This Sunday, 
June 5, 25 Actelion Athletes, along with 2,000 others, will take part in the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon. Throughout the past few weeks, we've introduced you to a few of the men and women (click here, here or here for their profiles) who will be dedicating every stroke, pedal and step they take to the Scleroderma Foundation and patients who suffer from this debilitating disease and its associated diseases, like pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
The Escape from Alcatraz triathlon follows a beautiful but challenging course. Beginning at the infamous Alcatraz Island, the race begins with a 1.5-mile swim across the frigid San Francisco Bay. The athletes then transition to the 18-mile biking portion of the race and make their way down Marina Blvd. before winding through Golden Gate Park and finish the race with an 8-mile run along the beach and in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge. (View the course map now.)
If you are in the San Francisco area on the day of the race, we encourage you to cheer on these athletes from several different spots. From Marina Green, spectators can watch the swimmers from when they take the plunge into the Bay until they mount their bikes. From Marina Blvd., it is possible to watch both the bikers' and the runners' routes. The big finish can be viewed from the grandstands lining the finishing chute.
However, you don't have to be in San Francisco to cheer on the athletes through our Twitter or Facebook page. Post a note of encouragement to the group as a whole or any of the individual teams:
- Humuhumunukunukuapua'a
- The Tri Hards
- Placebo Effect
- ActeliAthletes
- The Fast Jumping Jalapenos
- Ro-Ho-Do
- Salty, Windblown and Sweaty
- Boom Vapor Gold
