Alcatraz Challenge - July 22nd 2012

Alcatraz Challenge 2012 was my 5^th time to participate in the San Francisco Bay's (only?) aquathlon, and my 10^th swim from (near) The Rock back to shore. (For some perspective, Gary Emich has done the swim 926 times...sans wetsuit).


Prologue:

I need to remember to clean my gear more regularly, or prepare it earlier than just the day before the event. Covering my bedroom in dust 24 hours prior to racing does not conduce optimal lung function...


Race Day:

Swim (40:02): By the time we jumped off the California Hornblower, the sun had cleared most of the early-morning fog; I was glad I wore my tinted swim-goggles. The San Francisco Bay wasn't too choppy, and the water temperature was reportedly around 61 ℉, about 16 ℃, relatively warm either way. I stopped twice, fearful I would lose my timing-chip-anklet. I was also redirected twice by kayakers to swim closer to shore (lesson learned from zigzagging in 2011). I made for the beach as soon as I thought it was safe (i.e. rock-fee) and race-legal, but I suspect I could have exited even sooner. My swim split was two minutes slower than 2011, roughly in line with a generally slower swim in 2012.

Transition (1:20): Kiddy pools were provided to rinse sandy feet; bib number 22 gifted me a transition spot near swim-in and run-out; and a new Dakine rash guard meant sunscreen re-application could be skipped. All that meant my transformation was 30 seconds faster than the previous year, and about 3^rd fastest overall.

Run (50:28): Competitor 266, Blake "Magic Mike" Corbin, (nickname used only by me until I found his real name) provided encouraging words up the steps to the Golden Gate Bridge. Corbin also trailed me across the span until the turnaround; then he increased his pace and broke away, back up the bridge incline. Jacques Lu Cont's "Thunderstruck" remix on HeadMusic^TM ushered me home. My run time was similar to 2011, but still about 4 minutes slower than 2009. It was great to be cheered across the finish by friends and girlfriend; Lucky Luke. :-)

Nutrition: Two Gu Roctane and some lemon and lime flavored Gatorade at each of the three water stops. I carried Thermolyte Metasalt tablets but didn't use them.

The 2012 event featured 49 fewer aquathlon racers than in 2011; 295 versus 246. I hope that decline does not continue.

My bib number was 22.

Results (pdf). My finish time was 1:31:50, about a minute slower than 2011.

Photos. (The black stain under my chin is from my old, neoprene wetsuit-cap, which needs to be replaced).

Alcatraz Challenge - July 17th 2011

Prologue:

Alcatraz Challenge 2011 was never going to be easy. It was my first multisport event in two years, and my first competitive run & open water swim since knee surgery. To raise the bar further, it was preceded by a work trip to Orlando; thunderstorms meant I spent six hours in MCO airport (aka The Disney Family House of Horror) waiting for a delayed flight to LAX. When the plane eventually arrived on the west coast, my wings to SFO had already flown without me (and most of my fellow passengers). This left me 24 hours until race start and still 350 miles from the ferry to Alcatraz.

To add firstWorldProblem insult to injury, a Microsoft convention and LA Highway 405's "Carmaggedon" construction meant I struggled to sleep on a chair in terminal 7 until a 7am flight. In the eight hours I spent there, the elevator-style-mood-music paused only for security announcements...

The trip wasn't all bad news. My recently reacquired United Airlines frequent flier "Premier" status granted me roomier seats and priority boarding. (Kudos to United's prompt mileage updates). Flying as a standard passenger would have meant submitting my laptop bag & work equipment to the vagaries of luggage handling; my checked baggage flew separately anyway.

After incessant (but required) Florida air conditioning, and having to yell during a presentation sans microphone, a sore throat worried me, but resolved itself in time for Sunday's race...


Race day:

I completed this event three times before, but this was my first under new Tri-California management. Registering early (still) pays dividends; it grants competitors a seat on a later bus to the ferry i.e. marginally more sleep. Also Tri-Cal kept race day registration; especially welcome in 2011, given my travel issues.

Swim (38:09): I jumped off the boat after about 30 other swimmers. Concerns about fog meant the race directors and their kayakers herded us much closer to shore than normal. Having said that, I screwed up my sighting at the start by aiming slightly behind the lead boat; I ended up on the left border of the field (having started on the right). I also allowed the close shoreline to become a distraction and worried to much about where I would land rather than focusing on pushing my swim pace. Having said that, I exited the water as soon as the beach was accessible, and made up some time on those who decided to stick with the bay.

T1 (1:52): The normally ultra-organized Tri-California neglected to provide a kiddie pool to rinse our sandy feet; I need to add a rinse-water bottle to my equipment checklist. After sunburn the previous weekend, I reapplied sunscreen in the transition area.

Run (50:44): My run split was four minutes slower than in 2009. That might not seem like much to some, but it's about 30 seconds per mile, a significant difference. I felt surprisingly good out of transition but I began to flag while crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. After finally getting some Gatorade at the Marin turnaround, I got a nice buzz on the return leg; my face hurt from smiling by the time I was halfway back.My bib number was 412.

Results (pdf). My finish time was 1:30:45.

Photos. Of me. Swim exit 1, 2, 3.

PS Several friends competed and kicked a$$. Donncha. Jen.

Pacific Masters Swimming - 11th July 2010

I missed/cancelled most of my 2010 races due to injury, including

• Bay to Breakers (20^th May, run)
  
• Escape from the Rock (20^th June, triathlon)
• Alcatraz Challenge (18^th July, aquathlon)
• Marin Century (7^th August, bike)
• San Francisco Triathlon at Alcatraz (29^th August, triathlon)
  

Fortunately my knee problems (discoid meniscus) (see following posts) didn't prevent swimming, so long as it was freestyle i.e. relatively little leg motion, knee bending or impact.

The 2010 Pacific Masters Long Course Championship was held in UC Santa Cruz from July 9^th to 11^th. I competed as part of the USF team on Saturday July 10^th. Given my injury and lack of training, I was very pleasantly surprised by my performance - it was faster than at my "peak" in my teens when I trained five or six times a week, and often raced twice a month.

• 200 LC Meter Freestyle: 2:28.36 (splits 1:05.37, 1:22.99)
• 400 LC Meter Freestyle Relay: 4:13.97 (split: 1:00.09)
• 50 LC Meter Freestyle: 26.58

My lack of recent race-experience and stamina is telling from my 200 meter splits - they are embarrassingly front-loaded. I also had my share of race-drama - my goggles broke as I was about to mount the blocks for my relay swim. Luckily a teammate promptly loaned replacements.


Official results. Official splits.

Here's hoping I can get race-fit in time for the Pacific Masters Swimming Short Course Meters Championships, on October 8^th through 11^th.

Swim distance converters:

• Swimming World
• Huntsville Swim Association

Alcatraz Challenge - July 12th 2009

I'm an Alcatraz Challenge fan. No bike, hotel or camping needed. Same day packet pickup for everyone. Run across the east side of the Golden Gate Bridge. If the Bay water was guaranteed to be clean and warm, it would be perfect!

This was my third consecutive year to participate. I hoped for a luckier day than previous outings. Swim conditions in 2007 were the toughest I've experienced. My timing chip failed in 2008. The 2009 event was advertised as sold-out but as in the previous year, it clashed with another local race; this time it was Tri-California's renamed, rebranded, rescheduled San Francisco Triathlon.

I hadn't run since Escape From Alcatraz on June 14th. I traveled to Italy for a wedding from June 16th to 22nd. On July 1st I cut both feet while swim training at YMCA Embarcadero wearing "zoomers" that were a little too big. A bachelor party in San Diego kept me busy July 3rd to 5th.

During the same YMCA swim session on July 1st, I had to exit the pool early due to persistent coughing and breathing difficulties. I tried USF Koret three times in the week prior to 'Challenge and I think I'm a convert.

The day before the race, I realized my old watch had finally given up the ghost after leaking at Lake San Antonio in March. Lombardi Sports supplied a Timex T5E901 replacement.

In an unexpected coincidence, my parents were in town and made the early morning trip to Crissy Field to lend their support.

Swim (40:59.7): Faster swimmers were advised to jump out the left door of the boat and swim/sight right while slower swimmers were advised to do the opposite...This meant a little traffic navigation was necessary after the start but I got off the boat early so wasn't delayed. The organizers' post-race review read "water conditions were a little rougher than normal, the clouds a little grayer and the currents a little slower". Sighting was a little difficult but the surf was a more of a problem than the fog. Driven by the wind, the waves consistently pushed me farther left than I intended.

T1 (1:23.2): After a brief assessment of the weather, I left my sunglasses behind and didn't bother to reapply sunscreen.

Run (46:44.4): Several runners passed me during the climb to the Golden Gate. The southwest wind helped me across the bridge but it was strong enough that I removed my hat for the return journey for fear of losing it. In spite of the foggy, cold, windy weather, there were a number of tourists out. As ever, many seemed oblivious to the race but I didn't see or experience any collisions. Back on Crissy Field, I spotted a familiar figure (another regular participant) and closed the gap but couldn't catch him before the finish. Some head-music favorites kept my pace up - it must have shown on my face as several people remarked on my big grin as took it home.

My bib number was 245.

Results. (Archive pdf). My finish time was 1:29:07.3. (Some versions of the results mistakenly report me as winning the Male 30-34 age group. I was third. There were extra, separate awards for the overall winners and two were in my division so the results got a little messy).

Photos. Swim. Run 1, 2.

PS Staffan Westerberg, one of the guys who beat me, won his age group on Treasure Island the previous day.

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.

Alcatraz and San Francisco Bay Area races

I'm often asked about Alcatraz-based events. This post will serve as a list that I might even try to maintain. Feel free to point out any races you think are missing.

Some of the links are to the 2007 sites...in no particular order...here goes...

Swims:

• Alcatraz 100 "Swim of the Centurions" Swim
• Bridge to Bridge Swim
• SERC Alcatraz Invitational Swim (sells out early)
• Sharkfest (sells out early)
• Swim Around the Rock

Triathlons:

• Escape from Alcatraz (qualify or lottery only)
• Escape from the Rock

Aquathlons:

• Alcatraz Challenge (sells out early)

Organizers:

• Envirosports
• South End Rowing Club
• Tri-California
• Water World Swim

Alcatraz Challenge - August 5th 2007

Oh San Francisco Bay Swim,
How I hate to love thee.
Most fickle of watery wenches,
Next time, be easy, I plea.

Swim or Die. So says the Alcatraz Challenge mantra. Overcast, damp, breezy conditions onshore foreshadowed what was to come...

Swim: There are many Alcatraz swims and they finish at various points along the San Francisco coastline. However they share a common distance - about 1.5 miles. This is achieved by starting the swim at different points around The Rock. This race should have begun off the south west corner of the isle for the swim to the east beach at Chrissy Field and for some competitors, it did. It took about five minutes to get us all in the water. Within that time, in spite of keeping the engines running, a stiff breeze and strong currents around the island forced the ferry (in the wrong direction) all the way to the south east side. (This put it nearer the start point for Escape from the Rock which swims to Aquatic Park - over a mile west of Chrissy Field...). Being close to last off the rapidly drifting boat didn't help. This was my toughest Alcatraz swim experience to date.

Even after fighting clear of the island currents, the rougher than expected conditions persisted for most of the swim. Waves big enough to overturn the safety kayaks encouraged us to get to land quickly. However speed was not part of nature's plan. My swim split was about 20 minutes (approximately 50%) slower than previous crossings...

Transition & Run: After a sandy exit, a time check, some resultant swearing, and shedding my neoprene swim-skin, I trekked toward the bridge, chasing this guy. The early start and poor weather helped in one significant respect, they kept the bridge and surrounding trails mercifully free of meandering tourists. As common sense might suggest, a segue from swim to run is much less physically onerous than bike to run; the bridge leg (my first time running across) was surprisingly enjoyable. The most notable event was narrowly avoiding a collision while rounding one of the bridge towers (sincere apologies bearded front runner). This guy passed me on the bridge return leg; I even managed to keep up for about a mile. :P

So my first aquathlon (not to be confused with biathlon or duathlon) was an interesting experience. Highs and lows like any other event but without the hassle of bike and bike equipment. Maybe next time The Bay will be a little kinder. :-)

Results. Male 25 - 29 age group.
Photos: Swim: start, exit. Run finish: #1, #2.

PS This week I finally identified the single biggest contributor to my knee issues - flying. Four (short) flights in three days did more damage than six weeks of swim-bike-run training. I wonder, would business class help? :-)

PPS This race featured the following Head Music

• Digitalism "Idealistic"
• The Prodigy "Breathe"
• Monster Magnet "Look To Your Orb For The Warning"

PPPS On a more serious note...and it's not yet clear what happened, but someone didn't make it...reports from San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle.