Winkler Wins Group in Alcatraz Triathlon

Triathlons are never easy, but the San Francisco Triathlon at Alcatraz on Sunday was especially hard on Kathy Winkler of Strawberry. She could feel it in her jaw all day Monday.

"I had cramps in my jaw the next day because my teeth were shaking so much [Sunday]," she said. "I shook nonstop during the bike [section]."

Despite the shake-inducing chills, the 44-year-old Winkler finished the course – a 1.2-mile swim, 25-mile bike and 7-mile run – in 2 hours, 53 minutes and 42 seconds, good for best in the 40-44 age group. Fellow Mill Valley resident Shawn Brokemond, 42, finished second in the group at 3 hours, 13 minutes and 48 seconds.

"I had no idea how it had gone at the finish line but I did not think it was a great day for me," said Winkler, who has been teaching kindergarten at St. Hilary School in Tiburon for 13 years. "I was pleasantly surprised."

Equally thrilling for Winkler was that her daughters, 18-year-old Mattie and 15-year-old Jojo, made the race another family affair. Jojo Winkler finished second among girls 15 and under, while Mattie Winkler swam on a relay team just a few days before heading off to college.

"They gave me one last hurrah," Kathy Winkler said, noting that she kept quiet about Aquarium of the Bay's capture of a 319-pound sevengill shark near Alcatraz only a week earlier. "I really appreciate them doing it. I know that open water [swimming] is not their favorite."

In 2004, Mattie became the youngest athlete to ever compete in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon at age 12. A few years later, Jojo did her one better, competing in the race at age 11.

Winkler said she was happy when she heard that Jojo was only a bit ahead of her at the end of the swim.

"I knew she hadn't completely dumped me - she has the ability to do that," she said.

The San Francisco Triathlon at Alcatraz is a new rival to the famous Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon, which occurs in June.

Winkler said she now has her sights set on the 2010 Ultraman World Championship in Hawaii in November.