Sierra Trip Reports

Date: Sunday, June 24, 2012

Location: San Francisco, CA

Synopsis: Given the lack of snow this past winter and the generally awesome weather around the Bay Area, I decided that I wanted to start training for some triathlons this season. I bought a new road bike in January and hit to the streets – quickly realizing why the greater Bay Area is considered one of the best road biking meccas in the country. The hill climbing around the Coast mountains is incredible.

Anyway, I signed up for my first ever triathlon – the Golden Gate Triathlon (Olympic Distance) put on by Tri-Freaks. The Olympic Distance was planned to involve a 0.93 mile swim, a 25.82 mile bike and a 6.17 mile run. Because of the hilly nature of San Francisco, the bike leg involved 2,919 feet of climbing! Fortunately, my hill climbing training really paid off in the end.

Most importantly, I was able to raise $1,985 dollars for the American Cancer Society of California through generous donations from my family and friends. I really appreciate the support from everyone who donated for such a good cause!

Ultimately, I was able to place #3 overall in the race out of a total of 87 competitors in the Olympic Distance. This also included placing #1 out of 26 in the male age group of 30-39. I was very pleased with the results for my first ever triathlon and plan on continuing training this summer for the 2012 Marin County Olympic Distance Triathlon in November.

Since this is the first ever Race Report, I guess I will just wing it and provide some details about the race. I got up at 4AM on Sunday having packed my transition bag and all my gear the day before. After a good small breakfast and generally waking up and catching some early Sports Center, I headed over to Crissy Field in the Presidio to set up the two transition areas. The Golden Gate Triathlon involves a swim to run transition on the East end of Crissy Field, as well as a bike to run transition on the West end of Crissy Field closer to the Golden Gate Bridge.

After setting up my two transition zones, I was able to stretch out and wait for Sarah to arrive. Sarah was so sweet and got up very early and come down and cheer me on! She also brought our camera and was able to get some great shots during the race. This was Sarah’s first time using my full DSLR, and I think her photos are a testament to how quick she was able to pick it up. I, for one, am impressed.

Getting ready to head down to Crissy Field beach for the swim leg. Photo: Sarah

As we waited for the safety meeting, I got in some final stretching and also swam around a bit to warm up. I had been doing some training swims in the Aquatic Park over the course of the prior weeks to get used to the very cold temps of the Bay. Photos: Sarah

During the safety meeting they discussed the swim course, which was a large triangular shaped course that involved two laps for the Olympic Distance. During the beginning portion of the course (when swimming horizontal to the beach but offshore), we were going to be swimming against the current. The issue this morning was that there were going to be very difficult and strong currents in the Bay and the race directors were a little concerned.

Our men’s group of 35 and under lined up for the start of the swim. I lined up on the far left to avoid being stuck in the middle of the group. Photo: Sarah

The start was a lot of fun and I was not as nervous as I thought I would be. I felt very prepared for the entire race as I had training pretty systematically. I did all of my training on my own rather than joining a team, as I liked it better this way and I was able to control my own training and schedule.

It was good to finally be swimming. Sarah caught a photo of me with my arm raised (I have the red shoulder and am in the distance). Photo: Sarah

Sarah took a series of shots that I stitched together afterwards to create an awesome panorama of the early morning swim with the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. Click on the photo below for a link to the larger version.Photo: Sarah

Once I got off shore and turned at the first buoy I was heading directly into the current. Interestingly, I never really felt tired or really felt the current, but I could tell that the swim was taking much longer than I anticipated. It almost felt like I was swimming in place in a current pool. I kept looking up at the far buoy and it was taking forever to get closer. I just kept to my plan and stayed within the heart rate I wanted – but I could start to tell the currents were really slowing my progress.

I got to about 150 yards from the far buoy and started hearing yelling from a boat. I stopped and looked up and one of the race officials in the boat yelled that the swim was cancelled and to head to shore. I wasn’t sure why at the time (and I was hoping it was not a shark or that someone drowned). Fortunately, it was neither – it was just the currents were too strong. When I got to the beach, the race director was explaining the currents were way too strong and a lot of people were stuck back at the first turn and basically swimming in place.

Given this was my first triathlon, I didn’t know what to think so I just headed to the transition zone. In retrospect, I understand why the directors made this decision. Ultimately, there is the safety of all the participants and I could tell that a lot of folks were having difficulty. I looked at my watch and I had been swimming for what I approximated around 35 minutes. I had only made it to the far buoy on the first lap – but based on my training and open water swims, I should have been able to do the entire swim course in around that time (likely 40 minutes). So it was clear the swim leg would have taken way too long and that the road closures for the race would likely have opened back up to traffic if they let us continue.

So I headed to TI to get my bike gear one. They explained the race would be timed from the start of your bike leg. This made sense given people got out of the water at all different times and started at different times. Given my location, I was actually one of the last out of the water as I was far out and in the last group to hear it was cancelled.

For practice, I rushed TI so I could get used to moving quickly (even though my time would not start until I left TI). The other good thing is I basically swam the full amount of time I would have in the race under normal conditions – this was important to me as I wanted to test what I would feel like under normal race conditions heading into the bike.

Gearing up in TI for the bike leg. Photo: Sarah

The bike course on the Golden Gate Triathlon starts from TI and heads over to the West end of Crissy Field. You then climb a large climb up to the edge of the Golden Gate Bridge and drop down along the coastline on a steep descent, before turning around with another long climb back up. There are a total of 6 loops for the Olympic Distance. As I mentioned above, this is one of the steeper and more challenging bike legs for an Olympic Distance triathlon – involving 2,919 feet of climbing over approximately 26 miles.

I have found in my training that climbing the hills is my strong point, so this race really worked to my advantage a bit. My total bike leg was 1:34:33, which I took as a great time for a course with that much elevation gain.

Looping around at the bottom after the first lap. I was feeling good. Photo: Sarah

The weather was absolutely perfect as well – I was very pleased there was not a lot of fog and the views throughout the bike leg are incredible. I had ridden in that area a bunch, but it did not get old!

Here is a photo from Captivating Sports Photos, one of the official photographers for the race. Photo: Captivating Sports Photos

Because this course involves 6 loops, Sarah was able to see me a lot and get some great shots at the turnaround point. I was having a good time as I like the hill climbing and was able to keep moving fast and passing a lot of folks. I have to admit, it gives me a little boost of energy when doing that 🙂 Photos: Sarah

After my sixth lap, I came into T2 and have a very good transition time (46 seconds) to get into running gear. Then I was off for the 6.17 mile run. The run course is AWESOME on this triathlon. You loop around West Crissy Field and head up some very steep stairs to get up to the Golden Gate Bridge. Then the Olympic Distance runs across the Golden Gate Bridge to the end and back across. The views of the Bay and Alcatraz are amazing the entire time.

This was a cool shot from Peek Media Photography, one of the other official photographers for the race. Photo: Peak Media Photography

And one more from Captivating Sports Photos, as I made it down towards the stairs to head back down to Crissy Field. I was feeling really good at this point and making good time on the run. Photo: Captivating Sports Photos

Once back on flat ground, I had left enough reserve to sprint about the last 200 yards. Sarah got a shot of me, clearly enjoying the end coming into the finish. On a side note, the Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L USM is a really great lens for sports photography. Photo: Sarah

And one last shot heading across the finish. Photo: Sarah

My time on the run leg was 46:00.5, which I was pleased with as I was moving pretty fast. Because everyone started at different times, I would have to wait a couple of days for the preliminary results and then the final results. All competitors wore timer chips, which was cool as it was able to give you precise times for the legs and transitions.

All in all, it was a great time and I was very pleased with my results and the donations from all my friends and family. I am looking forward to the Marin Triathlon in November, and then some Half Ironman distances next season!