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Escape From Alcatraz

I'm applying to the lottery as soon as it's open.  Now that it's not directed by TriCalifornia, I wonder how many changes will happen.

I did EFA in 06 and 07, and loved it.

If I don't get in via the lottery, I'll hopefully (again) be sponsored by TriBike Transport which usually has slots for us - I hope.

Who else wants to do this event in 2010?

Comments



  • Interesting development. Something happened this year. The good news is that there will be a TriCalifornia Alcatraz event. Terry and company just sent this out. You know you can get into this one. I associate the race with Tricalifornia, not Accenture or anyone else.

     I got this email last night--and asked them if I could forward it oneward.



    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Dear Tri-Cal Faithful Triathletes



    Please read the entire letter as there will be 2010 registration links at the bottom of the letter.



    First I wish to thank you for spending your valuable personal time and money to compete at Tri-California events in 2009. We appreciate your support of Tri-California and I hope that we met your expectations and needs. We strive to make memories and provide a better event each time we show up at a race site. It was heartwarming to see that the level of participation in the events was reflective of your commitment to a healthy lifestyle that you are willing to sacrifice to maintain. You are why we love our work so much. We thank God for all the blessings that he has given us. Please check tricaltv.com for some great videos of the 2009 races.



    Now that we have completed 2009 we turn right around and start on 2010. We actually started months ago, but you really didn’t want to hear anything about it then so we waited until now to share 2010 news with you.



    First of all, I want to announce, if you have not already heard through the internet, Tri-California is going to produce our own Alcatraz Triathlon on Sunday August 29, 2010. We are no longer race directing the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. Why, you may ask? We just believe that it is time to bring an Alcatraz race into the family of Tri-California events so we can make the decisions that we feel are best for the triathletes. The entry fee is $320 if you register before Jan 1st. We expect the race to sell out. We will have 1800 slots.



    The Avia Wildflower triathlon is scheduled for April 30-May 2, 2010. We had a great race last year and we expect to have even a better one this year. It is the “One and Only” Wildflower and we want to keep it that way. All the races will remain the same. We expect attendance to grow from last year and for the races to sell out again. Online registration will open December 1st to the general public.



    The entry fees for all the Tri-Cal races will remain the same as 2009. Although costs have increased we have made the commitment to not raise entry fees this year.



    As a Tri-California faithful (triathlete who raced with Tri-Cal in 2007-2009) you are eligible for an early registration. We will have a special early registration for you on November 20th. Click here. You will be able to register for the AVIA Wildflower Triathlon and the Alcatraz Triathlon (until they are sold out). Because you are a Tri-Cal faithful we are going to give you $10 off if your entry fee before December 1st for each race. Use the promotion code TRIFAITH2010. If you are a Wildflower legend and have raced 10 years you get $10 off your Wildflower entry, 15 year participants get $15 off, and if you have raced 20 or more at Wildflower, your wildflower race is on the house. If you are from outside California we will automatically give you another $10 for each race to help pay for some of your travel expense.



    If you have a friend that you have always wanted to race with you at Wildflower or Alcatraz but they just have not done it yet. We have a deal for you. Forward them the registration link and the promotional code TRIFIRST2010 and they can register and get the same discounts that you get except for the legends discount that they have to earn.



    General online Registration for Alcatraz opens on Black Friday November 27, and Wildflower will open on December 1st. At that time everything goes back to regular fees and all the discounts will be removed. So my recommendation is to jump on the internet and register for the races on November 20th at 8am PST. Use your personal profile account to register, so make sure that you know your username and password. If you can’t remember it you can send you e-mail address and they will send it to you. Please do not open a new account. It makes it difficult to manage if you have more than one account. If you have a spouse or children or a friend, they need to have their own accounts. If they don’t already have an account, they can make one before they register from the internet page.



    We will again have the San Francisco Triathlon at Treasure Island on July 9-11, the Triathlon at Pacific Grove on September 10-12, and Scott Tinley’s Triathlons on October 1-3rd. They are listed on the website and we will have more about the registration for those events later.



    We hope that you will join us for another exciting year at Tri-California. If there is anything you know of that will help us improve our events, please let me know. You can e-mail me at terry@tricalifornia.com .



    Again the link for 2010 Tri-California Registration is https://secure.tricalifornia.com/athletes/index.cfm



    God Bless



    Terry Davis, Race Director



    Tri-California Staff and Tri-Cal Family



     

  • I secured a spot in this year's escape from alcatraz and am wondering if anyone has any information on the Bike course. I looked at the course elevation map and it makes it out to be loaded with some small climbs and hills. Is it worth bring my TT bike or would it be more inline to opt for my road bike?

    Any input would be helpful.

    Thanks.
  • @Jonathan - I did EfA last year.  Not sure where you're located but either way I would recommend a road bike (and to rent one especially if you have to fly from somewhere to get there).  The course is short (18 miles) and technical so I just couldn't justify shipping my TT bike all the way there ($300) when I could just rent a road bike to get me through the 18 miles for $80.  You can see further comments from me and others at the below links...

    endurancenation.us.dnnmax.com/Commu...fault.aspx

    www.endurancenation.us/en_forums/showthread.php

    Mike Biarnesen is doing it this year so you can link up with him.  Not sure of any others.

  • Jim,

    Thank you for your help.

    Jon
  • Second what @Jim said. The only real "flats" are at the beginning and end along Chrissy Field for a total of around 4 miles, there's maybe another total mile of "flat" along The Great Highway. The course is hilly and the most technical I've ever raced, another consideration is that the course is very crowded. Add to that other participants are there on tri bikes running 59-39/11-21 or 11-23 gearing (which is WAY over geared), going uphill VERY SLOWLY and are more squirrely than usual (hard to imagine, but possible believe me). I've used my road bike 4 times and every single time I was glad I did.

    Yes, that does make the bike portion sound horrendous, but it's a race I tell everyone they have to do at least once. Be sure to stop 1/2 way through the swim and look around, Golden Gate to the right, Alcatraz behind you, city of SF to your left. It's a perspective from the water few will ever get and even fewer will appreciate.
  • I did it last year too - hills are pretty tough on the bike, lots of technical turns - loved riding thru the gardens - but my biggest problem was the run - be prepared for trail running, with lots of steps, some broken , thru the tunnel, the beach, sand ladder.  And  a very crowded course

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