Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

Like most first timers I was slightly terrified of the swim. I have never swam in the ocean other than body sufing when I was a kid, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I was woried about the cold water, the waves, and being swept out to sea by the current. The slight possibility of sharks was only in the back of my mind. The cold was not a problem. Actually after 2 hours on the hot boat, the water was positively refreshing. Sighting the tower was also not a problem. I ended up right where I needed to. The waves were the only problem. I'm sure they weren't big by ocean standards, but I'm from Pittsburgh. I felt like a cork with arms and legs. I swallowed a ton of ocean water, but had a decent swim. Contact with other swimmers was pretty bad for the first 5 or ten minutes, but it really thinned out after that. The swim was fun and the views were spectacular. My swim goal was 45 min, so I finished pretty much on schedule. I was sorry to see it end.

Nothing

After exiting the water there is a 3/4 mile run to the transition area. Most people packed a transition bag with shoes and warm clothes for the run. The shoes came in handy, but it was too warm for warm clothes. It was hot and the sun was blazign when we got out of the water.

Run faster

This was a fun bike. I knew that I am the worlds worst biker going in to this, so my plan was to have fun and take in the sights. However, I didn't come 3000 miles to take it too easy, so I wanted to push myself a little. Believe it or not 1 hr. 10 min is kind of pushing it for me. Oh the shame! Lots of hills. Once you think you reach the top, there is more top. Overall the hills weren't too bad though. I'm from Western PA, and the hills are about the same there. The uphills were fine. I think I was only out of the saddle once. It was the downhills that were the killer. The course was too crowded and the downhill curves too sharp for a chicken like me to get any real speed. The road condition weren't too great either. Overall it was a fun bike course and the views of Ocean Beach fro the Cliff House area were awesome.

Push myself harder

I thought I had done somewhat respectably on the bike until I came to transition and saw it was full of everyone elses bike. The optimist in me thought for a minute that most of these bikes were still there for the really slow swimmers, then the realist in me took over and I knew I had to start reeling some people in on the run.

Nothing

The run is my strong point. I'm not blazing fast, but I knew I could pass 5-10 people for every 1 that passed me. The first few miles are flat and I picked up some good speed there. It is also wide at the beginning, so it was easy to pass. Once you hit miles 3-6.5 you are on a narow hilly trail with the faster runners coming back on the same 4 foot wide surface. This combined with the fact that many people going my direction wanted to walk made it frustrating and almost impossible to pass. I'm not the greatest triathlete, but I have run an entire Ironman marathon hills included. I felt fine and had the need for speed and some of my fellow competitors were slowing me down. All I could do was take a deep breath, pass when I could and remember that everyone out there has their own motivation and reason for doing the race. Plus, it was tempting to gawk slack jawed at the scenery. The Sand Ladder came at around mile 5. I knew nothing about the Ladder other than what I heard. It was my plan to run the whole thing. I ran none of it except for the last 15 feet where you come out on the road. It is a killer, but it was fun. Frim the end of the sand ladder it it about 3 miles to finish, mostly downhill. I finished strong.

Nothing

Found my wife and daughter and walked back to the hotel. Had a few beers.


Lack of training. I have only had the bike out 4 times in 2009 with my longest ride being 25 miles. I burned myself out last year and have a lack of motivation to train in 2009. This race has recharged me though, and I now plan on ding Pittsburgh and Morgantown.


Best race ever. If you get in do it! I will put my name in every year (don't tell my wife). Very well organized with great volunteers. Thanks to all the Volunteers, you did an outstanding job!