I had the most amazing experience at the San Francisco Triathlon at Alcatraz this weekend. In fact, this has been my favorite triathlon since I started 8 years ago. A smile ensued from start to finish; you can’t ask for more than that. But, there was so much more.
As I sit on the airplane back to the Midwest, more emotions come flooding in. Listening to Florence and the Machines, “Never let me go” and am reflecting back on a great weekend.
But the arms of the ocean delivered me. Never let me go. Never let me go. And it’s over and I’m gonna under. But I’m not giving up, I’m giving in.
I not only escaped from Alcatraz, but I survived to tell my tale. So here’s my race report and how to.
1) Have amazing friends. Success:
Cory drove up to SF with 4 bikes including Noko’s Parlee TT that she let me borrow for the race. It was such a huge relief to not have to travel with Kermit, as I know he hates to fly. The baggage handlers also aren’t a fan of his crib. Anyway, I’m so thankful for my San Diego friends and their amazingness to get me a bike to ride for the race.
2) Have amazing friends. Success:
I know I already said it, but the Gasaway’s are awesome. Regan shared her bed with me on Friday night and Carol did on Saturday. I basically hi-jacked their family vacation and was their third child. He booked us tickets to the Alcatraz tour on Saturday and was super dad all weekend. Dinner reservations. Drove me to the expo. Went out of their way to make sure we were all having fun. I owe his IMAZ 70.3 fundraising account some funds.
3) Event planning by Tri-California. Success:
Wow, these folks know how to put on a great event. Super smooth registration & expo experience. Great t-shirt. Well laid out transition area. Organized charter bus experience to get to the pier for the boat launch. Warm boat. Closed bike course. Friendly volunteers. A less expensive option than the corporate alternative.
{Small touch detail: we had a morning clothes bag that was brought back from the boat launch to transition. Typically the race volunteers just toss them into piles for you to dig through after the race. But they went above and beyond and our morning bags were at our transition spot before the end of the race!! How cool is that?}
4) Swim. 30:xx Success:
This is the reason I signed up for the race. Jumping off a boat and swimming back from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco. It also had me the most nervous. {Well, the lack of training was right up there.}
Uh, excited much to get on the boat and on this journey?!
The captain positioned the boat for quite some time. The start was delayed due to a container ship passing through and that reminded me of Panama 70.3 except we now have to swim across, rather than with the current. Before we knew it, Erin and I were jumping! I let out a scream and began my 1.2 mile journey across the bay.
Safe to say we had a bit of nervous excitement.
I fully admit I didn’t do enough research on this race. We didn’t go to an athlete briefing, and I didn’t review the course online. I had heard bits and pieces of advice from past participants but was unsure of what to believe. Randomly, I overheard someone talking about a “lead boat” and to follow that because apparently it takes the optimal line back to shore and something about that advice stuck with me.
I pee’d while swimming which is basically impossible. Wasted probably 40 strokes trying to finish up and finally started swimming for real. Sighted for the first time and saw the magical sign •lead boat• and committed to following it for as long as I could.
And then I was alone. I swam solo for so long and doubts would fill my head. But I kept sighting and kept seeing that lead boat dead center in front of me.
I told myself I wanted to enjoy every moment and I truly did. At one point I flipped over and did backstroke while taking in the view of The Rock. Flipped back over and took in the Golden Gate Bridge. Saw the Ghridelli sign. And kept my eyes towards that gold dome that was the finish line and that lead boat, even though it was getting further and further away from me.
People think I’m silly when I smile while swimming. Ask my cove buddy, Jake. I talk about it a lot, but there is something about an ocean swim that will always bring a smile to my face. The release from life for those moments, the way my body feels while swimming, and the vastness that is the beauty of the ocean, make it my favorite place to be.
I don’t remember swimming hard or putting much effort into each arm stroke or kick. I don’t mean to say this to brag, but rather to describe my mental state. It wasn’t a race at that point. But a unique experience and I was trying to soak it all in. Yeah, the water was choppy. It was chilly {maybe 62F?} and the sky was overcast. But I was swimming in the SF Bay!
There was only 1 buoy for this race and I’m not even sure it was for this race. But I kept it on my right shoulder and exited the water rather early and ran across the sand beach towards the swim exit. I saw the Gasaway girls and Erin and Erik’s parents and smiled the entire beach run. I was waving and exclaiming how awesome that was!
As I headed into transition I was told I was the 3rd female and was in total shock. I jumped off the boat around 15th after some pro’s and other age groupers. In most every other race, I have a pretty good idea where I’m at in relation to my wave or the field. This was the first time I got out and had no idea. With all those lalaland thoughts while swimming I thought for sure I’d be mid pack. When I got to my bike and saw Erin’s still there I knew I got lucky. She is the best swimmer I know. She just won the Maine Swim/Run overall last weekend. I had brief thoughts of worry for her but knew she’d be okay. Probably mad, but okay. Only one shark thought but shut that out.
We were all worried about the water and air temp and of course I brought nothing. So I bought some toe covers and hot hands for my shoes the day before. Put a long sleeve shirt out in case it was cold on the run. But I came into transition and my head was warm, so I knew I’d be fine. Feet were slightly cold, but with socks and those insta warmers I warmed right up. Oh yeah and that first hill helped.
5) Bike. 1:19.xx Success:
I’m not sure you could build a more scenic 23 mile bike course. After heading out of transition and along the bay we climbed up. And up. And up. Omg this is not going to be easy. But wow. This is not a triathlon course. It’s technical with varying road conditions. I still can’t decide if a tri bike or road bike is better suited for the course. The descents are steep and technical and the climbs were punchy and forever long. There is one flat section along ocean beach where we had a headwind on the way out and back where I was glad to be riding aero. I was riding solo for most of the race. Never did catch any good legal drafts. Got passed by a couple of girls but was smiling the whole way. Which was aided by the amazing bell Noko has on her bike. It’s so awesome. I was digging at spectators, volunteers, and police officers, more than the participants I was passing. I’m getting one.
I ate powerbar blasts and had some Gatorade at the aid station and felt good for the entire bike. I had power, but it didn’t mean anything to me since I don’t train with it. Tried not to stand too often, but only had an 11-26 cassette. Would definitely recommend 11-28/compact for this race.
Came screaming back into transition and headed out on the run in 7th place. Still in shock and still couldn’t wipe that smile off my face.
6) Run. 1:04.xx Success for me:
It’s no surprise that I hate running. I just can’t stop loving to hate it. I ran maybe 6 times including a 10k at Nordica’s bachelorette and another 6 mile run the following day. I knew I could do the race but it was just a matter now of doing it.
Mile 1 and 6 are flat. The rest are not. You climb up the same first hill of the bike. Erin passed me on the flats. You start descending and hit the aid station at mile 3. And the you get a quick drop off onto a hiking trail down the bluff. The downhill jostling really made my bladder go into code need to pee right now. I felt like a pregnant lady and pulled off the trail and relieved myself. Yikes. Emergency over. But now wait, seriously we have to dig out way back up this cliff side!? This is crazy. Stairs, rocks, uneven trails. At this point I wasn’t really running. Still smiling because that bay and this adventure is still fun! And now I’m hiking and not running. Erik flew by me on this section. Made it to the top with a couple of buddies and then it was time to open the hips and sail down the first hill. Oh wait, a stairs descent?! I am so clumsy and so freaked I’m going to go head first down this stair craziness. That took a lot of mental focus to not kill myself. Thank god, now back to the flats. And man, that gold dome wasn’t getting any closer.
Lots of tourists out on the run course but it wasnt an issue as the path is wide. Saw the clock as I was running into the finish and it was just about to kick over to 3 hours. I just barely missed 2:59, but I did it. I escaped from Alcatraz. And then rode and ran on a ridiculously hilly triathlon course. Somehow 3 hours is what I guessed it would take me!
Ended up 15th overall and 8th in my age group. But more importantly, I loved the experience!
7) Breakfast. Success:
Had an amazing meal and Bloody Mary at the Hollywood Cafe. Then packed up and said farewell to my San Diego friends! My San Fran friend Jenna offered to host me for Sunday night since I didn’t fly back until Monday evening.
8) Tourist. Success:
Jenna and Matthias were amazing hosts on Sunday. They picked me up from the hotel, we went out in the city for the afternoon, and to dinner near Palo Alto where they live for dinner. They showed me the Stanford campus. Great conversation over dinner and after. Excited to see them again at Nordica’s wedding.
9) Swim at Stanford. Success:
The last great part to my trip was a noon masters session at the Stanford pool! Can we move here?! Two 50m pools, water polo pool and diving well. The practice was fun and I soaked up the sun on my back before heading to the airport.
****
Do this race. You won’t regret it.
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