Escape from alcatraz triathlon

Escape from alcatraz triathlon, wildflower triathlon 2010:

When Summer Schiavo leaps off a river boat and into the waters of the San Francisco Bay, she won't be alone. The Cupertino resident will compete in the May 2 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco while 18 weeks pregnant.

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The grueling event sees athletes compete in a 1.5-mile swim through the Bay's cold waters near Alcatraz Island to the shores of San Francisco. Participants then continue the competition with an 18-mile bike race and an eight-mile run through the rugged trails near Golden Gate Park. About 20,000 athletes participate in the three-pronged race, and Schiavo is the only pregnant competitor, according to organizers.

Schiavo, 34, signed up for the event four days before she found out she was pregnant. Unsure what to do, Schiavo talked to friends, her husband and, most importantly, her doctor.

"The most important thing for me is the baby," Schiavo said.

With everyone's blessing, Schiavo said she's up for the challenge. She is no stranger to exhausting competition. She has completed more than 40 triathlon events since 2005. This will be her fourth time competing in the Escape from Alcatraz race and the second time competing in the triathlon while pregnant. Schiavo said the last time she was pregnant, she didn't find out until after the race.

"If this was my first time [competing], I probably would not have done it," she said. Schiavo said this time, she will compete in the swimming