Swim Expectations, Tips, and Guidelines for Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon

Just received this from the race organizers....first sign that the race is getting CLOSE!!! Swam my first mile this week and it went pretty well (minus a few breaks I had to take along the way).  Baby steps right.

The Swim On Sunday morning June 5th, you will rack your bike and board bus shuttles at Marina Green to take you to the Start Boat, the Hornblower's San Francisco Belle.  Here you will receive your timing chip and board the boat.  Athletes will be organized by age group according to the Race Staff (more details on this in our May 12 Newsletter). You will have a numbered plastic bag, given to you at packet pick-up that you will be able to leave on the boat to contain any small items you bring/wear (i.e. light sweat suit and shoes) on the boat but do not want to take with you on the swim. Do not bring valuables such as iPods and wedding rings, and try to keep the items left in your boat bag to a minimum.  This bag will be transported back to Marina Green for pick-up after your finish (more details on this in our May 12 Newsletter). For the boat cruise out to the start of the race, wear a light sweat suit, light shoes or sandals and even those light running gloves you use on those winter runs. Keeping your hands warm is important while cruising to the swim start aboard the boat. You don't want to bring too much so be efficient in your packing for the boat.  Don't put your wetsuit on too early as this will have you potentially overheated. You will have plenty of time to put the wetsuit on while on the boat. Booties are allowed during the swim; gloves are not.  Bring two pairs of goggles if you have them in case one breaks.  A personal swim cap (latex is best) in addition to the one you receive in your race packet is suggested; one swim cap is ok but two will give you a little more warmth.  Personal silicon caps under the latex cap you must wear on race day doesn't work too well as the materials are slippery on each other and athletes loose time messing with goggles and cap while bobbing in the Bay.  A neoprene cap (aka a 'squid lid') is an option but any time you cover the ears you lose 30% of your balance and you have a tendency to lose the 'feel' of the water.  All athletes will start in order of age group or division as dictated by race staff and position on boat.  The start will last approximately six to seven minutes for all 2000 participants to jump from the start boat and begin the race.  When you jump from the boat into the water, it is a shock to your system. Be prepared for the cold water and if you have time on the weeks or days prior to the race, you may want to go to Aquatic Park by Ghirardelli Square and get in the Bay for 10 to 20 minutes to feel the water temp or take a few showers or soaks in cold water.     The water temperature will be approximately 53-54 degrees Fahrenheit and there should be minimal chop because the race will start prior to the winds picking up. The current on race morning will be pulling participants west (towards the Golden Gate Bridge). As a result, as participants 'swim across the river' left to right, they will be 'pulled' in the correct direction to end up right in front of the St Francis Yacht Club adjacent to the swim exit.  For information on sighting during the swim, view theinstructional video on the Official Event Website.  Make sure you take the time to enjoy this experience of swimming from Alcatraz. Approximately five to ten minutes into the swim we suggest you roll on your back to make sure you are making some movement and not stuck in a swirling eddy current keeping you from leaving the Rock. This will also give you the opportunity to take in the moment and beautiful sights of Alcatraz and the San Francisco skyline. Yes there is marine life in San Francisco Bay including sharks, seals, and sea lions. The half-dozen different types of sharks San Francisco has within the Bay itself are small, three to four feet in length, and hang out well below the surface of the water.  Despite rumors, these sharks are not interested in Escape Participants.  Larger sharks do live outside the Bay where it is saltier; sharks of any significant size do not come in the Bay because it is comprised of brackish water (half salt and half fresh water).  San Francisco Bay has 500 miles of Sierra snow melt running into the bay, so between the fresh water and the silt, the big sharks stay away from the Bay's waters.  Harbor seals and sea lions may come by to see what swimmers are up to due to their curious temperaments, but the sheer numbers of swimmers keeps them at a distance.  If you need help while swimming, there will be over 100 water craft in the Bay to assist you.  Should you simply need a minute or two to rest and re-orient yourself, you can hold on to the bow of a kayak, get settled, rest a minute and keep going as this will not DQ you.  If you need to be repositioned you will be put on a small boat and repositioned.  Listen to and abide by the aquatic personnel in the water craft, kayaks, Jet Skis and boats as they are there to assist you and keep you on course.  There is a one-hour cut-off time for the swim. Anyone not finished after 60 minutes, will be picked up and assisted to shore where they will be allowed to finish the race without penalty.        Swim Exit Transition and Short Run to Main Transition When you are finished with the swim, you will want to get your wetsuit off as soon as possible. The longer you have the wetsuit on the harder it is to get off when the water drains out of the suit.  You will have a gear bag waiting for you at the mini-transition area near the swim exit.  (This bag is given to you during packet pick-up and turned in to Race Staff on Sunday Morning before the swim when you rack your bicycle. More on this process in our May 12 newsletter).  In this bag you should have a small towel, maybe a small bottle of water to rinse, a small bottle of Cytomax and a light pair of shoes to wear during the short transition run from swim exit to the main transition at Marina Green. Leave your wetsuit, goggles, and swim cap in this bag.  Like the boat bag, this bag will be available in the bag corral at Marina Green following the race.  Yes the Pro's and Elite Age Groupers sometimes go shoeless and wear the wetsuit to the Marina Green transition but here's why:  1) They are participating for the prize money and 2) Keeping the wetsuit creates extra time to promote their wetsuit sponsor. As an age grouper, comfort should be your main focus; running bare foot for a half mile will trash the soles of your water logged feet.    At this point, you are ready to transition to the bike.  Look for bike information and tips in our next newsletter on March 31.