Yelp.com had a member who wrote a pretty cool summary about the race course. Check it on out!
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The Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon is one of the most famous and anticipated triathlons in the world, with major-market media and TV coverage across the country. Its popularity in the triathlon community (it was picked as the #1 race in the world in a recent Inside Tri magazine poll) has made it one of the most difficult races to get entry into. At this point, you basically have to enter the lottery or do well in one of the several qualifying races to get a slot to race. There aren't many other options.
There is no other race in the world like this one - no other race where everyone boards a giant yacht/small cruise ship and heads out to a famous landmark in the middle of a large body of water (we're talking about Alcatraz Island here, the Rock), sends everybody (1500 or so) off the boat in less than two minutes for a 1.5 mile swim in the Bay ending at the St Francis Yacht club at Mariana Green (note - the Bay is usually 54-57 degrees, it can be quite rough, and the currents are usually strong - if you don't have open-water experience, I suggest you sign up for a practice swim from Alcatraz led by expert swimmers, especially if you live somewhere near the Bay Area - I've led several swims before and trust me, it will make all the difference come race day. Also, get a good wetsuit and neoprene swim cap, and swim in Aquatic Park if you get a chance). The views are spectacular from the boat, and swimming toward the city from the island is an amazing thing.
From there, it just gets better. You have 3/4 mile "warm-up" run to get to the transition area in the grassy field of Mariana Green. The bike course - 18 miles long - is one of the tougher but more scenic bike course in any triathlon you'll ever do. You head out on Marina Drive, then climb up through the Presidio on Lincoln Blvd, drop down into Sea Cliff (say hello to Robin Williams, who will be watching from just outside his house right by the course if he's not competing in the race himself or off on a movie shoot), back up to the Legion of Honor, down to Ocean Beach on The Great Highway (rough road here), then you'll do a loop in Golden Gate Park before returning the way you came. Four reasonably challenging climbs (four fun downhills!) plus some other shorter ones and terrific scenery. Keep in mind, if you're an average swimmer, there will be quite a lot of bike traffic out there. For some people, that can be a real turn-off.
The run heads toward the Golden Gate Bridge on the Crissy Field path, then takes the stairs and the hilly coastal trail, under the GG, and down to Baker Beach before turning around and heading back the way you came, with the exception that you will be going up the infamous Sand Ladder (think a very steep 200 ft vertical climb straight up a sand dune) to get back to the coastal trail. It's fairly narrow and two way traffic on the coastal trail section, so be sure to exercise caution and stay on your left. Watch out for the pro triathletes charging back as you're heading out, enjoy the spectacular cliff-side scenery.
Once you're back down to Crissy Field, you just have a two miles of flats on the trail to the finish line and eternal glory!
The volunteers, officials, and organization at this race are world-class.
If you are a triathlete, or an aspiring triathlete, try to do this race at least once. It's the best triathlon in the world, and it's right in San Francisco.
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