Alcatraz Sharkfest

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Sharkfest 2012 is scheduled for July 28th

 

Back a long time ago when I was in college my sister and I got this crazy idea that we wanted to do the Sharkfest swim from Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay.  We worked hard to make sure we would make it and not have to be picked up in a boat.  When the day of the race came I was so nervous and yet so excited.

A ferry takes all the swimmers out to Alcatraz and then one by one everyone jumps off of the boat and when the horn blows your start swimming back.  It is a 1.2 mile swim in about 60⁰ water.

We were wusses and wore wet suits. The hardest thing about the swim isn’t the open water but instead the currents in the bay.  If you aren’t paying attention the current could pull you out to the Golden Gate Bridge and you would have to hope a boat would pick you up because you wouldn’t be swimming back on your own.

I had so much fun at that race and have always wanted to do it again and hopefully do it with out a wet suit.  But after 2 kids and 50 hours a week as a teacher swimming some how took a back seat.  Now I am at a different place in my life and have the time to devote back to swimming and I am planning on doing this race next summer, 2012.

I also want to complete some of the other races in the Sharkfest series like Lake Tahoe and San Diego.  One day I would love to participate in the others like Boston, Chicago, Manhattan, and the Potomac River.  Lets start off slowly.  I am going to chronicle my journey to do these swims and hope you will enjoy following along with me.  I will also post my workouts so if you want to swim along or join me you can.  Lets get to swimming.

Here are some swim workouts that I am using to help get me ready for the swim.

Intermediate Swim Workout 3600 yards

Intermediate Swim Workout 3500 yards

Beginner Sprint Workout 3200 yards

Swim Workout Sprint 2000 yards