Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

On July 12th 2009 I competed in my biggest challenge to date - the Alcatraz Challenge 2009 (see link below).  With slightly choppy and overcast/misty early morning conditions we were dropped off by ferry at Alacatraz Island into the shark infested and current driven waters of San Fransisco Bay.  The initial shock of leaping from the side of a ferry with scores of other shivering athletes was simultanoeusly exciting and yet somewhat unnatural - I had trained for this for months and been planning for a year now.  This was the proverbial point of, and literal moment of no return.  Adrenalin and excessive carbohydrates, weeks of ingesting training gels (protein and carbs) and all you wonderful sponsors and supporters to not let down not to mention pride and finally the amazing volunteers of MDA (my chosen charity) collectively pushed me into the water.  Just over 1 hour later I emerged from the Bay at Chrissy Fileds beach in the Presidio to a waiting crowd of huddled if not assembled supporters, family, photographers and race marshalls.  Disrobing from a wetsuit whilst running on sand and pebbles after an hour of facedown in a cold salty choppy water is  a logistical challenge that all the training could not have prepared me for - reaching the transition zone to find that amazingly my equipment and running shoes etc were all as I had left them that morning was ample relief for the iminent run section. 

After a quick dry of the feet donning socks, tri-shades and my running shoes I locked in my snap laces and tucked some gels into the pouches of my - yes I am afraid to say -  skintight all-in-one tri-suit which was still wet from the sea water under my wetsuit.  In automatic by now and spurred on by the generous and ample crowd I made headway in as athletic looking a style as possible.  I had not run the course before but the general principle of heading towards the rather oversize rust coloured (NOT Golden!) suspension bridge.  So large it loooked within touching distnace but not only was there a few miles to reach its base but I still had to navigate the infamous 'Sand Steps' - a series of rickety wooden steps, crude low level tunnels and rocky paths built into the side of the cliffs which one must scale before being spat out onto the road section of the Golden Gate Bridge or GG as it's affectionately referred to in San Franciscso.  

Over 220 feet higher now on the bridge with the view back towards the beach and also the fractured and ghostly visage of Alcatraz on the horizon, soon eclipsed by the early morning ubiquitous Bay fog ushered in from the Pacific I was now running at a decent enough pace after the toil of the climb.  The fog was soon joined by a light and staccatto precipitation that as a Mancuninan was as comfortingly homely as it was refereshing. The bridge had not been closed for the race so the main obstacles here were the bumbling snap-happy tourists as bewilderd and staggerd by the beauty of both the manmade and natural beauty surrounding us.

Managing to navigate my way over the bridge and back refuelling at the drinks station in Marin County side of the bridge I pounded away down the sand steps and through to the finish line at Chrissy Field beach to join the throng of competitors and supporters and more importantly of tea, chowder, bagels and emerging mid-morning sunlight.  My total time for swim (3kms) transition and run (11kms) was 2hours 18 mins 02 seconds.  I will return in 2010 and hope to break 2 hours.

For those of you who have supported me and sponsored me tso far thank you so much on behalf of all at MDA and MDA UK.  For those of you yet to register your support please do give any amount that will hekp this very worthy cause and enable me to continue with further races and challenges.      

.

This will all be in aid of my chosen charity Magen David Adom UK

 www.ukmda.org/

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Magen David Adom UK gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
http://www.alcatrazchallenge.us/

So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks.

 

Laurence H Grant (Photos available on my Facebook page)