A couple of months ago, I submitted my name and race results hoping to get picked in the lottery for the 2013 Escape From Alactraz Triathlon. Last Monday, I got the call (well, email) that I was selected. The race is during Spring Break (March 3rd) so that works great for me.
The triathlon consists of: 1.5 mile swim from Alcatraz to SF, an 18 mile bike around SF and then an 8 mile run, again around SF.
There are a lot of unique things about this race. First, of course is the swim. The water will be COLD and the current is strong. For biking, most people use a road bike due to the climbing required. As for the run, the organizers throw a long stair climb. This is climb is referred to the Equinox Stair Climb, which is 400 feet of stairs up a cliff. This should be a lot of fun. Below is the elevation profiles:
Congratulations on getting selected! I just took an Alcatraz clinic with Waterworld Swim last weekend and they were saying that the swim will be extra challenging this year because of the schedule change. The currents will be a lot stronger and that potato patch will probably get a lot of people stuck. Also the water will be a lot colder in March than June. It was 49 degrees last weekend (mid-50's in June). The training was well worth it...they took us down to the jump spot and they had us swim around so we can feel the currents. They took us by the potato patch, they had us swimming in the middle of the bay, then the final jump was the finish, where the currents are at their strongest (and where a lot of people get pulled out).
ReplyDeleteI think they are running clinics week of the race; if this is your first Alcatraz crossing I highly recommend it. Good luck!
Thanks for your comment. I have no idea what the potato patch is so I'll have to check that out. :)
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