Race Day Process (Saturday, April 28, 2024)
Directions To The Rendezvous Point
We will gather at a Shell station before we go to the race starting point.
Most people will be coming into The Woodlands from I-45 (if you are local you know how to get there). From I-45 take the Woodlands Parkway exit to the west. Move quickly to the left lane and then at the first traffic light turn left. To recon in advance use Google Streetview but remember it will be dark when we arrive. Plan to arrive no later than 6:15 am.
The Shell station will be on the right after you turn. Get gas if you need to (have enough to go at least 140 miles). Then line up with the other motorcycles. This is where we will gather before we ride to the starting point to meet the race officials.
- Top off your fuel tank
- Distribute out t-shirts
- Distribute out gas cards
- Starbucks breakfast sandwiches available
After everyone arrives and we get our tasks done we will depart in a group to ride up to the starting point. The race officials will join us there. The head race official will give us a safety briefing and review the procedures. Then we will meet our race officials and whatever photographers arrive.
- Head race official safety briefing
- Meet our race officials.
- Distribute race vests.
- Distribute windshield stickers - We get different stickers depending on whether we are riding race officials ("Race Support") or photographers ("Media").
- Adjust motorcycle suspension for your passenger if you have that feature.
- Enable the TRACCARS app on your cell phone for real-time location tracking by the Ironman Command Post.
- Ensure the WhatsApp app is running on your phone.
- There is a restroom down the street for a last-minute safety pee. There are also many porta-potties at each water/aid station on the course.
- Turn your flashers on when you start on the course with your official.
Post-race
- We will finish whenever our official says they are done and want to return. This will be at a different time for each of us so there is no meetup or gathering planned.
- Return to the starting point with your passenger unless they would prefer to be dropped somewhere else. Most of the officials stay at the Marriot and may prefer to be dropped off there.
- Return your race vest to the starting point.
- Remember to turn off your Race Real-Time Position Reporting App on your phone. You might go ahead and uninstall it while you are at it.
- There are no other tasks or activities when we are done. You can hang around and chat with the others as they come in or you can just depart and go home.
- Jerry will send a survey within a few days to gather your comments about the race and your experience and suggestions for the future. Please take notes of your experiences to share with others.
