Jack Weiss knows a thing or 50 about triathlons.

It’s what he does. All year long, for the past quarter-century, Weiss has put on triathlons through his company, Ironhead Race Productions. This year, he’ll oversee about 25 all over the state of Texas.

So when Weiss talks “tri,” his words ring with credibility. And his take on the second annual TriWaco, which launches at 7 a.m. today by the Waco Suspension Bridge?

Athletes wait in the Brazos River for the start of last year’s TriWaco triathlon.
Jerry Larson/Waco Tribune-Herald, file

It may be young, but it’s great.

“TriWaco is already there, and the potential to grow it bigger and better is absolutely there,” Weiss said. “Because of a number of things. One, Waco is centrally located in the state, right on the I-35 corridor, right between some of the major cities in the state. Then you’ve got the location of the race itself, right on the Brazos River, with a great park and great roads making up the course. And then the city is fantastic. The city really wants it, really supports the event.”

The state’s biggest triathlon is the CapTex Tri, which is held every May in Austin and regularly draws about 2,000 competitors. But Weiss believes that TriWaco could supplant Austin’s event as the premier triathlon in Texas — if it hasn’t already.

“At this point, CapTex is bigger, but that does not mean it’s a better race,” Weiss said. “For that race, you’ve got 2,000 people sign up so they can race around the Capitol. But when you’re making four six-mile loops with that many people, you can just imagine how crazy that can get. They don’t have a lot of wrecks, but they’re lucky. . . . Waco’s course is very well-designed.”

About 800 participants have signed up for TriWaco, a 200-person increase over last year. Organizers capped the number at 800, but they foresee growing the event by as many as 600 more athletes over time.

“You want constructive growth, not uncontrollable growth,” Weiss said. “Waco certainly is already one of the premier events in the state. I can tell you that no non-Ironman race has grown this fast, and I’ve been putting on races for 25 years.”

Having the race start and finish downtown is also attractive to competitors, TriWaco’s organizers say. Dozens of participants are scheduled to stay at the Waco Hilton, thus allowing for a simple walk across the street to the race’s starting line.

“There’s not too many races where you can stay in your hotel, walk out of the front door and be in the transition area,” race director Keith Helpert said. “Never have to get in your car.”

“It’s the ultimate convenience,” Weiss agreed. “You can fall out the window and land on your bicycle.”

Race officials are discussing turning TriWaco into a two-day event by 2011, with the sprint portion of the race Saturday and the Olympic distance Sunday.

It’s a bold initiative for a race that existed only in the imagination of its organizers two years ago.

“I never expected it to grow into what it has already,” Helpert said. “Maybe in five or 10 years, but this thing has really come along quickly.”

bcherry@wacotrib.com

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