Shhh, don't tell anybody if you're reading this, but there is a warrant out for our arrest because we escaped from Alcatraz the other weekend... 😬
Escape from Alcatraz, which is a triathlon race that goes across the San Francisco Bay, is a bucket list race that consists of a 1.5-mile swim in the SF Bay, an 18-mile bike, and an 8-mile run. It hits all the major destinations in SF, including the Marina, Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, and Baker Beach. We went down there to support the A2 athletes who were competing, and ya'll showed out!
Swim
The swim is one of the most iconic swims you will ever do if you get the chance. It starts at 4 am, when you hop aboard a ferry along with your fellow comrades and competitors. The vessel takes you out into the SF Bay and does a lap around Alcatraz in the soft morning light, providing some of the best views you'll see of the city. But it ends too quickly as they send you into the 55-degree water beneath shortly after. In horizontal lines, you jump side by side from the boat, from around 15 feet high. Travis Mundell, who raced for A2, says, "Somebody (on the boat) told me to make sure to turn around and look at the boat after you jump in. I'm so glad I did that. With Alcatraz and the boat there in the background... I made sure to turn around and soak that in, because that is a view I'll probably never see again." - Travis Mundell.
Once you're in it, there is no going back. Swimming in the frigid water alongside a ton of other athletes who are constantly kicking you in the face is an experience you'll never forget. The current also tends to pull you away, but there are plenty of lifeguards and volunteers out there keeping everyone in route. The 30min+ swim is not easy, as it is deceptively long because of the ocean currents. When arriving on the beach, there were not only tons of fans waiting there to greet the athletes, but there were also some sea lions swimming around as people were surfacing! Don't worry, no one was eaten.
Pictured: Travis Mundell after the Bay swim (top left)
Bike
The bike leg may seem short compared to a half Ironman, but it's also deceptively difficult. San Francisco is full of steep hills and jagged terrain, so it was only a matter of time before you were going to be put to the test. The rolling hills first take you up to the Golden Gate Bridge, which is a steep climb from sea-level. Then, you descend into rolling hills until you reach Golden Gate Park.
The complex terrain and need for better handling are the exact reasons why a lot of people opt for a road bike for this shorter course. Not only are you much safer, but in many cases, you are much faster — especially on the climbs and descents.
The scenic bike ride can only be experienced by doing this race. Travis says, "...from there (the beginning) it was all uphill. Out towards the Golden Gate, you get so close, and then you're cycling on these cliffs. There were such tough hills, but then you get rewarded with downhills, which were so fun." - Travis Mundell
Pictured: Tony Schollum on the SP (top left), Travis Mundell on the Rogue (top right).
Run
Finally, the 8-mile run, which also includes the infamous 'Sand Latter' halfway through it. If you don't know, the Sand Ladder is this insanely steep set of stairs that is covered with sand. Travis says, "My goodness, that is a tough run. It lives up to all the lore about it. So many hills. It is deceptively flat in the beginning, but then you're going up one staircase after an uphill section. The downhills go by way too quickly, and then you're at another uphill already. But it was so fun because there were so many different surfaces: road, gravel, sand. But running along the beach was awesome — and then you get to the Sand Ladder, and it's so much bigger than I expected. But I felt this great sense of camaraderie right there, since everyone around me was also really suffering. *laughing*" - Travis Mundell.
Takeaways from EFA
Escape from Alcatraz was an absolute blast, but it was because we got to support ya'll! One of the main reasons we wanted to come here this year was to see the Rogue in action on a course it was made for. As a brand that wants to keep innovating on ways to make triathlon and cycling more accessible, this course was a perfect example of how one bike can conquer all triathlon races, as well as be your main driver for training and road riding. Seeing Travis fly through the course on the Rogue was a special moment for us.
Thanks to everyone who made it possible for us to come out there, and to everyone we got to meet! Which triathlon event should we visit next? 🤔
To see the bike that was used to conquer the Escape from Alcatraz course, click HERE!
And to watch a video recap of the race by Travis (TheDailyTri), click HERE!