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IRONMAN North American Championship returns to The Woodlands

By: JD Hurd II
| Published 04/23/2019

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THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The world’s most challenging endurance race is returning to The Woodlands for the ninth year in a row. The 2019 Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Texas North American Championship will be held on Saturday, April 27. The 140.6-mile race throughout The Woodlands will put over 3,000 athletes from 60 countries to the ultimate test.

The Race

Competitors will begin IRONMAN Texas with a 2.4-mile swim from North Shore Park through Lake Woodlands into Town Green Park. From there, racers will hop on their bikes and go through two loops on the Hardy Toll Road. After 112 miles of cycling, competitors will complete a 26.2-mile run through the town, with the grueling, but exhilarating race coming to an end on Waterway Avenue.

For the professional IRONMAN competitors, a $150,000 prize purse will be on the line while they dash throughout The Woodlands. For all competitors, there will be a total of 80 qualifying spots between the various age groups in the men’s and women’s divisions for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

For a road closures and detours list, click here.

Event Schedule

Wednesday, April 24
9:00 am- 5:00 pm – IRONMAN Village – Waterway Parking Lot | 18 Waterway Ave. The Woodlands

Thursday, April 25
9:00 am-5:00 pm – IRONMAN Village
10:00 am-11:00 am – Mike Reilly Finding My Voice Book Signing – IRONMAN Merchandise Store
12:00 pm – Pro Panel – IRONMAN Village Stage
1:00 pm-2:00 pm – Mike Reilly Finding My Voice Book Signing – IRONMAN Merchandise Store

Friday, April 26
9:00 am-5:00 pm – IRONMAN Village
11:00 am-12:00 pm – Mike Reilly Finding My Voice Book Signing – IRONMAN Merchandise Store

Saturday, April 27
6:25 am – Pro Race Start - Northshore Park
6:40 am – Age Group Rolling Start - Northshore Park
12:00 pm-5:00 pm – IRONMAN Village
*Approx. 2:00 pm – First (male) finisher approaching the finish line (Female winner to follow approx. 30 minutes) - Waterway Square Place
12:00 am – Official Race Finish (17 hours after the final athlete enters the water)


Notable Competitors

In the pro division, four-time world champion, Daniela Ryf, will be among the field at IRONMAN Texas. The North American Championship will be apart of the Swiss eight-time overall IRONMAN champion’s U.S. debut.

“In addition to a good first form test, it's a good time to compete in front of my fans in the USA,” said Ryf.

The 31-year old athlete is also a two-time Olympian, making her a huge name to focus on during Saturday’s competition.

The amateur competitors make up the majority of the Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Texas field. Some names to look for on Saturday will be 18-year old Bryan Wei. Wei is making the trip from Rey Brook, New York and will be the youngest athlete in the race. On the other side of the coin, The Woodlands will get to see the oldest athlete, Lis Heckman, continue her IRONMAN career. The 79-year old has competed in a couple of events in Kona and Florida, as well as about 40 half-IRONMAN races since she began at age 65.

Locally, Jacob Rascon is a journalist for the local NBC-affiliate, KPRC Channel 2. Rascon is from The Woodlands and will be competing in his first IRONMAN event.

Woodlands Online’s own, Debbie Staton will also be one of the many local competitors ready to take on the 140.6-mile course. This Saturday’s race will be Staton’s second IMTX, and she plans to compete in more events later this year.

You can catch these competitors and the rest of the field by watching from the various spectator locations throughout The Woodlands, or by streaming IRONMAN Now on Facebook Watch.

For more info on the Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Texas North American Championship, visit the IRONMAN Texas event page:

http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman/texas.aspx#/axzz5lBFpi273

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