Escape from Alcatraz: in summary.

The boat trip out to Alcatraz was probably the best part. 2,000 people in wetsuits cramped into the Belle of SF parked just off shore of The Rock and then in about 4 minutes time we were all in the water. I didn't even think of the cold as I was navigating the many bodies. I got slammed a few times, squeezed between two swimmers, and hit in the head by an errant stroke. Good times. In a wetsuit those hits just feel like little bumps. I wore ear plugs for the first time and must say I think they helped. I felt completely sealed from the water other than hands, feet, and face. Caused a weird internal effect on my breathing...I could only hear myself. I realized I have a slight 'grunt' when swimming, similar to a tennis player hitting the ball, mine rather with every pull.  None the less Serena Williams came to mind and we finished out the swim.  The Bay's current is incredible. I had a perfect sight on the finish buoys but over shot them slightly....taken by the current. And once you miss your target there is no going back, you can't beat the water. I was out in 28 minutes and on my bike.

The bike was beautiful, and hilly. We rode out to the Pacific coast which I had not seen. The Golden Gate bridge is truly a gorgeous structure. It seems to fit nicely in with nature as you look at it from the Pacific view rather than from the bay. That coast is pure. I got to see one of the pros on the bike, Andy Potts, whom I read about occasionally in Triathlete. He was killing the bike, he cornered a 90 degree turn at the bottom of a steep descent so fast I thought he was going to lose control. It was also a beautiful sight. Saw him later on the run also sprinting down hill, poor knees. He won the event fairly easily.

The run was grueling. It was more like a hike, a running hike up and down steep sandy cliffs, and wooden plank steps built into the earth, narrow, with sharp over grown weeds snagging at your skin. There was even a tunnel that we had to run through that was so low we had to duck down. It was some kind of aqueduct. If only I was a criminal.  I now know how to bust out of Alcatraz. Only about two miles of the eight were 'normal' running.

I finished 305 out of 2,000. Not so bad for the little training I put in. And best of all I got the T-shirt!  Not to mention the memory I'll keep with me for the rest of my days.