Last Saturday I joined 900 other swimmers in doing the 13th annual Sharkfest swim from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park in San Francisco. Some of you might think this can’t be done, so ponder this: participants included a 9-year old and a 76-year old, and the organizer’s dog has done the swim several times humiliating a whole bunch of trained swimmers by finishing ahead of them. You also might wonder how appropriately named this swim is. Yes, there are sharks in the bay, but they are bottom-dwelling leopard sharks who prefer worms, crustaceans and small fish to bony humans.
It was my 4th time escaping from the Rock and as usual it was a fantastic swim. The fog had lifted and the water was a balmy 61 degrees, which cut my “somebody remind me why I’m doing this again” phase from the first 5 minutes of the race to something like 3 minutes. And yes, I did wear a wetsuit and have utmost respect for the 100+ folks who brave the cold water every year without one.
The race started with a procession of swimmers from Aquatic Park to the ferry terminal, where we all boarded one of two ferries to Alcatraz. The atmosphere on the boat ride reflected a mix of nervous energy, shared memories of past swims, and support for newbies. My favorite comment: “When I told my black guy friend I was doing this swim, his response was: leave it to white women to pay to get taken to a prison and then have to swim back!” When the first swimmers took the 6-foot jump into the bay and swam to the starting line, excitement hit a high and everybody cheered and checked those goggles one more time. Before long it was my turn to jump and there was no chance for second thoughts. When I did the race for the first time, I dreaded the jump into cold water more than anything. Swimming a mile and a half in choppy water with strong currents? I had no fear. Jumping into 50 something degree water before breakfast was what had me concerned.
Maybe it gets easier the more often you do it, or maybe it was the prospect of the downright tropical 61 degree water that killed any nervous thoughts. I was pumped up and ready and hit the water as one of the first swimmers. Yikes, it was cold, but by the time we reached the starting line, life was good. Collectively we annoyed the hell out of the kayakers trying to hold the line with our impatient pushing while waiting for the last swimmers to exit the boat. Finally, the horn blew and we were off.
Despite very little wind the waves were high this year making it harder to get into a rhythm and keep a consistent quick pace. I swallowed a whole lot of salt water, battled the currents and remembered how much respect I had for the open ocean. Really, when conditions are bad, it doesn’t matter how good a swimmer you are. After all, that combined with the Bay’s notorious fog and the fact that prisoners probably didn’t have much opportunity for physical training ensured the viability of Alcatraz as a high-security prison. Despite my unplanned high salt water intake, the swim was fantastic. Seeing the skyline of the city draw nearer and occasionally getting a glance at the fogged in Golden Gate Bridge made me truly happy to be out there. I had to swim against the current for a bit to enter Aquatic Park, but after that it was a quick sprint to the finish line.
Afterwards, happy reunion with friends, an arduous peeling out of the wetsuit and the inevitable quest for food. We had a fantastic brunch and, as always, the bragging rights are the best. So, it’s 10am on a Saturday morning, what have you done today?
