Thirty years ago, the annual “Escape from Alcatraz” Triathlon began with a swim from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park in San Francisco, then a bike ride over the GG Bridge to Old Mill Park in Mill Valley, followed by running the Double Dipea from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach and back.  The distance of each leg was determined not by standard “Olympic” triathlon metrics, but rather by topography and the physical challenge —  swim through frigid shark infested waters from the former federal prison to the closest land, THEN pedal like crazy to the trailhead of the oldest trail run in America, AND THEN throw on running shoes and power up and over Cardiac to Stinson Beach and back.  Clearly somebody dreamed it up over a few beers, as in “let’s make a crazy, beautiful, ridiculously hard course!”   Love that history!

So today I get to do the “easy” part of the original Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon — the 14 mile round trip trail run between Mill Valley and the Beach, a total elevation gain of about 4,000 feet.  Though, unlike the Escape, the Double Dipsea begins and ends at Stinson Beach rather than Old Mill Park.  I gulp down a light breakfast and tea, and carpool over the hill to Stinson.   It is a spectacularly beautiful day, warm by Mill Valley standards, but you can see forever, with the fog lurking far offshore, masking the Farallon Islands.  

The Double is less intense than the Single.  Running times for the Double are more a matter of pride, unlike the Single where the Holy Grail quest for one of the 35 Black Shirts leads to fierce competition among the high-end runners, with mere mortals gunning for times fast enough to qualify for the 750 automatic invitations to next year’s Dipsea.  The vibe at the Double is completely different, with runners/survivors encouraging each other along the way.  The first half ends with runners clambering down the Dipsea steps, while the faster runners are heading back up the steps.  Hard not to wish you could change places!  Even at mile 9, as I persevere up Dynamite, there are slower runners who are coming the other direction, just mile 5 for them.  They have a long day ahead.  But throughout the course, everyone is gushing with enthusiasm as runners cross paths.  Lots of shouts of “keep it up!” or “looking great!”, often said to participants who are struggling, looking anything but great, and very much in need of some encouragement.  Much more laughter and shouting then there should be for 14 miles with 4K in climbing.  I feel like I’m with my people — men, women, and kids who have succumbed to the addiction.  

As for the run itself, I was pleased with my pace as I climbed up the ridiculous series of rotting steps, rocks and roots that lead up the aptly named Steep Ravine section of the trail that starts about a mile from Stinson Beach.  Settled back into a good pace approaching Cardiac from the west, and was greeted at the clearing by two friends who had biked up to cheer several of us on.  Very cool!   Then 2.5 miles of downhill to Muir Woods, one of the only stretches where the trail is truly runnable.  Loved it!   Climbed back up to Panoramic, then down the steps and to the turnaround point, telling fellow runners that I’m three blocks from my house, tempting to go home for breakfast!  But instead, slog back up the steps, and the crowded two-way traffic for next three miles.  Dynamite was tough.  Hogsback kicked my butt.  Was glad to finally return to the top of Cardiac, with mostly a downhill left to the Beach.  Stopped for a photo on the Moors; Stinson Beach in the background, provided the postcard setting.  Then frolicked to the finish, running fine, not pushing it.  Best part was grabbing a quick snack and then stripping down to shorts and heading straight into the surf.  Felt awesome!  Only a few others had sense enough to do this.  One was a young woman from San Antonio, a road marathoner for whom the Double was her first trail race.  She was stoked, loved the run and wore an infectious smile as she splashed in the waves.  She ran a sub 3 hour Double, which is really impressive, especially for someone who doesn’t regularly run these trails.  I could have stayed in the frigid waters for a long time.  Great way to celebrate, as my trainer notes, the completion of a Triple Dipsea over the course of a week!

 

And just 8 weeks to the Bridger!