Let's Go Spinning!

“Do you want to go spinning?” my friend Dick asked. My first response was, “I do not do yarn”.

So what is spinning? For an outdoor enthusiast, spinning is a bicycle aerobic exercise that can either take place on a specially designed stationary bike-like device called (obviously enough) a spinning bike, or, you can put your own bicycle in a climbing block and stationary trainer, and pedal nowhere.

A perfect time for spinning is on a cold, windy, snowy night in the middle of a New Hampshire winter. What a great time to meet friends, get cardio exercise, learn the secrets of pedaling from experts, and adjust your bike’s hardware. I attend an evening one hour indoor cycling spinning class at Nault’s Cyclery in Manchester. (www.naultsbikeshop.com/)

First, let me stress this class is not for the novice bicyclist. The pace of the class is aimed at experienced bicyclists preparing for spring competition and long outdoor mileage. I use this class to be ready for my June triathlons (http://www.trinaults.com/).


The class is lead by Jack, a USAC Level III Coach (www.usacycling.org/). As we pedal with motivating beat music in the background, Jack talks us through a visualization of an outdoor cycling workout: "You're going up a long hill now, you can't see the top yet.…"

During the class you vary your pace -- sometimes pedaling at a high cadence, other times cranking up the gear level, and even pedaling from a standing position. We do routines that are designed to simulate terrain and situations similar to riding a bike outdoors. Some of the movements and positions include hill climbs, sprints and interval training.

Nault’s bike shop provides space for our twice weekly “bike ride”. The staff even helps with minor equipment adjustments, such as helping me when my cadence meter was not registering and assisting me when my handlebars needed a more efficient alignment. Without Nault’s continued support this class would not be possible.

Jack hardily encourages us to drink plenty of water. Indoor cycling is very energetic and causes a lot of sweating, and a person can easily get dehydrated. Spinning burns serious calories and offers an awesome aerobic workout that makes your heart pump fast. It also tones your quadriceps and outer thigh muscles. Because you stay in one place with the same basic movement throughout, spinning makes it easier to concentrate on your form than in an outdoor environment.

We follow Jack’s encouragement and instruction: “pedal with only your left leg for one minute, one minute slow pedaling both legs, and then pedal with the left leg for one minute.”

To get more information on spinning go to http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/diet-fitness/spinning-101.html and Indoor Cycling Tips and Training


What do I bring to the class?
• My bicycle and my bike shoes
• A water of bottle (I am definitely going to sweat.)
• Hat or sweat band
• Towel for wiping away sweat
• Power meters and heart rate monitors are encouraged
• Padded bicycle shorts

I now, never have to say, “I wish I had done winter spinning.”

Springer Mountain, Georgia - The Southern Terminus of the Appalachian Trail

Along with my sons Shaun and Tim, I visited Springer Mountain, Georgia, the southern end of the Appalachian Trail (AT). The Appalachian Trail Conservatory estimates the AT to be 2,175 miles, but yearly the figure changes with land ownership and route changes. I have no urge to hike all of the AT (at least at this time), but given I was spending a month in Georgia, and I have hiked a great deal of the trail in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont, I could not resist hiking the Georgia finishing point of the AT to see the two rock-embedded plaques. Some folks believe the AT was an Indian trail. That assumption is not true. In 1922 Benton MacKaye, a forester from Massachusetts, had the vision of a continuous hiking trail from Georgia to Maine. A single AT was recognized in 1937 and is maintained by thirty-two non-profit organizations.

Less than twenty-five percent of through hikers - those who start from one end of the trail to the other - complete the entire trail. A thru-hiker can start at either of the trail's termini/starts - Mount Katahdin, Maine or Springer Mountain, Georgia.

The final mile of the AT passes through Forest Service Road (FSR) 42 near the top of Springer Mountain. From the small parking lot, you cross the FSR dirt road, and follow an AT wooden trail sign (with .9 miles engraved) and vertical white rectangular trail paint marks to its termination atop Springer Mountain. Visitors to the top of Springer Mountain can sign a logbook stored in a metal box encased in a rock holding one of the plaques.

Benton MacKaye Trail
As we returned to the parking lot, we encountered the Benton MacKaye Trail. This is a four and ½-mile spur off the AT that essentially brings you back to the Spring Mountain parking lot. In tribute to Benton MacKaye, we decided to take this trail to return to the parking lot.

Directions
It took many MapQuest searches, a few Google Earth reviews, and many Google Maps, before I found specific enough directions to Springer Mountain, the southern end of the AT. Click here see the Directions we took to reach the Springer Mountain parking lot from Kennesaw, GA. (note: There are other ways to get to the parking lot.) The Springer Mountain parking lot is located in the Chattahoochee National Forest nine-tenths (.9) miles from the top of Springer Mountain, where two rock-embedded plaques denote the southern end of the AT.

Ten point four miles of a Wildness Road
Our last ten plus miles to the Springer Mountain parking lot were on a one-lane rock infested and mud hole red dirt mountain road. Our bumpy ten mile per hour pace was jarring. We frequently had to pull off the road for on-coming cars. The road was literally cut into the side of the mountain with tall Georgia pines on each side. You surely need a four-wheel drive or SUV to use this route.

Resources for AT history, maps, planning and through-hiker experiences
A great resource to learn about the history of the AT, state by state trail maps, and how to plan the hike, can be located at www.appalachiantrail.org/
It takes the average AT hiker six months to finish the entire trail.

Never Say, “I wish I had…”
Shaun, Tim and I now, never have to say, “We wish we had been to the southern end of the AT.”

A Holiday Gift for the Outdoor Enthusiast

Give Outdoor Enthusiast: Never say, "I wish I had ..." as a special gift for the holidays. www.Amazon.com/

Give a Book for Your Holiday Gift

$pecial 28% discount for Outdoor Enthusiast: Never say, “I wish I had…”. Give Outdoor Enthusiast as a special gift for the holidays. Use discount code SX7VP7Q9 at www.outdoorsteve.com for your 28% discount. Treat family and friends to a very personal gift.

Outdoor Enthusiast: Never say, “I wish I had…” provides outdoor places to go and things to do. Moreover, Steve’s stories and his “I wish I had…” truism, show individuals and families can, like the author, overcome self-made health, material, physical and mental barriers (e.g. “my knees are bad”, “ I do not have a bike”, “I am out of shape”, and “I am too tired”).

Throughout the book, the stories and “I wish I had…” demonstrate bonding and learning through outdoor exercise.

Steve’s stories and lessons make you want to put on your backpack, find your running shoes, borrow a canoe from the neighbor, tune-up the bike, and get ready for cross country skiing!

Chapters include: ‘How to be an Outdoor Enthusiast’, ‘A Guest in Nature’s Habitat’, ‘Running’, ‘Hiking’, ‘Team Relays’, ‘Triathlons’, ‘Marathons’, ‘Canoeing and kayaking’, ‘Eclectic Adventures’, ‘Places to Play in Northern New England’, and ‘Avoiding Injuries’.

Use discount code SX7VP7Q9 at www.outdoorsteve.com for your 28% discount.

Do We Have Mountain Lions in New Hampshire?

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness, NH is the place to go to see New Hampshire’s wild animals “up close and personal”.

The Sunday Union Leader announced a lecture at Squam Lakes on New Hampshire’s large wildcats. Certainly, a topic of interest to all outdoor enthusiasts.

My wife Cathy and I arrived two hours before the 1 pm lecture so we could hike the ¾ mile Gephart Exhibit Trail. The Trail features live native New Hampshire wildlife in natural settings.

Yes, I had seen many of the animals and birds previously in their native habitat, but it was always for a fleeting moment. Now, Cathy and I are in awe seeing this same wildlife in their natural settings, and in an area where we can take pictures at our leisure, and read all about their traits.

All the animals are in captivity, but in ecology close to their natural habitat and space needs. The animals were orphaned or injured before they came to the Center. Essentially, the Center is now their home.

So, are there mountain lions in New Hampshire? Hmm, maybe, maybe not?

Absolutely, plan a day at the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center so you (adults and children) will never have to say, “I wish I had seen and learned more about wildlife of New Hampshire.”

ADVANCE NOTICE -A $pecial post next week will be a 28% discount for Outdoor Enthusiast: Never say, “I wish I had…” You can now give Outdoor Enthusiast as a special gift for the holidays. My book royalties are gone for this $pecial post so you can treat family and friends to a very personal gift. [Hint: use discount code SX7VP7Q9 at www.outdoorsteve.com/]

Paddle Florida - Get Down on the Suwannee River, and Go with the Flow!

Today, my sister Barb and her husband Larry, took my wife Cathy and I hiking at the Suwannee River State Park in Live Oak, Florida. Unexpectedly, we came upon a group known as Paddle Florida . Twenty kayakers were making a 123-mile eight-day trip from the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida to beautiful Manatee Springs State Park. We greeted them as they pulled ashore to prepare for a night of tenting.

We met Bill Richards, leader of the group. Bill enthusiastically answered my many questions about Paddler Florida. Moreover, Larry had just seen a huge fish jump in the middle of the river, and Bill identified the fish as the prehistoric Gulf Sturgeon.

Paddle Florida is held in cooperation with the Florida Park Service and the Suwannee River Water Management District. These two organizations have created the 171-mile Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. The Trail makes the Suwannee River accessible to paddlers, hikers, bikers, equestrian enthusiasts and other outdoor groups.

The Suwannee River trek sounds similar to the NH/ME Androscoggin River Trek to the Sea where participants can join the moving river celebration as a day trip, do a series of days, or paddle the entire 170 miles.

You can contact Bill Richards at bill@paddleflorida.org to learn more about the Suwannee paddle, as well as other great paddles of Paddle Florida.

Now, I never have to say, “I wish I had been to the Suwannee River, met a member of Paddle Florida, and learned about the ancient Gulf Sturgeon.”

Hmm, do you suppose a trek with Paddle Florida is in the future for Outdoor Steve?

My Son the Writer

Small Dogma Publishing has selected Shaun’s book, Decisions, as their showcase book of the month. You can order his book at http://www.amazon.com/Decisions-Shaun-Priest/dp/0981794238

A great Christmas gift for less than $14.

One reviewer of the book said: In Decisions, Shaun Priest gives the reader a look at the life of one illegal gambler in a way that brings home the reality of the world of bookies and their customers. Priest’s main character, Jack Fitzgerald, is a hotshot ex-jock and salesman for CM Solutions, a Boston-area company that specializes in selling software systems to hospitals. “Fitzy” is married, with a young son, plays basketball in an adult amateur league, and seems to have it all. But he has got a secret: he’s a compulsive gambler….At its heart, Decisions is a page-turner. It’s not a cerebral or contemplative tome, but it will keep you reading. This book would make a great movie.

Meeting a New Hampshire Good Samaritan

When you need help, a Good Samaritan appears.

My wife, Cathy, and I went to the Contoocook River to locate the kayak put-in and take-out for my Sunday triathlon, the Contoocook Carry (2 mile run, 5-mile kayak, and 14-mile bike). To scout together, we decided to use our Kevlar twenty-five pound twelve foot Lincoln canoe.

We came to a dead end road, and could not see the river, nor the put-in - yet the web site directions showed we were in the right spot. We spotted our Good Samaritan walking near a farmhouse, and yelled if he knew where Sunday’s paddle race put-in was. He said, we could park there and he pointed to a path toward the river. “Thank you.”

We paddled to the Contoocook Dam - three miles - and then turned around and paddled back upstream - the current was no problem and with both paddling hard, we returned to the put-in in one hour.

Hence our real memory of this trek started.

Cathy had a large hole in the middle of her cane seat. The first hour paddle was comfortable, rump wise, but as time progressed she had to continually reposition herself in the canoe to get the blood flowing.

We returned to the put-in, carried the canoe to the car and prepared to lift the canoe on to the carrack. It was then our Good Samaritan re-appeared.

The young man, looking to be in his mid-twenties and with dreadlock hair, who had kindly given us directions to park and get to the water, waved to us, and we yelled back our thanks for a great paddle. Mike, carrying his 1 ½ year blonde daughter, walked over and we introduced ourselves. He admired our canoe, and then pointed to the torn cane seat. We certainly had noticed the seat, and it had given us “pain”.

Mike commented, “I have a brand new caned seat in the barn, and you can have it.” I responded, “Certainly, thank you.” “Let’s measure the seat to see if it is the same, and if yes, I will cut and install it,” he said. He walked over to the barn, and returned with an identical seat!

Within ten minutes, he had the seat installed.

Who knew, here we were in a far-region of middle New Hampshire - near an old farm - and who should appear but Mike, our Good Samaritan, with an identical caned seat and the knowledge and tools to install it.

People helping people in New Hampshire. Thank you Mike for a personal experience of kindness we could never have foreseen. Now I never have to say, “I wish I had accepted the kindness of a total stranger”

2009 National Senior Games Association (NSGA) Triathlon is now complete

Wow! A year of training and anxiousness for the National Senior Games triathlon is now no more. On Sunday August 2, 2009 in San Francisco, I was the sole male representative for New Hampshire to do the Senior Games triathlon (1/4 mile ocean swim, 12-mile bike, and 3.1-mile run). I believe I did New Hampshire proud with a strong race in my age group.

Click NSGA triathlon results to see all results.

To qualify to compete in the 2009 Senior Games triathlon an athlete has to be over age fifty, and do two certified triathlons, or finish a State Senior Games triathlon in 2008. I finished second in my age group at the 2008 Maine Senior Games Kennebunk Fireman Triathlon.

Here are my 2009 Senior Games triathlon race highlights

• My wife Cathy was my support team and ardent fan.
• Coincidently, the Senior Games race director was Terri Davis, the same race director for the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, mentioned in my July 21 post. I introduced myself to Terri at the triathlon orientation session and encouraged him to visit this Outdoor Enthusiast blog.
• Elizabeth Bunce was the sole female triathlete from New Hampshire.

The Swim

The swim was in very salty 60 degree bay water of Port of Redwood City. I wore my shortie wet suit and was very comfortable.

• We did a deep-water swim start - meaning we jumped from a dock, and swam to a channel where a start rope waited for our wave. All my previous triathlons had started ankle deep in water, or from shore.


• My swim was comfortable with low waves and tasted very salty. Ugh. However, I had no effects of the few times I inadvertently swallowed the water.
  
• I lost about 30 seconds in the swim to bike transition as I had mistakenly locked my suit's pull string. I did a Houdini type move to remove my wet suit.

The Bike
Rather than pay $125 to fly my own triathlon bike to San Francisco, I decided to rent one in Menlo, CA for $50. Overall, this was a very good financial move. When I called to rent the bike two months earlier, I was assured by the sales clerk the shop could match my bike shoes - so I did not bother to bring my own pedals. This was a mistake. With not being able to pedal in my own bike shoes, I used the bike shop's toe straps and my running sneakers. I had not used toe straps for years, and I did not feel comfortable pedaling.

In addition to the pedal issues, the bike’s seat and handlebars were not perfectly aligned for me, and I could not efficiently pedal.

No excuses here, as my closest competitor was way ahead of my time, and even with proper shoes and bike fitting, I could not have made up this time spread.

The bike route was three laps around a circled industrial park plus a straight roadway. The whole route was flat and for the first two laps no wind. In the final lap there were strong headlong winds. Of course, the wind was the same for all competitors.

• During the bike component I saw three fellow bicyclists on the roadside with an ambulance by their side. One cyclist had hit a road divider, whereas the others I could not determine how they spilled.
  
• I did get frustrated a few times, as cyclists passed me on the left without saying “On your left”. “On your left” is a warning that you are being passed. Once I was ready to pull out to pass a competitor, and nearly hit a cyclist passing me. I reminded them with a yell, “Remember to say “On your left!!” when you pass.

The Run

• The 3.1-mile run was four laps around a flat quadrangle. Before the race, I thought this method might have been too confusing and have count problems, but as I made my laps, I found it nice to look forward to see my support team, Cathy.


• The age of each runner was on the left calf of each runner, so knowing the age of my fellow athlete got my competitive juices up whenever I passed or approached a runner in my age category. I dared not ask which lap they were completing.


• As I neared my final lap my thoughts turned to watching each stride to be sure I did not fall. I wanted to make sure the sole New Hampshire male finished the race!
  


• Unorthodox Training Schedule
  
  Two months before a triathlon I usually begin a mixture of a .8-mile weekly swim in Perkins Pond in Sunapee; two days per week of twenty mile bike rides immediately followed by one to two mile runs; and three to four five-mile weekly runs.
  
  My regular training regimen was not followed for this Senior Games tri. Due to other commitments, my training consisted mainly of hikes, white water canoeing, and distance paddling. These certainly are cardio-vascular workouts, but my concern was did I train the muscles needed for this tri.
  
  In case you crave more detail on my pre-race training
  
• I spent the third week in June in northern New Hampshire with three friends hiking the 4th Connecticut Lake, camping, and paddling five lakes in the Connecticut Lakes region. A week of zero running, biking and swimming.


• The 4th week in June in Standish, ME at Saint Joseph’s College teaching two classes six hours each day. I managed one five-mile run, and zero bike and swim.
  
• During the July 4th week I managed one swim on Perkins Pond and ran five miles twice. Zero biking.


• The 2nd week in July I spent eight days paddling lakes and white water in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway (see July 31st post). A week of zero running, biking and swimming.
  
• 3rd week in July my grandkids joined us and we spent lots of time in canoes and kayaks. I did manage one swim on Perkins Pond and two five-mile runs. Zero bike.


• 4th week in July my two sons, grandson, nephew, brother-in-law, and two friends climbed Mount Washington (an exhaustive cardio workout!), and then spent two days canoeing Lake Umbagog and the Magalloway River. A week of zero running, biking and swimming.


• Four days before I left for California, I did one five-mile run, road my bike ten miles with my nephew, and mowed my lawn!


• Yes, I was concerned with my upcoming event.
  
  My Outcome in the National Senior Games Triathlon
  
  I felt strong the whole race, enjoyed it, and would not recommend my training schedule to anyone.
  
  I never have to say, “I wish I had done the National Senior Games Triathlon!"

Paddling the Allagash Wilderness Waterway

A Father-Son Paddling Trek
Ten of us just returned from paddling the Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW) in northern Maine. The ninety-eight mile AWW is composed of streams, rivers, and lakes, and shines as the brightest among the jewels of Maine’s wilderness state parks and historic sites.

This was a father-son trip with four dads and five sons. Linwood "Loon" Parsons (http://www.loonsnest.biz/) was our guide. Loon’s knowledge of the history and special sites around the Allagash meant many side trips and unique Allagash lore.

We entered the AWW at Indian Pond Stream on Saturday July 11th and exited Saturday July 18th at Allagash Village where the Allagash River and the St John River meet.



Wildlife
Wildlife was plentiful and we stopped counting Moose at twenty-five, and eagles at ten pair. Another thrill was having a loon land within feet of our canoe as we paddled. The loon landing took a long time before it settled on the water - it was like a big seaplane without skis coming in low with its proud chest up and no legs showing. This long landing time and style was magnificent to see, as the loon got lower and lower to the water. Finally, the loon gently became one with the water.


A special treat for me was hearing the ”snort” sounds of a moose, and the shriek of the eagle. One evening a cow moose and her calf spent nearly an hour across the river from our camp, and we heard her many snort calls to her calf. Another time two eagles perched in trees across from camp and made frequent eagle screams.
Rapids
This was my son Tim's and my third trip into the AWW in six years, and the water level was the highest and fastest we have seen. My earlier trips required us frequently to get out of the canoe due to low water. This time we fought headwinds on Eagle and Long Lakes. Chase Rapids are five miles of Class 2 and Class 1 rapids with many thrills. We did short stretches of class 2 rapids over Long Lake Dam and below Allagash Falls.

My biggest thrill was paddling with my son, Tim. We did the first three days with me in the stern, including Chase Rapids. On day four, we switched ends of the canoe for the remainder of the trek. Tim's ability to read fast moving water, along with his paddling strength, resulted in an adventurous, fun, and safe trip though the rapids. Our last day, the eighth, poured rain, but since we were on our way out, rain was no issue.



Gourmet Meals

Our meals were simply delicious, well planned, and cooked by “The loon”. Steaks and potatoes cooked over our open fire pit are just a sample of our eight days of gourmet meals.

Allagash History and Our Itinerary
Without a doubt, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway rates as one of the grandest wilderness areas east of the Mississippi. Its mystique draws canoeists from all over America and the world. First roamed by native Abnaki Indians in search of food and furs, then in the 1800's by lumbermen in search of virgin timber for logs and pulpwood, it is today visited by the adventurist paddler seeking a deep wilderness experience.

The Allagash Wilderness Waterway is rich in historical points of interest from those by-gone eras. It abounds in wildlife of every description, from the majestic Moose to the ubiquitous White-throated Sparrow. Extending some 98 miles end-to-end, the Waterway offers the canoer both lake and river paddling environments.

Our trip began at Indian Pond Stream, flowed into Eagle Lake, and then proceeded northward for eight days ending at Allagash Village on the Canadian border. "Pongokwahemook", an Indian name meaning "woodpecker place" and today called Eagle Lake, is a most interesting spot on the Allagash. We pitched out tents at Thoreau campsite on Pillsbury Island, the northernmost point reached by Henry David Thoreau in his expedition of 1853. It is from this base encampment that we launched our exploration of the "Tramway" that connects Eagle Lake with Chamberlain Lake and of the old locomotives that ran between Eagle and Umbazooksus lakes in the early 1900's lumbering era. A strange sight indeed to see these 90 and 100-ton locomotives sitting alone in this vast wilderness.

By now, everyone's paddling skills have became finely tuned and in two days or so, we will be running the canoes down famous Chase Rapids, a beautiful and exciting run of nearly 5 miles ending at Umsaskis Lake. As the river enters Umsaskis Lake it meanders through an attractive marsh where we see moose feeding on the plant life. Canada geese often stop over here also on their great migrations up and down the Atlantic flyway.

We next cross Round Pond, the last pond on the Waterway and spend the next few days being carried along by the current through easy rapids as the Allagash River descends toward the Saint John. Trout fishing at the mouths of the many brooks and streams offer Eric and Garrett enjoyment to wet a fly and we enjoy Garrett’s fresh 14” brook trout over our open campfire.

We portage the most awesome spectacle on the river; 40-foot high Allagash Falls, a thundering, boiling cauldron of power and beauty.

Never say, “I wish I had …”
Fourteen river miles below Allagash Falls through class 1 rapids, the Allagash River delivers us back into civilization and our wilderness river adventure becomes a treasured memory.

A special notation on this trip. We had planned this trek two years ago, but one of the Dads was diagnosed with throat cancer. We had made all the arrangements, and two weeks before the trek, we had to cancel on the advice of his doctor to begin aggressive treatment. Two years later, cancer free, he and his two sons, made his Allagash Wilderness Waterway dream come true.

We now never have to say, “I wish I had paddled the Allagash Wilderness Waterway”.
For more information go to Allagash Wilderness Waterway

FAQ from the July 5, 2009 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon Post

As a result of my July 5, 2009 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon posting, I received many emails with additional questions for Jim Graham and Tim Wolf. Their responses to these inquiries are posted below.

Jim and Tim, we learn all the time from fellow outdoor enthusiasts. In fact, this sharing is a major reason for this blog. As such, I have follow-up questions for you to expand a bit on details of your EFA.

Q. You said it was ¾ miles from where you exited the water to the bike transition area. Did you wear your bike shoes in this run from water to bike – or did you wear running shoes?
• Jim: I used an old pair of running shoes. The EFA organizers suggest using a different pair than you are going to run the race in as they get soaked and full of sand. No socks either.
• Tim: There is a transition area just out of the water where you have a bag of stuff. In mine, I had water to wash out the salt, a towel and a pair of old running shoes that I put on for the run to the bike. You could not run that far in bike shoes, nor would it have been smart to try to run it barefoot as a large section of the course was on concrete with lots of little rocks, glass etc

Q. The current/tide factor obviously makes it an entirely different length than an ordinary 1.5 mile swim. Any idea what the current was and how far you might have swam? In other words, how would you describe swimming one direction against the current in order to reach another direction? Does this course mean you can never relax in the swim, because if you might never recover to get back?
• Tim: A lot depends on the weather conditions on the day of the swim. I have seen times that indicate the swim to be more like a mile (in terms of time in the water), up to 2 miles. In this EFA, I was out of the water in 35 minutes. In a normal flat 1.5-mile swim, I would expect to be out of the water in 31 to 33 minutes, so it was not far off.

While it is true that the current is pushing you towards the Golden Gate Bridge, many other factors slow you down, so in this case it worked out that time in the water was about equal to a 1.5-mile swim.

The things that made the swim tough were:
o You had to sight at the top of the wave, otherwise you could not see the point that you were aiming at.
o You had to swim for a point way to the left of where you were planning to exit the water. This was tough mentally because you really "wanted" to swim to the exit. We were warned repeatedly that if we did not swim to the left we would miss the exit point and would not be able to swim against the current to get back.
o When the sun came out it was in your eyes if you took a breath to the left, so sighting your swim marker was often very difficult, if not impossible.
o The wind was from the right and caused you to be hit in the face with water when you breathed to the right. I was forced to drink a little seawater when this happen.
o There were a lot of people that jumped off the boat in front of me and therefore a lot of people that I had to get around
o No Sharks but I saw jelly fish the size of basketball that would scare the hell out of you if you ran into one.
o The cold was not really an issue as you were so worried about the above to be worried about the cold.
o From what I saw there were a number of people pulled out of the water by rescue staff.

Q. Tim, how difficult was the EFA compared to other triathlons you did?
• I was pleased with my effort. Jim's description is accurate, and from my standpoint, it is the toughest race I have ever done both mentally and physically. There was never a point in the race where you could mentally relax and regroup; you had to stay focused the entire time. It was definitely NOT just a run of the mill triathlon.

Q. Steve, do you intend to do the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon?
• Absolutely not! The EFA is way beyond my skill and endurance level. I posted Jim and Tim’s EFA experience on my blog because as a triathlete I knew this extreme event took an exceptional triathlete. Knowing these two men, and hearing their account of the EFA, was a chronicle I wanted to share with other outdoor enthusiasts. To me, hearing their tale was like sitting with Neil Armstrong and hearing him talk to me about what it was like to go to the moon.