2009 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon

I just finished the first of my three events for this year, the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon. Just over 1,600 participants completed the race, representing over 40 countries. There were the thousands of spectators cheering us on, which is a great motivation to give it your best. Other great motivations were the beautiful day, and the world class field of elite triathletes, including Andy Potts (Olympian), Becky Lavelle (international star and Los Gatos resident) Victor Plata (Olympian and Santa Cruz resident), Leanda Cave (from Britain), and Michellie Jones (Australian Olympian, and a particular favorite since meeting her at the Big Kahuna 1/2 Ironman a couple of years ago).

The race started with a swim from Alcatraz Island to the Marina Green Beach, next to the St. Francis Yacht Club. The swim is definitely one of the most fun things I've done in any event, I would say it even tops the Boston and NY Marathons. (And knocking 20 minutes off my previous Alcatraz swim time certainly helped my attitude.) The conditions were good, although the winner - Andy Potts - said it was a slow swim because of the currents.
 
It’s not until the moment you jump off the boat (which you can see to the right of Alcatraz in this picture) that the extreme nature of the challenge hits you: you’re embarking on a chilly 1.5 mile swim from a former prison with no known escapees. The water is cold and the currents are strong, and who knows what might be swimming in the 300 feet of water below. But when you stop to look around, you realize what a great adventure you're on. Of course you don't want to stop for long, or you'll find yourself being carried out beyond the Golden Gate.
 
Following the swim, there's a quick 1 mile run to warm up before the bike ride. The bike ride is a good challenge, a short but hilly 18-miles up to the Golden Gate Bridge and the Palace of Fine Arts then down through Golden Gate Park and back to Marina Green. It was a thrill seeing some of the best triathletes in the world come hurtling past me as I was outbound and they were on the return. I have to admit to sitting up and taking a moment to enjoy that. But once they were past, it was back to racing.
 
The run is last, and follows part of the bike route. There are a couple of real challenges here, with one hill called the "Sand Ladder" being just as tough as it sounds. Typically, the run is my strongest event, and while it was my best event in this race, I wasn't as prepared as I should have been. With the run up the steps to the bridge, plus the run up the stairs at the Sand Ladder, it's a tough course. It’s also very narrow in many parts so you're limited by the person in front of you at the stretches where passing isn’t an option. Fortunately, that usually happened when I felt like resting anyway. I had a good push in the final two miles, so I was able to make up some time.
 

What a great experience! Here I am post race, and still in one piece. My next event will be the Full Vineman on August 1. It will be my first attempt at the full Ironman distance, which is a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run.