Local business owners to take on infamous Alcatraz triathlon in San Francisco
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IDAHO FALLS — Two local business owners are set to tackle what’s known as an “iconic” race in San Francisco and it will be a grueling challenge.
Owners of Idaho Falls-based Tri Peaks Epic Events, Bryan Magleby, and Mike Taylor, along with Taylor’s wife Takara, will be a part of the “Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon” happening Sunday.
The race attracts thousands including world champions, Olympic medalists, and the best amateur triathletes from 50 states and over 50 countries, according to its website. It’s a 1.5-mile swim from Alcatraz Island to the San Francisco shoreline, an 18-mile bike ride on difficult terrain, and a demanding 8-mile run through the trails of the Golden Gate recreational area.
“I started doing triathlons probably about 20 years ago and just fell in love with the sport,” said Magleby. “It’s a good challenge for me. It’s a lot of fun and it keeps me in good shape. (This race has) been just a bucket list item.”
This will be Magleby’s second time participating in the California triathlon. The last time he did it was in 2019. The previous owner of the business, Michael Hayes, had always talked about the Alcatraz race.
“A couple of years after he passed, I contacted his wife … and I actually took a chunk of his shirt that he did the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon in, and I carried it with me during that race. I probably will do the same thing this year in memory of Mr. Hayes,” he said.
It’s a life-changing event, Magleby said, and the swimming portion is tough.
“You’re swimming with the sharks in the ocean off of San Francisco,” he explained. “About a month after I did the race back in 2019, I had a friend send me a video of a commercial fisherman catching a 10-foot shark, and it was literally right where we jumped in the water. There’s 2,000 people doing the race with me, and they all get in the water within about 10 minutes of each other.”
He’s looking forward to doing the race with the Taylors. It will be the first time for both in this particular race, but they have been involved in triathlons for over 20 years.
“We’re super excited about this one. It’ll be our first race in an ocean. We have never raced in saltwater, so we’re super excited about that but also a little anxious because it is kind of a swift current. It’s going to be cold water and it will be early in the morning. Everyone’s like, ‘You better watch out for the sharks!'” Mike Taylor said.
Taylor said Tri Peaks Epic Events produces five triathlons in eastern Idaho from Rexburg to Blackfoot throughout the year, like the Rigby Lake Rumble and the Great Snake River Triathlon. However, the owners organize the races rather than participate in them.
“That’s the reason we’re going out of the area because our triathlons have so many people. We usually have between 200 and 300 people at our triathlons,” Taylor said.
He enjoys doing races and getting better each time.
“One of my favorite things to do is use races as milestone markers of success and go out competing and see how well we’re doing compared to what we have done and compared to what everybody else is doing,” he said.
Takara Taylor added that they train all year round. In addition to triathlons, they participate in marathons or half marathons together.
“I like to have something to work for that helps me to get stronger and faster and stay fit. It’s also just fun to see people do difficult things. It kind of makes me cry almost every time to see somebody who has never done a race before … finish a triathlon,” she said.
This is the 45th year that the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon has taken place. It is limited to 2,000 people and according to its website, people who want to be in the triathlon, have to enter into a drawing and get picked. Click here to learn more.