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Triathlons starting at Alcatraz and finishing in San Francisco go together like a horse and carriage, love and marriage, Wimbledon and tennis. Terry Davis and his masterful crew at Tri-California know how to put on a great race, so when IMG took their Escape property, Davis and his dozen years of experience putting on that race decided to take charge and put on his version on August 29.

The course had a few tweaks. The 1-5 mile swim from the ferry ended at a platform right on Marina Green and eliminated that half mile run on pavement to the bikes. The bike was extended all the way to the San Francisco Zoo and mileage upped from 18 to 25 miles. The run was similar but the finish chute was closer and mileage was reduced to 7 miles.

The pro field was a bit smaller but prize money was a solid $40,000, which outranked two Life Time Fitness series events. But the races were hot and the joyous spectacle of racing through San Francisco Bay, riding through Fort Point and the Presidio, past the golf course and the Legion of Honor Museum, down the Cliff House decline, into and out of Golden Gate Park, then running out to Baker Beach , back up the sand ladder and finishing on the Marina grass chute was, once again, exuberant, challenging and fun.

Photographs © Timothy Carlson