There is no Escaping the draw of Alcatraz!

1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and now 2006. Each and every June of the past 8 years I have competed in the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon. There is a reason why I keep coming back year after year. It is truly an adventure! Without a doubt the unpredictable nature of the Alcatraz swim puts the greatest degree of uncertainty on the race results. That alone makes the race an enormous challenge. Toss in a short, but highly technical bike course that takes athletes over hill and dale and a run that offers up something for every taste, Alcatraz truly delivers. The crowds on Marina blvd are deep and the tenacity of every competitor is palpable. Add in the unbelievable backdrop of beauty offered up by the San Francisco venue and the first rate, world class race production by IMG and TriCalifornia and Alcatraz is hard to beat.

This, as in every year, I was looking forward to Alcatraz as a fun event. My key events are still a ways off into the season, but that doesn't mean I don't want to have a great performance! A lot of things were stacked against me, but most of those issues I have been dealing with for a period of time now. Unfortunately those physical issues manifested as has been typical and I was relegated to a nice, strong effort, but not one that I am capable of.

On Monday I was fortunate enough to finally get an MRI scan of my back. For the past few years I have been going through various treatments, procedures, strengthening, witchcraft and pretty much anything I could do to somehow beat the pain. I didn't have health insurance so getting an MRI was financially not a possibility. I now have health insurance and after covering the remainder of my good ol' deductible, I was able to get than darn scan.

The results came back yesterday and I am now waiting to hear from the medical experts on my performance team. I'm certainly not qualified to interpret the findings, so I’ll have to take the films around and show my docs and see what they say.

Coach Phil and I have decided that I need to get away and train in a new setting. So, in a week or so I will be headed south to train in Santa Barbara, Ojai, Ventura and vicinity. It will be hard to leave all the cats and little Zola my chihuahua behind, but having the opportunity to focus solely on training is a luxury that I can not pass up.

Thanks for the kind emails and support. A big thanks to my long time sponsors. A special shout out to Jagwire and Optic Nerve, as well as Powerbar, Pro Tech and Cane Creek. When I break through at a big race, don't be surprised, I have had it all along...its just not possible to access that fitness and potential at the moment. However, I know it will be again, and soon I hope.

:) Rachel