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Race Reports for Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon

[1]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Below average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: A definite bucket list experience. I will never forget the jump into the Bay or the swim leg. Beautiful run course. Top notch. Expensive, but worth every penny. Only downside is that San Francisco has seen better days and we stayed in town the minimum.
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[2]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Certainly a race worthy of a bucket list. Well organized, lots of excitement. Did not feel like I was in danger at all. Since I live on the east coast, I don't think I would be doing this one again, but am glad I did it.
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[3]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Great race and great atmosphere. It lives up to the hype. All three parts are equally challenging. And given the long run on T1, it's fair to say even the transition is unique. A few people have asked me: is the race really worth $500? Well honestly: is any race worth $500? Most people who do triathlon are not doing it because it's cheap. It's a very well organized race. It has unique elements that make it different from anything else in the world. It is in a scenic background in a very visitor-friendly city. I would say,"yes". It's worth it. Post race, there was chicken, pasta and salad for athletes. The medals are cool. There was a good sized expo. Everything was top notch. I have no complaints.
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[4]
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  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: With a couple exceptions - long lines, some bad pavement- this is just a great race. Has the feel of a WTC event without the attitude. With entry, plane fare, hotel, and bike transport it's an expensive weekend, but I imagine I'll be putting my hat into the 2016 ring :)
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[5]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Really enjoyed this race. Was fortunate to get a lottery slot on my first attempt and only my second year doing triathlons. Had to fight mentally during the race and it was a difficult race, but so excited to finish and am thrilled with my successful escape from Alcatraz :)
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[6]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Great race! I plan to do it again next year (with better training and no mechanical problems) if I can get in.
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[7]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This race lived up to its hype and I really enjoyed myself. San Francisco is not some place I would normally visit and this weather sucks but the race was epic and I'm super stoked I was able to put in a good performance without any setbacks. It's always tough travelling this far to race and there are so many unknowns but it couldn't have gone better this weekend. Escape From Alcatraz, checked that box!
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[8]
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  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: I'll say t again. Do this race. Or actually, don't, so I can get in again :) Post race the activities didn't stop. Collected gear and dropped the bike at tri bike. Hung out with my sister for a few, then walked back to the hotel, where we got there with 15 minutes to spare to late checkout. Quick shower/pack/checkout then a brisk walk to Pier 35, about 1.5 miles away, for the alcatraz ferry we'd booked. Alcatraz for a couple hours, then back to the hotel, sit for 1/2 hour, Lyft to airport. I was Shattered by the end of that weekend. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat
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[9]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: In case there was ever any doubt - YES, this race lives up to the hype. Wondering if you should have this one on your bucket list? Wonder no more... do this race. In fact, take it off your Bucket List. Pay attention to when the lottery opens and throw down the $25 to enter.... you never know, like me, you just might get picked the first time around!
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[10]
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  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: What a fun race. I kind of wish I had prepped more. I really could have done a ton better if I had a clue what I was doing. I might have to do this one again to see what I can really do.
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[11]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Fun and organized race that everyone should put on their bucket list. I didn't put any expectation on race but only to have fun, which i did.
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[12]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This was an epic event and truly lived up to its name and reputation. Really special and a lot of fun to participate in. Very well organized, with excellent communication up to and including the event (very important given the nature of the race). I will do it again, if I am lucky in the lottery!
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[13]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This race is just a TON of fun. That's why I've done it more than once! And I'd do it again! I really didn't want to do it THIS year. I was SUPPOSED to do it last year but military training forced me to defer. I didn't have the time/motivation to train this year but since I'm deploying this summer I really couldn't defer again or it would have been 2015 before I could have done the race. So...I came just to finish. And I did. Yet again, my strengths are swimming and the sandladder. And apparently I don't suck at T1 either. Overall I was 25' slower than the last time I did this race. I lost the majority of that on the bike (14'). Swim was faster by about a minute. Lost 1' to T1. Lost a FEW minutes in T2. Lost 6' on the run. Only 17" slower on the sand ladder. This year's swim was more difficult than the last time...8 degrees colder and the waves were a foot or two higher. And it was definitely colder OUTSIDE than in 2009 too! I'm not used to trying to stay warm during
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[14]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Too hard

  • Comments: The swim was too cold and choppy and the lingering effects impede your body throughout the race. This was the first time someone died at this event, normally held in the summer and not the winter, 46 year old male, suffering a heart attack upon hitting the shockingly cold, rough water.
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[15]
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  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: Overall a bucket list race - that I have checked. Wife made me promise not to do it again ... Seeing a person pulled out from the water deceased was about all she could handle. Having it this early in the year (rare March race date) made it virtually impossible to properly train back in the Midwest. Not a great race time in any of the three segments but given the DNF rate on this 2013 year, I was happy to cross the finish.
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[16]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Hope to be back for this one in the future. Just an outstanding experience.
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[17]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Too hard

  • Comments: I didn't train for this race, was focused on a marathon that I did a couple weeks before it. Still managed to have fun.
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[18]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: A bucket list race for sure! I had a lot of expectations going into this race, and I left having almost all of them met. No other race like this in the world which is obviously why so many come from overseas. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
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[19]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Best race I've ever done!!! This has to be one of the most well organized and executed events in the country. They do a great job of managing the logistics and getting everyone all the information they need. The only downside to this event is the price. It's very expensive for the distance, and it will be a few years before I can afford to spend this much on a race again. As far as a recommendation goes, I would recommend this race any day of the week. Make sure you have a good training base before you sign up, and prepare yourself accordingly. I saw people walking bikes up hills and hesitating about jumping in the water. I look at training like a job. I put in everything I can, and if I've done my job I won't be walking my bike or hesitating on the edge of the boat. That being said, even if you've trained, it's still a hard race. 2200 people were signed up, and only 1714 finished. That's almost 500 who didn't finish or or didn't start. GREAT RACE!!! Awesome Challenge!!! Definitely want
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[20]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: One of the best races I'll ever do based on the sheer scenery and "coolness" factor of it. Swimming from alcatraz was awesome. Seeing the views from the run and bike courses were spectacular. Definitely something I'd recommend for anyone in triathlons.
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[21]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This was absolutely the best, most fun race I've ever done. If I had the time and resources (and luck with the lottery) I would do this race every year. It's a very difficult course, very technical and can be just a little crowded at times. But I had no problems with that and it did not lessen my experience one bit. For a race with potentially 2000 racers it was very organized. The line was a bit long and annoying for packet pickup, but I had to be there anyway for the pre-race meeting, so I was able to listen in while standing in line. Plenty of aid stations, both on the bike and run. Post-race activities were ok, not much really going on except the vendors open again. Lots of good food! No problem getting our dropped off sweats bags at a reasonable time after the race.
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[22]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Top notch, well oiled machine. Very pleased with the race. Wish I didn't bonk the swim. No major critiques to improve it.
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[23]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Great race, managed to meet or even exceed its reputation. Well organized, tons of great volunteers, and a challenging, fun, and unique course. Perfect weather didn't hurt, either. Thankful I got a lottery spot and was able to show up trained and healthy.
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[24]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: do it again regardless of the cost!!! in a heart beat
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[25]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?No
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Body marking was almost non existent. I was surprised that a race with 30 years experience would be shocked that body marking was a neccessity. Everything else was great though.
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