This is probably going to be my last blog post before the race. There will be many updates on my Instagram story tomorrow as I head down to the transition area to check in and rack my bike. Looking forward to getting my hands on some merchandise and catching up with other athletes.
So the race weekend kicked off tonight with a Pro Panel tips along with a Q&A session. I only just made it there in time as my uber driver got lost! Ended up costing 3x as much which I’ve asked for a refund! Anyway, the evening was a good one, lots of tips and tricks and lots to take in. It’s coming round quick now, before I know it the expo will be over and I’ll be on the ferry heading out to the rock!
So let me talk you through race day and an overview of the course. This is a Triathlon like no other! The reason for it being called “Escape From Alcatraz” is due to the start position. A ferry takes all 2000 athletes and stops next to Alcatraz (the rock). Then within 7 minutes all 2000 are in the water! The swim is a 1.5 mile south swim, sighting to the south and letting the current move you along the bay.
As it stands the swim course could be changed based on the weather conditions. If the fog comes into the bay then we won’t be able to see San Francisco. It also means the currents will be stronger and could pull swimmers out to the middle of the bay rather than along the shore and towards transition. That means they will bring us closer and shorten the course. I find out more on this tomorrow.
Once I exit the swim I have a 0.5 mile run into transition. This is one of the longer transition runs I would have had to make. The bike course is flat to start and finish with multiple climbs and descents throughout. Total distance for the cycle is 18 miles.
The run is 8 miles on a route that includes the infamous sand ladder! This comes after 4 miles worth of running, the sand ladder takes me from the coast and beach up 400 steps! From what I’ve been told, even the pros use the ropes along the side for additional support!
The pictures highlight the route and also the elevation gain for both bike and run. As you can see there are some steep sections but flat finishes to both!
I managed to get out on the bike earlier today, not only to test that I had set it up and built it correctly I also wanted to test riding up Scott St which looks and was pretty steep! So steep that I had to lean forward when pedalling as to not perform a wheelie and fall back off the bike! Now that I tackled that street I feel I can deal with whatever the course throws at me!
Time for me to get my last long nights rest in as tomorrow night will be restless and nerves keeping me awake! In a way it’s a blessing the Warriors lost tonight, not just so I can have a drink during game 5 on Monday but mainly due to the fact the area would have been like a carnival atmosphere!
Night!
I Just Felt Like Cycling 