TT Member "Nadel" Alcatraz race report

OOFFAAHHH!!!!

What a race!  I'm glad I did all that swimming.  Otherwise, I'd have no chance at all.  Here goes. Forecast was good up to Saturday, when it changed from low 60's to low 50's with wind gusts.  The bay looked manageable when we left the pier at 6:30, but the swells picked up by the time we got to alcatraz.  2,000 people jumping off 1 boat in 10 minutes.  50 degrees with no warm up.  that'll wake you up.  The current was strong and pushing west out past the golden gate.  I was hoping to get it done in 35 minutes, turned into 41.  Had to keep on redirecting south towards the sightlines they gave us.  I just never got comfortable in the water where I felt strong.  And I was afraid I wouldn't warm up for the rest of the race.  When you get out of the water you're 3/4 mile from the transition area, so they set up a mini transition area with a bag that you dropped off during packet pick up.  a pair of shoes, towel and socks. and you run to the bike.  my feet felt like cinder blocks.  

Now imagine 2 miles of flat and then 14 miles of up and down.  the good news was on the way out you're heading into the wind, so i never got my speed up.  i felt strong, and managed my wattage, but was still generally over 210 watts and maxed out close to 500.  Probably the most beautiful bike course i've ever done.  you go UNDERNEATH the golden gate bridge and head west to golden gate park. unbelievable residential area and then the park, but the hills!  I tried to enjoy and watch my nutrition. Finally, the last 2 miles you're flat with a tailwind and I felt like I could ride. I think my bike was about 1:20.

Off the bike onto the run.  Again, unbelievably scenic, and I really soaked in every inch for 1 hour and 32 minutes!  Again, crazy hills, 1-1/2 miles on the beach leading up to the 400 step sand ladder and then another 300 feet to get to the end of mile 5.  You're actually looking down at the golden gate bridge from mile 5.  The rest is down hill, but on trails, so I was always watching my footing until mile 6, where it gets flat again with the tailwind.  

Glad I did it.  Beautiful course, but definitely the hardest race i've done.  not sure if that's because it's so early in the season, whether the swim knocked me off a little bit, my conditioning or whatever.  but i'm not rushing back there anytime soon.  

total time - 3:53.  

ric