Just Add Water

Woman dies in Alcatraz swim race

I was shocked and saddened to hear this afternoon that a 51 year-old woman out of Houston Texas died this morning while swimming from Alcatraz. While the cause is unknown, it is a reminder that the sport and thrills we love are done at our own risk.

I've been a race participant and I've worked a number of races.  From the race management side, it is always safety, safety, safety.  From kayakers, pilots, radio contacts, chip-rippers and all - you are thinking about safety.    I've been a race participant in the Alcatraz Challenge Aquathlon in years past and I've also volunteered and worked the event.  On the water working the event you are constantly counting the heads of swimmers and looking for anyone with a hand-up who needs help and watching out for a swimmer who might be having a tough go of it.  I'm sure today's race was no different.

For swimmers, it is knowing your limits, knowing when to raise your hand for help and staying safe.  (Please note that I am saying this in general and in no way implying that the swimmer was not prepared... I know nothing about her training, health or swim abilities).

My thoughts go out to the victim's family.  I'm sure when she left to do the event she was eager to return with a triumphant story to tell.  I'm also thinking about the race directors and volunteers.  It's everyone's worst nightmare to lose a participant, no matter what the cause.

Alcatraz #82 - I am not your swim mistress

You know it's going to be an interesting day when the first email you read begins with "Meet me in the city for a good time - jump at at 2". 

Now, to those tawdry minds out there thinking I'm off having an affair in the afternoon I'm sorry to disappoint you.  No, this is a late lunch with friends that happens to consist of non-standard lunch attire and a tad more sodium than your doctor would normally permit. 

With eight hours of work packed in and in dire need of a break I headed into the city for a quick dip.  Part of me was wondering if I really wanted to do this.  I started back at the gym this morning for core and strength training and my body was telling me "pain, pain, pain" getting up and down the staircase.  Mind over matter and just keep moving.

A word to the wise  - there's a reason Alcatraz swims and races take place in the morning.  The water is always smoother than the wind-kickin' chop of the afternoon.  It was gorgeous today - blue sky, sunny, warm (for San Francisco) wind.  It also happened that we were jumping off the east end of the island on a 3.5 max flood. 

I started out smooth and strong and then hit the washing machine.  The result of the afternoon wind and max rushing around the island makes for a washing machine effect 200 yards off the island and it's a reminder that Alcatraz isn't for everyone, especially in the afternoon.  It's rough, tough and puts the fear into you.  There were a good two minutes in there where my mind wasn't on my stroke, it was on getting air and getting out of the washing machine, whatever forward motion it took.

Once out of the washing machine the water seemed smoother even though compared to morning swims it was rough.  I breath bi-laterally, every third or fifth stroke.  Today, depending on which way the waves were hammering I had to breath on one side which makes me swim in a zig-zag pattern.  Breathing left for a large number of strokes will send me off to the Bay Bridge if I'm not careful!

Approaching San Francisco it was clear we would miss Pier 39 and 37 so shot for Pier 35.  A few tourist boats with people pointing and snapping photos later we touched Pier 35.  Total time - 38 minutes, 47 seconds.   

I climbed back into the zodiac for a bumpy ride back to the South End Rowing Club and grabbed my car keys for the drive home and back to work.

Between my morning workout at the gym and the swim, my pecs, lats and core are going to be sore tonight! 

Alcatraz Swim 72 - Getting the Lead Out

The call came yesterday afternoon for an early Alcatraz swim.  "Be at the club by 5:30.  We're leaving the dock at 6:15".  And that was that.

Despite being tired I'm pushing to get to 100 by June 11 which for those of you who are into prison lore is the anniversary date of the prison breakout that was the inspiration for the movie Escape From Alcatraz.  I have a lot of swimming to do between now and then but with four swims in the last seven days and the support of other swimmers and pilots I may just make it.

As I made the drive into the SERC, the radio blared a favorable weather report but looking into the Bay from the Golden Gate Bride the pre-dawn light was already showing some white caps.  Yes, I'm having coffee with chop and wave today.

Gary Emich was our pilot today as three of us gals made the crossing from Coughlin to Alcatraz.  My butt will be sore for the rest of the day from the zodiac ride bouncing us over to the start.  In true fashion, KB, DSW and I went overboard and up onto the beach and waited for the horn before heading out and being assaulted by some hard 4 foot rollers coming in.

The initial sighting this morning was to be on the east slope of Angel Island.  Jumping 17 minutes before a weak max ebb (1.7) we would have a slow carry past the rock.  As I looked up for the first few sightings all I could see was a cruise ship making its way into port.  I wondered if the passengers on board had a sauna.  Or coffee.

I have to say that not many people swim to prisons and this morning will go down as a favorite swim for a while.  Why?  I was fortunate enough to swim with two women who are both strong swimmers (I had to wear my fins today to keep in the pack).  For a good third of the way I swam in between the two and stroke for stroke I was able to see the years of experience and art of swimming in rough chop.  Nerves are of steel - it's just another swim.  Arms are a bit higher to allow you to get up, over or through the face-bashing wall of water.    Tempo is even when possible with strong underwater recovery.  Both women are able to grab and push an amazing amount of water while at the same time staying in "the tube" and streamlining. 

The second third of the swim we spread out a bit, but not much for safety reasons.  You always need to know where your pilot is, your fellow swimmers and be aware that you are heading in the same direction.  After the swim Gary mentioned that once he was ready to come over and herd us back together but before he could we merged ourselves.  While it is for safety, it is also a sign of respect to your pilot and fellow swimmers.  Your pilot(s) shouldn't have to race all over the Bay to protect your aquatic rear-end.  For your fellow swimmers, anyone can have an off day and watching the pack leave massive gaps can cause panic to the straggler.  Similarly, if you are a speed demon and way out in front, slow up and either swim back, tread water or somehow get in your pack.  This of course does not apply to race days where you have a barrier of pilots and are looking for your best time but for training swims in the open water, safety and respect will carry you over the years and make you a stronger swimmer.

The last part of the swim was both beautiful and hard work.  To the right, the sun was a blazing ball of fire over the Bay Bridge.  To the left, the Golden Gate Bridge had a reflective glow from the sunrise and the bluest of blue skies overhead drove out the cold.

Nearing Alcatraz always gets choppy with the water rushing around the obstacle of the island creating little back eddies and yes, chop and rolls that get a bit harsher and higher.  It is difficult to see ahead and even more so to stay together.    Somehow the three of us came together and completed the morning mission before scurrying back and getting a helpful hand up and over the side of the zodiac.  I have a nice bruise on my left thigh to prove it.

Time:  45:26 (sf)

Alcatraz Challenge Swim & Run - August 5, 2007

Mark your calendars boys and girls - here's a swim from Alcatraz that will be a memorable one.  The Alcatraz Challenge race motto "Swim or DIE" will get you giggling.  For those who want to travel light and leave the bike at home or for those with webbed and winged feet but no wheels, this one is for you.  Why?  It's an AQUATHLON!

1.5 mile swim from Alcatraz to the Presidio and a 7 mile out-and-back run across the scenic Golden Gate Bridge.  There are also options to do a Relay Team Swim-Run or if you are at all like me (gravity is just mean and sucks), do the 1.5 mile swim only.

No excuses, no whining.  Just get your entry in.

Alcatraz Swim #71 - Faster Than the Easter Bunny

A much sunnier day greeted us which was a far cry from yesterday's clouds.   KB, Pauline and Diana SW met in the parking lot of the St. Francis Yacht Club a bit before 9am which to a South Ender is lunchtime since we normally meet around 5-6am.  Heck, I was even able to stay home and participate in the family Easter Egg Hunt before heading into the city!

Arriving at the lot we could see some wetsuits starting to appear out of the water.  Over 20 souls had jumped in an hour earlier as part of the Tri California Clinic preparing for the June "Escape from Alcatraz" triathlon.  Gary Emich was out for another day of coaching and all but 2 made it into the beach in anywhere from 40-60 minutes.  The suits looked like they had a great deal of fun - good on you folks!

The four of us made our way around to board the Serendipity where we met Gary and headed out to Alcatraz for a jump at the end of the ebb - and boy was it the end!  Skin galore (no wetsuits here) we hopped out at the east end of Alcatraz and sighted on the Fontana Towers above Aquatic Park.  The chop was about the same as yesterday -  medium - but having some sun made it feel absolutely glorious.  The ebb was dying fast and we high-tailed it to Fort Mason.  At 33:44 (I was the last one to touch) this was one of the faster Alcatraz crossings for us.  No one broke their personal best (all under 30 min) but still a happy little Sunday jaunt.

Time: 33:44 (z)

Alcatraz Invitational Swim Filling Up Fast

If you haven't registered yet, don't delay.  There are only 24 spots left in the 11th Annual South End Rowing Club Alcatraz Invitational.  Run by the club that has been swimming in the Bay since 1873, the members - rowers, swimmers, runners and handball players - come together to put on the best Alcatraz swim one could ever ask for.

There are two divisions - skins and wetsuits.  No whining.  If you are looking for some Bay time and a buddy to swim with, comment here and we'll hook you up with a South End swimmer to do some time in Aquatic Park.  South Enders are more than happy to tell you about swimming from Alcatraz, tips on sighting, currents and the overall elation you will feel getting out of the water knowing that you did The Rock.

Alcatraz Swim #70

Someone once asked me how I prepare for an Alcatraz swim.  The first five times I recall being very ritualistic making sure I went to bed early the night before, tapered in training, was well hydrated and had my gear packed the night before.   

After a while, Alcatraz becomes another swim of sorts with as much planning as a mother of 3 small children can absolutely do.  What does this mean?  Well, this morning at around 4am my 4 year-old son Harry decided crawl into our bed, take off his pull-ups and flood the bed (on an ebb day no less).  This was followed by moving a load of laundry from washer to dryer and starting a new load.  Therefore, my entire preparation consisted of grabbing a cup of coffee, stuffing things in a bag and looking to see if my swimsuit top matched the bottom since I dressed in the dark.

Enough of the personal stuff - onto swimming...

Six of us including KB, Diana C, PO, Pauline and the infamous Gary Emich met at the SERC for the 7:25am stroll in swimming attire down Fisherman's Wharf to the Serendipity, a fishing and sightseeing boat which would serve as our escort for the swim.  A swift ride out to Alcatraz before realizing that I'm the only "under 100" Alcatraz swimmer on board.  KB is up over 200, Diana and Pauline are both above 100 and Gary and PO are battling in the upper 400's on their way to the elusive 500 mark.

The weather was overcast, misty and the water had some chop.  The plan was to swim off the east end of Alcatraz sighting on the Fontana Towers above Aquatic Park and letting the ebb take us over to the Saint Francis Yacht Club.  As with any Alcatraz, plans can and do change.  Did I mention this was a test swim for a Tri-California event?  Tell someone you are a test swimmer for Alcatraz and they'll look at you like you're munitions tester on the Korean border.

About 1/3 of the way across we could see to the right a slew of sailboats in front of the SF Yacht Club.  None of us had the urge to be sailed over and become keel meat so we planned to make landing at Coghlan.  Another 10 minutes and with an ebb that wasn't much to speak of we went straight to hit the gas house cove at Fort Mason. 

Time: 44:04 (with orange zoomers)
Water Temp:  52 degrees

A swim back out to the Serendipity before climbing aboard and heading back to Pier 39 for a chilly walk back to the SERC.  Tomorrow?  Alcatraz Swim #71 of course!

Alcatraz Swim #69 - Warning: High chop past noon

After a morning of house and kid stuff, what better way to unwind than swimming to Alcatraz.  And who better to do that with than Mr. Emich himself!  While I'm on my shameful swim #69 this was to get Gary joyfully shocked back into the Bay after spending time in the Virgin Islands and Miami.  Yeah, the Mama and the Postman went out to play and got their butt's kicked by the afternoon winds.

Our course (shown left) is courtesy of Gary's Garmin GPS tucked safely beneath his swim cap.  I wanted to wear my new SwiMP3 as I could have used some Meatloaf, Frank Sinatra ("My Way") or anything to get me through the last bit of the swim.

The swim started out great leaving Coghlan Beach by the Saint Francis Yacht Club and sighting the top of Angel Island.  A few Blue & Gold Ferries, the Serendipity and others passed I'm sure with mild amusement or bewilderment.   Water temperature was a cool but respectable 52 degrees.

The flood was ripping and pushing us past the island at a fast clip and before we knew it - zoop! - we were swimming back up to the rock.  At this point the waves were crashing hard on the left and it was like swimming in the middle of a washing machine set on "mighty dirty - churn it hard'.  Breathing left was impossible and rolling for a breath on the right found me up in the air and nearly on my back.  According to Gary, the last .15 miles took him 8 minutes.  At 50 yards left I was much too wasted by the chop and hoisted up onto the zodiac before buzzing to pickup Mr. Emich on his 464th Alcatraz.

Time:  42.02

For those of you new to this blog - no neoprenes were killed in order to support this swim (i.e. no wetsuits).

Alcatraz #46

Just when I was about to stop... Well, today was supposed to be a touch & back which is your basic San Francisco-Alcatraz-San Francisco. This is different than a RTA (Round Trip Alcatraz) which adds another 20 minutes or so because on a RTA, you swim out, around Alcatraz and back. In either case, there weren't enough pilots to cover the touch and back - and too many swimmers for even a one-way. After some hemming and hawing, a few people opted for other swims leaving 12 people heading out to Alcatraz around 7am in some hefty wind and chop. After getting to The Rock and deciding that the Flood had stopped completely (it hadn't) we hopped in. Choppy, choppy, choppy with the wind blowing and making me feel downright chilly. (Notice I said chilly and not cold). Hello snowmelt run-off. Yes, it is that time of year when Mother Nature tricks you by giving warm water weeks only to slap you with snowmelt and knock you down a few degrees. A longer than normal swim at 55.50, but any swim is better than no swim, right? Time - 55.50 (split-fins) 1.2F - 0609 Slack - 0836 2.9E - 1159

Alcatraz #39 - Alcatraz to St. Francis Yacht Club

A mighty ebb was in store for us this morning. 17 swimmers loaded into 3 zodiacs accompanied by 3 kayaks and 2 rowboats. Out to the island where the ebb was flowing like a flume. Starting on the east end of The Rock at ~0715, we quietly swam up and touched the fossil before diving into the rushing waters to take us across the south channel. Siting was to be on Pump House which quickly changed to Fort Mason. The original intent was to land at Coghlan Beach, but alas, many of us missed the mark due to the strong ebb and ended up having to swim another 1/2 mile or so to the St. Francis Yacht Club. After 49:01 in la chilly waters of the Bay (51 degrees this morning - no sun, all clouds, a touch of wind and chilly air), getting hoisted back into a zodiac (courtesy of Jonathon for hoisting the 7 mo. preggo lady up & over into the zod!) for a 10 minute ride back along the waterfront was not quite my cup of tea. It was downright cold and if death feels near as bad I'm not looking forward to it. The hot shower and sauna were welcome and much needed!

Time: 49:01 3.7E 0719 Slack 1111 2.7F 1400