Alcatraz Challenge - August 23rd 2008

I raced Alcatraz Challenge for the first time in 2007. In spite of a tough swim, I enjoyed the event and determined to do it again in 2008. Unfortunately this forced me to forgo Outside Lands and Escape From The Rock. It seems others had the same dilemma - the overall and male aquathlon entry numbers were down about 20% and the male 25-29 age group field was over 40% smaller. [Aside: Due to scheduling snafus and organizational fallout (some of it between First Wave Events and J&A Productions), the Northern California multi-sport race calendar for 2008 is fubar. On four weekends there are established, major races scheduled for the same, or consecutive days.]


After Wildflower my training came to a halt for nearly three months. In an effort to regain fitness in August I did too much too quickly and developed "severe shin splints" in my left leg. Dr. Rabbetz and Chiro Medical Group helped again but I was told that if I raced "it's going to hurt". (Ice baths are whole new world...)


On the day prior to the event, entrants received a test-swim email update from organizer Gary Emich - the news was not good; "swim times were longer than normal. I'm basically a 29 minute miler & I've previously swum Crissy Field in as short as 40 minutes...Today, I was 54:38. In part this was due to water with "texture" (1-2 foot chop during the middle)"...However race day weather at Crissy Field was good - wind was light and it was overcast but not foggy.


Swim: In 2007, I was one of the last off. This year I made a conscious effort to get out as early as possible but the guide-boat was still long gone by the time my turn came. Conditions were great. Little or no chop made sighting easy. It was actually a little strange to be able to see other competitors in The Bay for the duration of the swim! I didn't notice anyone passing me but I was yelled at by volunteer kayakers, at least twice, to course-correct near the end. Without their help, I would have missed the beach...Currents were strong but favorable.


Transition: Last year I vaulted the partially collapsed transition area fence. This time I ran around. When I arrived at my spot, my limbs simply were not working (not unusual after open water swim). I struggled to don my left shoe while several people passed me. As I left the transition area the announcer made some quip about not knowing who I was even though my name should have shown up on his screen when I crossed the time mat...A glance at my own watch read about 44:30. In my haste I didn't even bother to split it!


Run: (I think) I caught and passed all but one of the folks who got the jump on me during transition. I chased Thrive for the whole run and got close enough to provide course directions at the Warming Hut before he bounded up the stairs while I walked and ate. My shin held up fine or at least a blister on my left foot distracted me from any other discomfort! Thrive extended his lead on me during the return leg but we were both still passing other runners a few hundred yards from finish. Some spectators dubbed me the 13th finisher but since start times are based on when each competitor jumps off the boat, this is of relative import.


On my return I was paged to report to race authorities to confirm I was still alive. A swimmer died during this race last year - they were keener than ever not to lose someone else...My chip registered me leaving the boat (hence the organizers' concern) but all the other splits were missed. The official results don't list any times for me...My watch's (conservative) estimate of 1:31:49, would have placed me 9th overall, about 14 minutes faster than 2007, and at the top of my age group by about 6 minutes.


Results. 216 was my number. My split guesstimates are: 42:00.0 swim, 2:30.0 t1, 47:00.0 run.


Photos: Swim start, finish. Run.


PS In an interesting coincidence I was grabbed by by a roving bone marrow drive on my way home, fulfilling my wish from Wildflower.