Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon Course

*There are no aid stations or bottle exchange on the bike course

SWIM

The Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon begins with a 7:15 am plunge from the San Francisco Belle into the icy cold water adjacent to Alcatraz Island. Participants are unloaded from the boat in less than 8 minutes. It is quite a rush when you take the leap from the ferry for the 1.5 mile swim. Triathletes will face strong currents and 55 degree water temperatures. Wetsuits and hoods are recommended. The swim finish is at the Marina Green Beach adjacent to and west of the St. Francis Yacht Club.

WARM-UP RUN

Upon exiting the water at the Marina Green Beach, triathletes proceed to a mini-transition area where they have the option to dry off and put on running shoes for the half mile warm-up run to the Marina Green. This run will take them beside the St. Francis Yacht Club, South on the Little Marina Green, and East on the sidewalk of Marina Blvd to the main transition area at Marina Green.

BIKE

Mounting their bikes at the Marina Green, triathletes will begin the out-and-back 18-mile ride by heading west toward Crissy Field via Marina Boulevard. They will climb to Lincoln Blvd. traveling through the Presidio to Camino del Mar. They will then climb up the hill to the Palace of the Legion of Honor. They will come down the hill and make a hard right turn on Clement Street and ride west to Seal Rock Drive. They will make a sharp downhill left turn onto 48th street and then a right turn west on Point Lobos Drive and ride South on The Great Highway to Golden Gate Park. Triathletes will enter Golden Gate Park from John F. Kennedy Drive onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. They will then turn left on Transverse Drive and make another left turn onto John F. Kennedy Drive and ride back to the Great Highway on the north side of the park. After going north on The Great Highway, they will retrace the course back to the Marina Green for the transition to the run. Triathletes risk disqualification for drafting and forward motion to the left of demarcation cones.

RUN

On tired legs, the triathletes will begin the 8-mile run to Baker Beach Battery by leaving the Marina Green running west toward Crissy Field to Fort Point below the Golden Gate Bridge. From Fort Point they battle the Presidio Headlands up and under the Golden Gate Bridge through the tunnel and onto the Coast Trail. Runners will run next to the Coastal Defense Batteries (Gunnery Locations from the turn of the century) until they reach Lincoln Boulevard just past Battery Dynamite. They parallel Lincoln Blvd. on the narrow trail above the Coastal Bluffs to Baker Beach where they return to the shoreline below. They will encounter the deep sand of Baker Beach to the turn-around point and back until they reach the dreaded Sand Ladder (400 steps up the cliff). This experience will drain the legs of even the best professionals. Runners are urged to use the hand cable to help them walk up the stairs. The stairs are to the run what the currents and waves are to the swim. After reaching the top of the Sand Ladder, runners will go left on the Coast Trail and back to the finish line via Lincoln Blvd. Runners will follow their path back under the Golden Gate Bridge, pass Crissy Field, and finish in the grass at Marina Green among thousands of cheering fans.

1981 - 2025 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon Results:

2025 Results at: USAT / escapealcatraztri.com / AthLinks 
2024 Results at: raceresults360.com / escapealcatraztri.com 
2023 Results at: raceresults360.com / escapealcatraztri.com 
2022 Results at: raceresults360.com / Mobile / AthLinks 
2021 Results at: escapealcatraztri.com or athlinks.com 
2020 Results: Cancelled Due To Covid-19
2019 Results at: escapealcatraztri.com or athlinks.com / Race Report
2018 Results at: escapealcatraztri.com or athlinks.com / Race Report 
2017 Results at: escapealcatraztri.com or athlinks.com / Race Report 
2016 Results at: escapealcatraztri.com or athlinks.com / Race Report 
2015 Results at: escapealcatraztri.com or athlinks.com
2014 Results at: onlineraceresults.com or athlinks.com
2013 Results at: raceresults360.com or athlinks.com
2012 Results at: onlineraceresults.com or athlinks.com
2011 Results at: onlineraceresults.com or athlinks.com ...

2010 Results at: onlineraceresults.com or athlinks.com  - 2010 race photos
2009 Results at: onlineraceresults.com / athlinks.com / archive.org
2008 Results at: athlinks.com 
2007 Results at: onlineraceresults.com or athlinks.com 
2006 Results at: onlineraceresults.com or athlinks.com 
2005 Results at: onlineraceresults.com or athlinks.com 
2004 Results at: onlineraceresults.com or athlinks.com 
2003 Results at TriFind.com: Overall / Male / Female / Pro / Relay / Searchable 
2002 Results at: athlinks.com 
2001 Results at: athlinks.com 

2000 Results: Pro / Indiv / Relay / Search / Menu / Photos 
1999 Results: Pro / Indiv / Relay / Menu 
1998 Results: Pro - May 31 / August 15 
1997 Results at: TriFind.com 
1996 Results at TriFind.com: Pro

1981-1995 Alcatraz Triathlon Race Winners:

	Male		  Female
1995 Simon Lessing 	Michellie Jones
1994 Mike Pigg		Sian Welch
1993 Mike Pigg		Paula Newby Frasier
1992 Greg Welch		Paula Newby Frasier
1991 Mike Pigg		Paula Newby Frasier
1990 Mike Pigg		Terri Schneider
1989 Scott Tinley	Marsha White
1988 Peter Lewandowski	Alisia Steinhardt
1987 Peter Lewandowski	Cynthia Nesvig
1984 Lester Waddel	Erin Porter
1983 Charlie Graves	Claire McRae
1982 Dave Horning	Claire McRae
1981 Dave Horning			

And of course the world famous sand stairs.