Best spots to check out IronMan in The Woodlands

The Memorial Hermann IronMan Texas triathlon returns to The Woodlands May 19 for its second year. The 2011 event saw more than 2,100 athletes take part in the endurance race that includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike race and 26.2-mile run.

The event begins with the swimming portion, which takes place in Lake Woodlands and ends at Town Green Park. Athletes will then climb on their bicycles at the transition point near the intersection of Grogan's Mill Road and Lake Robbins Drive. The run portion, the final leg of the race, will begin at Town Green Park and conclude after three laps through Town Center, Panther Creek, East Shore and the Waterway area, concluding at the intersection of Waterway Square Place and Waterway Avenue.

While the IronMan is first and foremost an endurance race, it is also an entertaining event to watch while cheering on both pro athletes who are in it to win it, as well as amateur competitors whose main goal is to just finish the race.

Those wanting to watch the pros start their race will have to get an early start. The swim portion begins at about 6:50 a.m. at Northshore Park, at 2505 Lake Woodlands Drive. The amateurs will start off by age group about 10 minutes later. The park should be a great place to take in some of the action for most of the day as a portion of the run course also circles through North Shore.

Another great vantage spot will be at Town Green Park, at 2099 Lake Robbins Drive, where the swimmers will finish that leg and transition out of the water and onto the bike course. Southshore park will provide good views for both the bike course, which runs along Woodlands Parkway, and the run course later in the afternoon.

But without question the place to be at about 2 p.m. is in the Waterway Square area at One Waterway Avenue. Last year the finish line was located at Market Street in front of the Cinemark movie theater. This year it has been relocated to Waterway Square, which should provide for an electric atmosphere. Watching the athletes, particularly the amateurs, cross the finish line after such an grueling challenge is truly inspiring and quite a moving experience.

In fact, many of the best places to watch the race will be at spots throughout Town Center. If you can find a table on a patio of one of the many bars or restaurants throughout Waterway, don't hesitate to snag it. Enjoying a drink or a bite to eat on a sunny day during one of The Woodlands' most exciting events makes for a fantastic day.