On June 10, former Fredonia resident Terry Rowson made an escape from Alcatraz.
No, he wasn't a resident at one of the most infamous prisons in the world; he was competing in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, held on June 10.
Rowson, who has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area with his family for the past 23 years, competed in the 60-64 year-old division, finished fifth in his respective age group and 717 of 2,000 participants.
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Former Fredonia resident Terry?Rowson competed in the ‘Escape from Alcatraz’ triatholon on June 10, finishing fifth in the 60-64 year-old division.
"I was pleased with my finish since this was my first time competing at Alcatraz," Rowson said.
The triathlon began with a 1 1/2-mile swim off the San Francisco Belle in the ice-cold waters adjacent to Alcatraz Island to Marina Green Beach, where the competitors hopped on a bike for an 18-mile ride through Golden Gate Park. The final event of the day found the competitors racing in an 8-mile run through Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
"For anyone thinking of competing in a triathlon, I would advise them to focus on all three events rather than any one," Rowson said of any advice he had for those thinking of competing in a triathlon. "They are all different events and you cannot expend too much energy in any one or you can suffer."
A marathon runner since the 1970's, Rowson came across biking and swimming more out of necessity than anything else.
"I had knee surgery seven years ago, and started biking and swimming to rehab," Rowson said. "I have been competing in triathlons for the past six years."
Staying in shape is, generally speaking, in everyone's best interest. However, to have the stamina it takes to compete in an triathlon, a person may find that they may have to put in much more work than normal.
"I work out year-round and adjust my training for specific races approximately three months before the event," Rowson said. "For Alcatraz, I increased my swim distance workouts more, since the swim portion was further than most middle-distance triathlons."
One challenge Rowson noticed in the 'Escape from Alcatraz' was the swimming portion.
"The swim portion of the Alcatraz Triathlon was tough because of the longer distance and the strong current in the bay," Rowson said. "It is tricky to navigate to get across the channel. It's like swimming across a river."
The 'Escape from Alcatraz' event has been a staple in the San Francisco Bay area since its inception in 1981, attracting both professional and amateur competitors.
