Alcatraz swim fun, but chilly
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| Dr. Mike Ibach emerges from San Francisco Bay after swimming one and a half miles from Alcatraz. |
Dr. Michael Ibach, a board-certified gastroenterologist with Medical Specialty Clinic, completed the swim in 34 minutes and 34 seconds. Called “Escape from Alcatraz Sharkfest,” the swim attracted about 800 swimmers of all ages. They swam from the waters just off Alcatraz’s shore through the San Francisco Bay to the mainland.
Dr. Ibach became interested in the swim when he heard about it through a friend. Though he swam competitively in high school and has recently completed some triathlons, Dr. Ibach says he had never attempted anything like the Alcatraz swim.
“It really appealed to me because it was very demanding, especially with the cold water,” he said. In fact, the water was 61 degrees, about 15 degrees below what he called the “comfortable level.” Though he often wears a wet suit to help improve his times, he said he wore one for this swim because the water was so cold.
About 500 people in the Alcatraz swim wore wetsuits; another 300 or more were in the “naked division,” that is, they chose to complete the swim in a bathing suit only.
The event began about 8 a.m. with the more than 800 participants meeting to learn about the currents, signs of hypothermia and instructions for the swim. After the meeting, the swimmers paraded through Fisherman’s Wharf in their gear (wetsuits, bathing suits, flip-flops and goggles) to catch the boat that would take them to Alcatraz.
“We caught a ferry-boat out, and they dropped us in the water three at a time,” Dr. Ibach said. From that point, the swimmers had to swim to a nearby row of kayaks, which marked the official starting line. (The actual swim was the same one taken by three men who successfully escaped from Alcatraz on the night of June 12, 1962.)
Dr. Ibach said he was not worried about the currents, which could easily push him off course toward the Golden Gate Bridge, or the distance. He was more concerned with the coldness of the water. “I worried I would panic, hyperventilate or freeze up, but there were no problems.”
Dr. Ibach’s swim was so problem-free he was able to complete it in less than 35 minutes, placing him seventh out of his age group (40 to 44 years), which had about 80 people. His time also earned him the 30th spot for the wet suit division of approximately 500 people.
After an absence of 20 years, Dr. Ibach once again picked up the sport about two years ago.
Every week, he swims, bikes and runs for exercise, though swimming is his strongest sport.
“A lot of guys my age and my stage in life look at things and say we’re out of shape,” he says. “I just wanted to be in shape.”
He has been swimming as part of triathlons, such as Memphis in May, but this was his first cold-water swim. His strategy as he swam across the bay was to aim for a building in the San Francisco skyline.
“Every stroke I took, I was looking at the Golden Gate Bridge on my right and the San Francisco skyline in front of me,” Dr. Ibach said. “It was so beautiful. I would absolutely do this one again.”