In the predawn darkness of Sunday June the 14th I will be asking myself: What was I thinking when I entered that lottery even if it was free to try and get a slot? It certainly is not going to be free to use that slot. So I just got the e mail from ESCAPE CENTRAL saying that I am in (as long as I send them $400 by the end of the month). So how many other Slowtwitcher’s have gotten that e mail and are you going to cough up the $400 bucks to jump off a perfectly good boat in to shark infested fridged water? Tim
I am signed and sealed. I intend to use airline miles. I have a free place to stay. It’s a one-off. I won’t do it again at that price.
I am in the same boat, or rather, I will soon be jumping from the same boat. It is a lot of money but how many people get the chance to swim from Alcatraz to SF? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and that’s why I’ll pony up the $400. If it’s fun I might even do it again someday…
**I won’t do it again at that price. **
Not directed at you but I have been hearing that for years yet the races keep filling and the prices keep going up.
I will go out on a limb and guess that shortly after this race, we will be hearing complaints of crowded swims, drafting on bikes, etc., etc. Then, about this time next year, more will line up for the lottery, pay $450 to enter and the cycle repeats.
If someone based the strength of the economy on triathlons and what people will pay to compete, you would never know we are in a downturn.
Darn. I just checked the website. They don’t post the results until later today I think. Fiddlesticks.
I just checked the website too. No lottery results posted yet, but I didn’t get the email, so I’m guessing I’m not in this year.
Tom:
I think the deal is that if your in they send you a e mail with the link to register (thats what I got). If your not in then you probably will not get any e mails about any thing. Thats my best guess. I’m also guessing that my fancypants aero bike with aero wheels aren’t going to be doing me a whole lot of good on a 18 mile course that is described as being all uphill on bad roads. I’m going to have to start looking around for some watts producing PEDs to get through the ride and the freaking sand ladder thing. 
Tim
Tim - you are right that while an aero bike is never a bad thing, it won’t do you as much good at Alcatraz as other venues. The course is mostly hilly, curvy, and rough pavement.
Be sure to take a break about half way through the swim and look around. The city, the bridge, the rock, all from water level. You can’t get views like that anywhere else.
Holy crap!!! I got the email!!!
I’ve been trying to get into this thing for years and now that I have a chance to do it, I’m frozen. How would I explain this madness to my wife? Can I afford the exorbitant fee? Would I get caught in the current 10 feet from shore and end up in Oakland?
Decision time…
(I haven’t been this nervous/excited since I pressed the button on Ironman 2 years ago…I’m kind of digging it.)
Don’t worry Bibi3… if you get caught in the current, you’ll end up in Japan, not Oakland.
Dang, I didn’t get selected. I’ve had the pleasure of doing it once in 7 years of trying. It’s an incredible race, even considering the rough, short, hilly bike course and the amount of single track running.
Has your luck for Kona been any better? This is was my first try at the rock, but I have also been in the Kona lottery twice before with no luck (may be this year will be my year for getting into lottries). Tim
I’ve made the Kona donation for 3 or 4 years now. No luck yet, but I am really hoping for this year. I figure with the Big Kahuna (Santa Cruz CA) reschuduling to just about the same time as Kona, and already paid for BK, maybe this will be my year. And if not, then next year will be my year.
Won for a second year in a row out off 3 tries. First time I could not go because of work so I did not register and this time I’ve decided not to register because I already have too many expensive projects on my summer list (climbing in Potrero Chico, Mont blanc and Materhorn).
Maybe next time! I would really like to race this one.
I’m in. Very excited. I look at it as a once in a lifetime opportunity as well. My wife and I are already seeing how we can work the Griswold family vacation to San Fran.