By Pete Borello

Thrill-seeking LA couple survives Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon

As the ferryboat neared Alcatraz Island just past dawn on June 16, Rodger Bivens clutched the hand of his wife of 33 years, Karin.

Then the Los Altos couple plunged into the San Francisco Bay.

And they weren’t alone. The Bivens were among 1,300 people to leap from one of two ferryboats that breezy morning to embark on the Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon.

“I can’t say it was romantic hand holding,” Karin said. “Actually, it was unromantic. He grabbed my hand, said ‘Let’s go!’ and we just went.”

Karin wouldn’t see her husband again until she was back on dry land.

“Once you’re in the water, you get away from the boat as fast as you can so no one jumps on you and then everyone spreads out,” she said. “Then you just aim for land.”

After the Bivens finished the 1.5-mile swim, they each pedaled 18 up-and-down miles on their bikes, then ran eight miles to the finish line.

Rodger, 61, and Karin, 58, were among the oldest participants to complete - let alone compete in- what is billed as “the most dangerous triathlon.” They were also one of the few married couples to take part in the annual event.

Karin won her age division (women 55-59), finishing in a time of five hours, 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Rodger placed third in his class (men 60-64) by clocking in at 3:34:01.

But Karin’s only competition was Karin - she was the lone racer in her division - and Rodger was in a field of just six.

“People our age don’t do this,” said Karin, who noted that most triathletes are male and in their 30s. “It was a great example of extreme sports not only being for young people. The message is that you’re never too old to do something.”

When the Bivens - who did their first triathlon a mere year and a half ago - told friends and family they planned to compete in the daunting Escape From Alcatraz, the couple’s sanity came into question.

“They thought we were nuts,” Karin said. “It was a ‘You’ve got to be kidding’ type of thing. Even our children were amazed that we would do it.”

It was the challenge that drove the Bivens to enter, according to Karin. She describes herself as “a little bit of a thrill seeker” and said her interview-shy husband has a similar mentality.

“The fact that it’s so challenging appealed to me and I wanted to test myself,” Karin said. “If it was so easy, everyone would do it.”

Karin admits some aspects of the race were “somewhat terrifying.”

Starting with that jump into the bay.

“I dreaded that the most. I didn’t mind the swim because I’m a pretty decent swimmer,” said Karin, who has taught aquatic fitness at Foothill College for 10 years. “It was the cold - hitting the cold water. It wasn’t as bad as I thought, but it can take your breath away.”

Wetsuits helped participants handle the 56-degree water, but as Karin said, “They don’t cover your face.”

The mile-and-a-half swim proved to be the first and last leg of the triathlon for a handful of competitors who had to be plucked from the ocean by race monitors in boats and kayaks.

“Some really struggle with the swim,” Karin said. “It’s a big bay. There’s current and things under the water.”

The swim to the St. Francis Yacht Club didn’t turn out to be the most difficult part of the race for Karin, though.

“I’m new to the bike and doing 18 miles of San Francisco hills wasn’t easy,” she said. “Going down hills on the bike was scary for me, so I did it cautiously.”

After pedaling along the Great Highway and through Golden Gate Park, participants took to their feet for the final leg.

The eight-mile run started and finished at the Marina Green. The route included a treacherous path near Baker Beach known as “The Dreaded Sand Steps.”

Those wanting a visual image of what Karin, Roger and the other competitors endured may want to watch a CBS telecast of the race scheduled to air in September.

The Bivens plan to enter another triathlon - their seventh - next month.

And Karin, who with Rodger practices each event at least three times a week, is already looking forward to next year’s Escape From Alcatraz.

“I’d like to do it again, now that I know what it’s all about,” she said. “And I would like to do better.”