Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon : Official Thread

I'm a first round draft choice

Bryan Dunn is also in

Any words of advice for the first timers? Specific things to work into the training, etc??

How tough is the Sand Ladder, etc...?

Haven't done the race, but I've swam Alcatraz 3X.  My two tips would be don't do all your OWS in the early glassy flat morning.  Wait until the wind comes up and swim in the chop.  And for sighting, depending on the current you will be directed to sight to various landmarks, they usually set these things to start just before slack tide towards an ebb tide (ie. towards the GG bridge).  You'll adjust the landmarks during the swim the closer you get.  i.e., start sighting off the fine arts palace, then go to pier such and such, then sight off the yacht club, etc....

three tips, hold your goggle onto your head as you jump off the boat.  You may need them.

What about neoprene caps?  Needed, not needed?  

Would a silicone cap under the race's latex cap be enough?

I brought a neoprene cap for the last swim I did (alcatraz challenge swim/run).  I had it on on the boat, but after an hour my head got so freaking hot, I took it off and stuffed it down my wetsuit.  I believe I may have used two caps, not sure.  For Escape I'll use a silicone cap under the race cap, that's always worked for me.

I've seen where the run is described as a trail run.

Obviously there is the run on Baker Beach and the Sand Ladder, but how much of the rest of it is trail and how much is road?

Should I be giving consideration to using a trail shoe?  

Bump, next race up for me.  Trying to get down to goal weight, got close for NOLA 70.3 last weekend, but post (and pre race) gastronomic opportunities put a dent in that.....   Time to start getting in some rough water!

Oh dear Lord, this is getting real, quickly!  

A few questions for you veterans of this race:

• swim booties?  needed, or don't bother?  Did I already ask this previously? I'm not typically a freeze baby type, so I'm not worried that I might be cold.
• bike check-in.. is it morning of only, or can/do we check bikes into transition the day before?
• hills on the bike.... I've looked at elevation maps, I've watched some YouTube videos... but, really, what should we expect?

What time Saturday morning?  Is it open to everyone, or is this something being organized by a local group that you have to sign up for?

I'm looking forward to a sourdough soup bowl at Fisherman's Wharf, and taking a tour of the prison.

Thank Jeebus he aged up!!

Haven't done escape but done a few swims

Booties - No.  Your feet will go numb and you won't even notice them.  

Check in - Far as I can tell from teh race info race morning only

Hills - expect hills    Steep ones.      But I think they're pretty short.

Saturday - I am just getting in the water 8 ish for 15 minutes or so, or until the ice cream headache goes away.

We're doing a cruiser bike ride across the GG bridge Sat and Alcatraz Sunday after the race before flying out. 

Have you already reserved your tickets to tour Alcatraz, or are you going to get them that day?

I'm staying at a friend's house for the duration, and he is chauffering me around.... I'm going to see if I can talk him into swinging down for the Saturday swim.

Are you renting the cruiser bikes?  Why do I forsee that turning into a fixie race across the bridge, lol??

I am getting in the water at least once, if not twice, this weekend.  Lake Erie is currently the same temp as we'll be swimming for the race, so at least I can get my mind acclimated a little.

I think it's best to reserve on line for Alcatraz.  At least we are since we really only have one opening.  It is kind of cool doing it after the race, when it gets real choppy and nasty, and saying "yeah, I swam that" (even tho conditions were much calmer).       We're gonne shoot for a 1:30 ferry to alcatraz Sunday and think good thoughts  

The cruiser bikes across the bridge were my wife's request, and are my way of making it *seem* like the weekend is not only about me. 

Actually the weekend is jam packed with family and race stuff.   Fly in Friday nite, Swim AP Sat am, hitch a cab/Lyft to Sports Basement to get my buke from tri bike transport at 9-ish, ride back to fisherman's wharf, pick up rental bikes, noodle around  and get to race expo for pickup/ 1 pm meeting, ride over bridge to Sausalito (hopefully taking our time), ferry back to FW, turn in bikes, dinner, up at 4, race til (hopefully) 10:30, back to FW, shower, walk to ferry terminal, alcatraz til 4:30 ish, Bart to SFO, home.

Phew

If you want to meet up, my phone for text is (310) 993-9689....  Again, about 8 ish but no set plans yet.  Although I am going straight to Starbucks after for hot coffee.  That is definite

I got in local chop here two weekends ago, but waited too long last weekend, by the time I had an opening the kite surfers were out it was so windy.  Don't need that much chop training.   Probably get in twice between now and race, even if for 20 minutes.  It's low 60s here, so temps are kinda similar.  NOAA today says the Bay is 58, http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/physocean.html?id=9414290   There is quite a swing depending on the time of day.

Also, weather should be sunnty and cool.  perfect racing weather

Woah, you've put a ton more planning into it than I have, lol!

I know that I'm flying in on Thurs, flying out on Tues.... and racing on Sunday.   I haven't put together too much else.  I suppose I need to think about  that, lol.

I have to get over to get my bike from TBT, too... I haven't looked at where they will be in relation to transition.  I take it that they are not right next to each other and thus getting the bike race morning is a bad idea?

Got ya added to my phone.  My number is (216) 749-2788.  Meeting up would be cool.   I still have to confirm with the friend I'm staying with that he even wants to go see Alcatraz (which I think is a must).

I'm seriously getting stoked for this race.  The hills on the bike have me a little worried, but I'm excited for the rest of it.  I'm not worried about the chop on the swim at all (I actually like some chop), I just want to get accustomed to the water temps.... which I was expecting to be much closer to 53-55.  That chart makes me happy!

Well, we're only there for such a short time, we have to plan it out if we want to do something.   You've got way more leeway.  Oh, I forgot, Ghirardelli sundae on Sunday after the race    

You wouldn't need an alcatraz reservation for a weekday.  But I heard the night tour is awesome, we can't do it but look into it

Good thing you asked about bike pickup, because TBT is only open Fri and Sat for bike pickup.  It's at a shop called sports basement, about a mile from transition.   It's a great shop, spend some time in there.

I am in, first-time participant but I've spectated before.  Chris and I nearly always end up at one race together every year.  Driving up Wednesday.  At Chris's suggestion, I'm going to do the Alcatraz tour too, but before the race.  I am going either alone or with however many of my as-yet-unmet friends have also signed up for Thursday morning.     Friday I decided to go (pay for) Swim with Pedro from the island -- I am not nervous about the swim but rather I want to do it more while I'm up there  -- wanted to take some pictures in the water to show my friends who think I am crazy and to see how the currents were running that week, meet some other racers, just make it a little more touristy and fun before the actual race so that I don't spend the whole swim "sightseeing" in the bay.  I also swam with Pedro last month along the Crissy Field route.  The water is cold of course but was not bone-chilling cold.  High 50s in the water that morning, and it was raining.  I wore 2 latex caps, and Pedro gave us all wax earplugs -- first time I tried that, and it does keep you warmer.  The bike course as you expect has longish hills that are steep in places, but I don't think they go into double digits for any length.  I am not going to think about what the actual numbers are and am just going to keep pedaling (39/26 is my low gear, 650c) -- I find that strategy is better for steep hills than freaking out in advance.  On the whole it is a beautiful course and everyone seems to be having a lot of fun (even if suffering).