Experiences with Escape from Alcatraz?

Sheri,

I did the 2002 race. It was a great experience and although the water was cold it wasn't nearly as
bad as you'd imagine once you jump off the boat and got started. I'd get yourself a neoprene swim
hat, you put your race swim hat over the top; I assume you have a full-arm, full leg wetsuit, but
not everyone will have.

Also, since you are not local I'd suggest planning to make a week of it, take a few days off before
hand, stay somehwere down at Fishermans Wharf... The Hilton couldn't have been more helpful when I
was there storing the bike box and being helpful about taking the bike up to the room etc.

At race start time every day before the race you can go down to Aquatic Park and have a practice
swim with wetsuit, swim hat etc. You won't experience the current or the waves but the temperature
will be almost the same.

If you've not run on lose sand and up very difficult climbs personally I'd be more worried about
that than the swim! Have a great time....

My number 1 tip. Bring a digital camera or get your film for Cameras in SF, get the pictures
developed in SF before you leave. I've had a number of bad experiences lately with
unexposed/undeveloped film going through airport security since 9/11. ++Mark.

Thanks Mark. I do have a full wetsuit and and a neoprene cap (have done about 58-60 degree swims
before). Great idea to head over earlier - I will likely do that.

What about the current - I have read things about how to spot based on the current, i.e. head
towards Landmark 1 until you reach X, and then head towards Landmark 2. I just have no idea what
I'm doing out there. I ordered a pamphlet when I registered but don't know when I'll receive. Any
tips there?

Yes, the sand I'm sure will be no small feat - but I can't drown running - ha - I hope anyway! Do
you use regular running shoes for the runs? Would shoe gators help on the run?

Thanks so much for the input!

Cheers! Sheri

Since I did the Tri-Cal event and not the Envirosports event, I'm not sure what Urban is saying
about swimming into Aquatic Park. At least for the 2002 event we swam significantly further out past
the marina to a small beach where we came in.

Otherwise generally Urban advise is right on the money. My best open water swim 1500m is about 27
minutes. If I remember correctly, someone said that the Tri-Cal swim was about 1.5 miles

"Urban Bettag" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What about the current - I have read things about how to spot based on the current, i.e. head
towards Landmark 1 until you reach X, and then head towards Landmark 2. I just have no idea what
I'm doing out there. I ordered a pamphlet when I registered but don't know when I'll receive.
Any tips there?

I did the Envirosports event twice not the tricalifornia one. The swim is quite tricky. You have
currents from different directions. The first bit is no problem and I usually stay left of the
field and swim towards the Transamerica building. There is a bit of a rough patch after a 1/3 and
it feels like swimming in a dishwasher. Here too I always try to stay left and aim for another
building right of the Transatlantic building. Never swim too far right otherwise you won't make it
into Aquatic Park. The current in front of the pier is so strong and no Olympic swimmer can swim
against it. Climbing underneath the pier can be quite painful (barnacles). Hence, always stay
left, if you are close enough to the pier you can even backstroke into aquatic park 🙂

Sorry, I wasn't finished...

so the Tri-Cal swim is 1.5 miles, my official swim time is 37:30 but I was a long way after the
first person to jump from the boat as my main expectation was to finish. According to my watch, my
1.5 mile swim took me just 32-mins. So, around 5-minutes for the last half mile! ;-)

I did just as Urban suggests and kept to the left, when I got over towards the start of the marina
and you get picked up by a 3+ MPH current pulling you out towards the bridge. It seems intuitively
obvious that you should swim as fast as you can towards the current and then take it easy on your
way to the exit point!

++Mark. Chairman, Tri-Force Triathlon Club, UK

There is a good map. See:
envirosports.comsharkswimmap.pdfOpen ↗

This is how it looks like after jumping in the water 🙂
envirosports.comalcatriswimphoto.jpgOpen ↗

There are some more pictures at Brightroom, which will help you to visualize the swim. Browse around
at: brightroom.comview event photos.aspOpen ↗

The first time I did the swim the water was very rough and I took the advise to swim always left of
the field. I am not a fast swimmer and did the 1.6m in 56 minutes.

The following year the water was very calm and I took the risk to swim more a straight line (instead
of a bow). I was very fast at the pier, but just missed the entrance by only a few meters. No
chance, lost at least 15 minutes, had to climb over the wall underneath the pier and did the swim in
52 minutes.

I have never done TriCal event, so check with the organisers.