ncisco. Unfortunately, when I opened the case on Saturday, my bike computer was smashed and I couldn't get my left pedal back on the bike. We spent Saturday solving those minor problems (that seemed major at the time) and getting acclimated to the cold and windy San Francisco weather. Instead of getting out for a ride, we got in our rental mini van and drove the course. Driving the course instead of riding it was a smart decision... We rose early on Sunday morning, 3:45, to get to the race by 4:15 and we were amongst the first to get on the bus from transition to the boat that was drop us off in the freezing bay waters. I found that I was pretty nervous that morning mostly because there were so many steps to take before starting the race: packing a a transition bag for the beach with shoes and warm clothes for the run from the beach to the transition area; preparing a bag for the boat with everything I might need between 4:30am and the 7:00 race start; and preparing the usual transition area. By the time we loaded on the boat and set off towards Alcatraz, I had calmed down and was ready to get the show on the road.SWIM:One of the coolest things was watching the pros start the race from the edge of the boat. Alcatraz was the first race where I was surrounded by tens of world class triathl
etes so I was slightly star struck. All 2000 athletes were to be loaded off the boat in only 6 minutes. Needless to say, I saw the pro's leap, which means I missed my wave start. I quickly found out that there was no order. Caps of all colors were jumping off at once. The water was freezing, but it was actually a little less shocking than I expected. Anyone that competed in the lake Anna half or sprint this April would've felt the same way. Water temperature when we leaped was 57 degrees. The water was really choppy. It was choppier than I imagined and the current was very strong (although it was working in our favor). I managed to swim over and around a gang of people and get a space to swim alone. At some point half way, someone actually came up behind me and grabbed my foot. I thought it was funny as there was no one on either side of me and the guy could've chose another course of action. It turned out to be a good thing, because when he grabbed my foot I realized I had slowed down quite a bit; not because of the cold or because I was fatigued, but because I was in auto pilot. At the pre-race talk we were given sighting guidance. We were told to sight a dome in the distance. Sighting the dome actually guided me to a beach several hundred yards past our transition area. I noticed it just in time to literally turn left and swim against the current towards shore. I noticed several other athletes doing the same thing. TRANSITION from swim to run (to bike):Transition was pretty cool. Our post swim bags were lined up by our number and volunteers were helping us find our bags. It was very organized. I took my time taking off my wetsuit and putting on my socks and shoes for the .5 mile run to the bikes. It was absolutely freezing but I couldn't feel the cold at all. Instead of putting on my long sleeve transition shirt, I ran with it in my hand.
etes so I was slightly star struck. All 2000 athletes were to be loaded off the boat in only 6 minutes. Needless to say, I saw the pro's leap, which means I missed my wave start. I quickly found out that there was no order. Caps of all colors were jumping off at once. The water was freezing, but it was actually a little less shocking than I expected. Anyone that competed in the lake Anna half or sprint this April would've felt the same way. Water temperature when we leaped was 57 degrees. The water was really choppy. It was choppier than I imagined and the current was very strong (although it was working in our favor). I managed to swim over and around a gang of people and get a space to swim alone. At some point half way, someone actually came up behind me and grabbed my foot. I thought it was funny as there was no one on either side of me and the guy could've chose another course of action. It turned out to be a good thing, because when he grabbed my foot I realized I had slowed down quite a bit; not because of the cold or because I was fatigued, but because I was in auto pilot. At the pre-race talk we were given sighting guidance. We were told to sight a dome in the distance. Sighting the dome actually guided me to a beach several hundred yards past our transition area. I noticed it just in time to literally turn left and swim against the current towards shore. I noticed several other athletes doing the same thing. TRANSITION from swim to run (to bike):Transition was pretty cool. Our post swim bags were lined up by our number and volunteers were helping us find our bags. It was very organized. I took my time taking off my wetsuit and putting on my socks and shoes for the .5 mile run to the bikes. It was absolutely freezing but I couldn't feel the cold at all. Instead of putting on my long sleeve transition shirt, I ran with it in my hand.BIKE:I got to transition and had to program my bike computer (The Polar vendor table gave me a back up computer to replace my smashed one for the race) because I didn't have the manual before I had to load on to the boat. It only took me a minute or two at transition and I was ready to go (I'm married to my bike computer, without it I would've been lost). As soon as I got on the bike, I noticed two things that would irritate me for the entire ride. 1- I didnt tighten my seat post enough and it slid a few inches down in the tube (my knees hit my chest while I was in my aerobars) and 2 - I didn't tighten my aerobars, so they were uneven. Lessons learned for my next race on the road... There was about a mile stretch to warm up before the first big climb. The climb was long, steep and scenic. It took us along the shoreline up to the golden gate bridge and through beautiful neighborhoods. There was steep downhill, following the climb and I used it to my advantage. While most people were braking a lot, I was a slight more reckless in an effort to make up for anything I lost on the climb. There was another steep climb up to the Legion of Honor, another decent to the Atlantic side of the city and a short ride through the park. A loop and we did it all over again. On the climb I was motivated by the professional leader powering through the race right after completing the infamous sand steps. I witnessed a brutal crash and made it back to transition in one piece.
RUN:Other than the sand stairs I had no idea what to expect from the 8 mile run. Again, there was a good mile or two before any type of climb. The first climb (I thought was the sand stairs) was series of steps from the beach up a hill, and for a good mile or two we ran on gravel and a path less than two feet wide (with two way traffic) through a tunnel that was 6 feet tall at the opening, pitch black inside and 5 feet at the exit. And finally, around mile four we made it to the beach. A mile loop on the beach and we hit the sand stairs. The sand stairs were actually worse than I imagined. It was virtually impossible to do anything other than take one step at a time (walking pace.) I'd read about the steps ahead of time, even about how the pros walked them, but was fully able to understand there seriousness until that moment. They were hardly stairs. It was a sand mound with logs strategically placed and hardly sturdy. The only positive was the 400 stairs only felt like 390. After the stairs my second wind kicked in and I passed several of women in my age group. I felt strong for the last three miles and picked up the pace. I was starting to slow down a bit, when I guy in a Vancouver BC jersey ran past me. I told him I was from Kamloops BC and he paced me for about a mile and half and then kicked into a gear I definitely didn't have for the last mile. It was nice to see another BC'er on the course (as it turns out there were several.) The best part of th
e race was having three of my best friends at the finish line cheering me on. I was so lucky to have three of my favorite people make the trip with me from DC to San Francisco. It was also awesome having another great friend, Adrienne, racing a ong side me. Things would've been very different had I gone it alone. It was also great seeing DC Tri Clubbers Lisa and Anathea. RESULTSTime: 2:57. I was surprised to have finished in the top ten of my age group (7th) and under 3 hours! I honestly didn't think I had any chance of a decent placing so I was pretty bitter that I took my sweet time in transition and on certain parts of the bike. Few less minutes and I could've place third. I'll definitely race it again
e race was having three of my best friends at the finish line cheering me on. I was so lucky to have three of my favorite people make the trip with me from DC to San Francisco. It was also awesome having another great friend, Adrienne, racing a ong side me. Things would've been very different had I gone it alone. It was also great seeing DC Tri Clubbers Lisa and Anathea. RESULTSTime: 2:57. I was surprised to have finished in the top ten of my age group (7th) and under 3 hours! I honestly didn't think I had any chance of a decent placing so I was pretty bitter that I took my sweet time in transition and on certain parts of the bike. Few less minutes and I could've place third. I'll definitely race it again 
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