500 Adrenaline Adventures (Frommer's) - Lois Friedland [175]
That same view must have haunted the former inmates as it seemed so close yet so far. Alcatraz boasts that it had no escapees in its 30-year history as a prison. There were 14 attempts and 2 drownings. In 1962, three men managed to reach the water with the aid of a drill made from a vacuum cleaner. They were never found and presumed drowned. The island’s history goes back to 1775 when it was discovered by the Spanish and christened La Isla de los Alcatrices after the many pelicans that nested in its rocks. It served as a lighthouse, fort, and military prison before the government decided to make it a prison for some of America’s most dangerous criminals. It was eventually closed because it was too expensive and there were concerns regarding the pollution it caused in the bay. Now it is a popular tourist spot, with haunted dungeons, guard towers, and parade grounds to visit.
Swimmers fill the San Francisco Bay during the Alcatraz Challenge.
The swimmers do their own style of parade when they reach land on the other side. A seven-mile (11km) run across Presidio Park involves negotiating steps, a dirt trail, and brick tunnel. The runners dodge walkers, cyclists, inline skaters, joggers, and dogs as they climb 400ft (120m) in a half-mile. The race must be completed within 3 hours from ferry to finishing line if they wish to be timed. Lots of stragglers run in after the time limit, still happy to have escaped from Alcatraz. —CO’M
www.alcatrazchallenge.us.
When to Go: Second Sun of July.
San Francisco.
$$$ Ritz Carlton, 600 Stockton St. ( 415/296-7465;www.ritzcarlton.com). $$ Hotel Rex, 562 Sutter St. ( 415/433-4434;www.jdvhotels.com).
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Adventure Races
Ready to Run, Paddle & Bike?
Texas, U.S.A.
Shall we hike around this steep slope to the other side of the hill, or try to scramble over it? Do you want to push me on a bike around these barrels stuck in the sand, or would you rather I push you? These are just two of the offbeat types of decisions you and your partner may have to make during a fast-paced adventure race. Growing in popularity, adventure races are designed to get people off couches and out into the wilderness. The key to winning is coordinating with your teammate(s) to get through the event—hopefully in first place. Sort of like a local version of the Amazing Race.
Although there are usually three parts to the Terra Firma Promotions adventure races, don’t expect them to be like ordinary triathlons. During these races you’ll run along a trail instead of on a street, paddle a canoe instead of swim, and ride a mountain bike, perhaps on singletrack. These adventure races have teams of two, three, or four people, depending on the type and length of the adventure race.
Terra Firma Promotions is run by a Dallas-based couple, both winning adventure races—one a former pro mountain bike racer and the other an elite athlete. Most of their events are held in areas in and around Dallas, Austin, and Houston. Their sprint series is the right choice if you want to start adventure racing, because you don’t need a top athlete’s skill and conditioning. These events generally last 2 to 3 hours and include a three-mile trail run, paddling a canoe for about 30 minutes, then mountain biking 8 to 12 miles. Teamwork is the key, because both you and your buddy must finish. The teams that work together, whether it is learning to paddle in unison or hooking a long bungee cord between the two people while running or biking, so the slower person goes a bit faster to keep up, are the teams that do the best.
If the shorter races hook you, build up to the 12-hour races, then progress to the 24-hour events. If you’ve become an adventure racing devotee, collect a team of three or four people to run one of the 7- to 10-day races. The longer races are more complex.