioners, and one might be easier to work with lets just say. That could play a role as well.

Run: He said 2 to 3 loop run utilizing town center/market street area. If you run up and back on the waterway and then around the lake, it's roughly 8+ miles. If they can't get approval for the waterway (politics) then through market street area would work too.  I'm not sure what a 2 loop would look like. I would guess out and back on woodlands parkway or lake woodlands. I think 3 loops would be more fun personally.

Swim: like I said earier, I hear 2 loops were being thrown around with a finish up the waterway. 1 or 2 loops, having the last half mile up the waterway will be super cool.

Comet - 2010-06-24 7:45 PM

Fine. Don't stay at the BT LoveInn. We'll enjoy our kitchenettes without you.