Race Day Morning

As usual race morning came far far far too early at 4:30. I took a quick shower and got my race gear on. I began to contemplate the long day ahead but I was ready for my race. We had a momentary problem as we tried to retrieve our car from the parking attendant. We had lost our ticket and it took several minutes to convince them who we were and which car we needed. With that problem solved we were off to the swim start at Aquatic park. We went to where we thought that we should park but saw no one there. There were also signs saying that all the parking there was reserved for yacht club members. I began to worry a bit but my wife calmed me down and we headed closer to Aquatic park where we soon found a lot of other racers unpacking their cars.

I got my stuff out and began to put on my wetsuit. I remembered to spray Pam on my ankles to make the 'escape' from my wetsuit a little easier. I wasn't sure how much to use since I had never warn a wetsuit in a swim before so opted to stay on the safe side an not use to much. I knew that I should never try anything new on race day but this being Alcatraz and all I figured the wetsuit was a good idea anyway ;) I got into the suit up to my waist and with the help of Michelle grabbed everything I needed for the swim to run transition area. After finding a spot for my stuff I talked with a few people and then waited with my wife. As more people arrived I finished putting on my wetsuit with some help from my wife and she pinned one of my race tags onto the wetsuit cord. Since the start was in open water and there was plenty of space in the bay I opted to leave the cord hanging loose.

Moments later the race director Dave Horning came and gave some instructions and a bit of history on the race. He told us that water was a balmy 61 this year and he also introduced two people that were celebrating their birthdays by racing including a 60 year old. After singing the national anthem we paraded down the wharf to pier 40. Even for San Francisco I'm sure we made a strange sight, a bunch of strange people in wetsuits wandering down the wharf at 6:00 in the morning! When we reached pier 40 I said my final goodbye to my wife, told her that I would see her at shore in just a little while and then boarded the ferry that would take us to the start. As I boarded I was amazed to see an amputee with only one leg. I could see how the swim wouldn't be too bad for him but I wondered how he would handle the hills on the bike and run. After boarding I grabbed the nearest seat right near the entrance to the ferry and talked with a girl beside me who had never done the triathlon before but had done the swim. She said that the water wasn't actually that cold and had she known that it was 61 degrees she wouldn't have bothered with a wetsuit. I was impressed but still glad that I had mine on. The tension in the ship was obvious as people milled about and nervously chatted. The trip to the island passed by very quickly. I talked a little with the people around me and adjusted my goggles. We soon drew near to the eastern shore of Alcatraz and the ferry began to slow down. We paused for a moment and I could see out the window to the Island which was not more than 100 feet away. The water below looked dark and ominous. As the boat positioned itself close to the starting line the guys across the table from me greeted a friend of theirs who the proceeded to shake hands with everyone around including myself and wish us all good luck. Then the ferry backed up and stopped again. A voice over the loudspeakers told us that it was time to get into the water and head for the swim start over by the kayaks. It was showtime!

The 'Escape' Begins

I let several other people jump in before me and then I figured that I may as well get it over with. I looked down at the dark green water in the shadow of Alcatraz and with a big yell and an adjustment to my goggles I leaped out into the water. As soon as I hit the water I realized two things. One the water didn't seem as cold as I had feared which was great (in fact it seemed more like the temperatures of Basshaunt lake back home in Ontario ;) The second was that the wetsuit made me float like a cork. I shot back up out of the water and then took a few strokes to move towards the starting line. I felt like I was on a paddleboard! No worries about drowning in this wetsuit. It was almost like having a life preserver on. I immediately felt much better about the swim and I was pumped and ready to go! I took the time to look at the Island up close since it was only a few meters away. I was definitely going be swimming from the 'Rock' There was a lot of pent up energy in the water as people let out yelps and cheers while waiting for the start. I looked behind me and saw a sea of yellow swim caps bobbing in the water. I let out a few cheers myself. I was really pumped now and ready to rock! (Pun intended :)