Race would be fifth type of endurance event hosted by The Woodlands, planners and township considering date

The World Triathlon Corporation, the organization that puts on the IronMan Texas event held in The Woodlands for the past two years, is looking to establish a new event in the community, the IronGirl competition.

Scott Langan, race director for IronMan Texas, approached The Woodlands Township Board of Directors in January with a proposal to bring the race to The Woodlands in the fall. The board is still considering the plan, but if the race is approved, IronGirl will be held either the weekend of Oct. 5–6 or Nov. 2.

IronGirl is an all-women's event that targets mothers, daughters and women's groups.

"This is a way to get women involved in triathlon, involved in endurance events without having that fierce competition that you will see in IronMan," Langan said.

IronMan events, including IronMan Texas, are open to both men and women.

If plans for IronGirl are approved by the township, it will be the fifth endurance-style event The Woodlands will host. Other events include IronMan Texas in May, The Muddy Trails Bash in April, The CB&I Woodlands Triathlon in May, the 10 for Texas in October, and The Woodlands Marathon in March.

Langan said the route for IronGirl events will be similar to that of IronMan Texas: an 800-meter swim along The Woodlands Waterway from Town Green Park to Lake Woodlands; a 10.8-mile bike course along Woodlands Parkway, Kuykendahl Road, Lake Woodlands and Grogan's Mill Road; and a 2-mile run course along pathways on Timberloch Drive and Woodloch Drive.

"I think these types of events are fantastic for our community," said Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack. "There is no better way for us to showcase to the world what we have in The Woodlands and in South Montgomery County."

Noack said the community needs to be aware of the impact to local businesses and residents.

"All it takes is for us to have one too many events for us to have a backlash," he said.

Township director Mike Bass said he was concerned that residents of The Woodlands may grow weary of so many endurance events in The Woodlands, particularly those routed through Town Center, which often lead to traffic issues and delays. Bass suggested events could possibly be held at other locations in The Woodlands, such as Rob Fleming Park in the Village of Creekside Park.

"[Endurance events] just impact the same area over and over again," he said.

The board will consider finalizing a date and location for a potential IronGirl event at its April meetings. IronGirl representatives, Noack and representatives from The Woodlands United Methodist Church, where traffic would likely be affected if the race were held on a Sunday, will meet to discuss the proposed route before a decision is made.

Township Director Ed Robb is also the head pastor at The Woodlands United Methodist Church and said a Sunday event that includes a route near the church could negatively impact the heavy traffic on Sundays.

"You can imagine, with that many people trying to get to a location and then leave, the complexities that adds, it's going to be problematic," Robb said.