I survived yesterdays Savageman. That is one hell of a race. Kyle my hat is off to you for creating a wicked course. These little gem of races need more PR and support. The area is just gorgeous and should be a race vacation for anyone looking for a fun fall race. The bike course you have all heard about. The run…nicely shaded after a the bike takes it out of you. The post race burgers and ice cream…SPOT ON!
I love these races because it takes me back to what it is all about. Ironman is Ironman but races like Savageman get your triathlon craving back to why you started doing them. I hope it survives for many more years.
Thanks to all the volunteers and staff who put together a amazing race in one the most beautiful state parks I have visited.
Thanks. Honestly this is nice to hear. While SavageMan began in 2007 before WTC really went gangbusters with expansion, even back then the idea was that triathlon needed an event like this to get back to its roots, where the challenge was conquering the elements rather than eeking out every microsecond against the clock.
The downward trend of numbers continues. I don’t know what can be done to stop it. SavageMan is certainly not unique in this situation.
The only thing I can think of is to promote how great of a race/family vacation spot it is up there. I had no idea they had all those accommodations and the lake is just magnificent. Sell the wife/husband and kids and they will come. Easier said then done but wow…it is one beautiful piece of heaven in MD.
Thank you again for reminding me what it is all about. Oh and my quads hate you.
P.S. Any one doing the race next year and wants a fool proof plan to get your brick…search for Kyle’s posts on what to do…man speaks wisdom. “1st block easy, 2nd block easy, 3rd block easy, then HAMMER HAMMER up the right side!!!”
Count me in as wholeheartedly agreeing with the original post. This year training was limited due to a 6-month old so I stepped down to the 30 after doing the 70 twice previously - what a great course (and, it sure felt good to only have 1 loop of that run)!
I did notice that numbers from my club (DC Tri) were down quite a bit from years past - I wonder if Nations being last week had some impact? Or maybe I’m just odd in that I prefer a scenic, challenging course rather than an overpriced, overcrowded draft fest? I’ll certainly do everything I can to spread the word about this race and others like it - the day these independent events cease to exist is the day I’ll quit the sport.
Savageman is the hardest thing I have ever done. The bike was a festival of pain, a relentless ordeal of punishing climbs. My time was more than an hour slower than my best half-iron distance, and today I feel like I got run over by a truck. I’m so glad I did it.
Savageman is a hell of a thing. If you live within driving distance, I cannot overemphasize the beauty and the terror of this race.
In fact, I do not wish to sound judgmental, but if you pass up the opportunity to do some oversubscribed and overpriced branded race over the challenge and adventure of a race like Savageman, you are doing it wrong!
I want to do this race but I am scared of both the ups and the downs. The ups because I doubt I could haul my Magnus Backstedt like carcass up the climbs and am afraid I would crash on the down hill – where’s the thread about the worst crash at Savageman??
Although I am sure it is beautiful and a hell of an accomplishment!
Thanks. Honestly this is nice to hear. While SavageMan began in 2007 before WTC really went gangbusters with expansion, even back then the idea was that triathlon needed an event like this to get back to its roots, where the challenge was conquering the elements rather than eeking out every microsecond against the clock.
The downward trend of numbers continues. I don’t know what can be done to stop it. SavageMan is certainly not unique in this situation.
Thanks Kyle for starting such a great race. I know when I first did SavageMan it was really the only option this time of year in the area. Despite the competition it is still by far my favorite race. I did miss the people in devil costume on the Wall, and Angels at Killer Miller.
Heck, if Thomas the turn-around Turtle had been missing in the swim I might have just walked ashore and quit right there.
This race as in a class above the competition. I find it sad that people would choose the overcrowded hassle of a draft fest with multiple “no passing” zones like the DC tri, or all of the sudden flock to IM Maryland which for years as non-branded “ChessieMan” drew such small fields.
I also find it ironic that so many triathletes who clearly want to be regarded as “tough, hard core” racers are “one and done” after racing SavageMan, yet flock to the flattest, easiest (M-dot) race they can find.
Savageman is truly an awesome race and great experience. Incredibly difficult and uplifting. Gorgeous location with lots of other things to do if you bring your family. Just finished my second yesterday. Hat’s off to you Kyle. I would sooner pay $750 to race there as opposed to Alcatraz. Please support races like this if you can. You won’t regret it.
Savageman is truly an awesome race and great experience. Incredibly difficult and uplifting. Gorgeous location with lots of other things to do if you bring your family. Just finished my second yesterday. Hat’s off to you Kyle. I would sooner pay $750 to race there as opposed to Alcatraz. Please support races like this if you can. You won’t regret it.
One thing that needs to be made clear is that it is the crew at VTSMTS that deserve the accolades, not me. I got the race started and designed the courses, yes, but this year I was truly and completely uninvolved. They have taken over very seamlessly and have continued the races excellent organization and traditions (ie, bricks). The full extent of my involvement this year was to lend them my water trampoline (Thomas the Turnaround Turtle) and to paint the warning/danger zones on the bad SavageMan 70 turns, simply because I wanted to be 100% certain this was done thoroughly. But, this show is part of the VTSMTS group and they have taken the reins seamlessly. They deserve credit; it is a lot of work.
Completed my first Savageman 70 yesterday as well. The climbing was relentless, and the descents were an awesome ride. Best money spent before this race was an 11/32 cassette and long cage derailleur:o) My preview drive did no justice to the multiple climbs required to make it to the top of Savage Mt. How someone biked that course in 2:37 is mindblowing to me ~ mad props to you sir. The atmosphere throughout was fantastic, the volunteer and race staff support was bar none! If you want a challenge that will be imprinted in your mind, rather than a big box race that you may or may not remember fondly, than do this race. Some other logistics thoughts for the race staff, but mentioned them in my survey and won’t post here.
My apologies to the bubba falling into me that I stiff-armed going up Westernport Wall; I was not to be denied my Brick! The paperboy technique on the approach was spot on, and saw many a folks hammering the blocks preceding to end up too taxed to make it up the wall. Any idea of whether the video they take of the wall is available to the public?
Really wished I would have known that huge campground was there as I would’ve opted for that instead of hotel 30 minutes away…my fault.
Don’t let that scare you off. The entire festival weekend is quite an experience. You can race the 30 on Saturday (still pretty savage, but much more mild than the 70), then stick around to cheer and spectate the 70. I’ve always had SO MUCH FUN spectating the 70. I personally think it’s better than racing because there’s less suffering and more drinking And if you don’t have a large local contingent to hang out with at the race site, just look for the folks with the inflatable alpacas and dressed up like Steve Prefontaine at the Pittsburgh Triathlon Club tent. They take in stragglers and will ensure that you have a good time.
Unfortunately, the Savageman date conflicted with a number of things so we probably had lower than normal representation from the Pgh tri club. I was at worlds in Chicago and our local sprint/oly/HIM race fell on this same weekend, cutting down on both racers and spectators at Savageman this year. Not sure if I’ll be racing or partying, but I’ll be at Savageman next year! It’s become our club’s sort of unofficial end of season celebration weekend.
Don’t let that scare you off. The entire festival weekend is quite an experience. You can race the 30 on Saturday (still pretty savage, but much more mild than the 70), then stick around to cheer and spectate the 70. I’ve always had SO MUCH FUN spectating the 70. I personally think it’s better than racing because there’s less suffering and more drinking And if you don’t have a large local contingent to hang out with at the race site, just look for the folks with the inflatable alpacas and dressed up like Steve Prefontaine at the Pittsburgh Triathlon Club tent. They take in stragglers and will ensure that you have a good time.
Unfortunately, the Savageman date conflicted with a number of things so we probably had lower than normal representation from the Pgh tri club. I was at worlds in Chicago and our local sprint/oly/HIM race fell on this same weekend, cutting down on both racers and spectators at Savageman this year. Not sure if I’ll be racing or partying, but I’ll be at Savageman next year! It’s become our club’s sort of unofficial end of season celebration weekend.
How someone biked that course in 2:37 is mindblowing to me ~ mad props to you sir.
That someone is Josh Beck. He’s too humble to ever talk about himself, so I will. 9 SavageMans, 9 bricks, 8 podiums, 0 wins. Amazingly, he actually owns the SavageMan run course record (1:18:29), but can never quite manage to nip Philip Graves’s 2:34:xx bike record. For a number of years he was America’s best duathlete, and his 38:20 swim yesterday pretty much shows what he thinks of swimming. A real top-notch guy who just so happens to have a monstrous engine.
No don;t let that scare you. The main cautions are don’t go down miles 6-17 like a damn idiot. Respect the signs that say slow down. Plus…you shouldn’t be hammering down the hills and instead conserving for the wall.
Just make sure your gearing is correct and pace yourself and the rest will take care of itself. I used a compact with 11-28 cassette and it was perfect. Road bike with clip bars was also spot on for me. Don’t miss out on one the best iconic races around. Who knows how long it will be around but I am glad I went.
Speaking of the swim…how about that sun in your eyes. LOL!!! Couldn’t get any hill’s for the swim course…so they just put the sun in your eyes. Classic! I was telling myself I hope I am swimming in the right direction.
I’ve done it the previous three but this year life caught up to me! I tell all of my Tri friends Savageman kicks the snot out of any other race. However, no one from my area does it!
It is one of the best courses out there - the bike course goes without saying but the run course is very underrated. The way it loops onto itself in the campground let my family see me go by about 5x’s during the run. Throw in the shade and a couple miles of trail it makes for a challenging but fair run.
How someone biked that course in 2:37 is mindblowing to me ~ mad props to you sir.
That someone is Josh Beck. He’s too humble to ever talk about himself, so I will. 9 SavageMans, 9 bricks, 8 podiums, 0 wins. Amazingly, he actually owns the SavageMan run course record (1:18:29), but can never quite manage to nip Philip Graves’s 2:34:xx bike record. For a number of years he was America’s best duathlete, and his 38:20 swim yesterday pretty much shows what he thinks of swimming. A real top-notch guy who just so happens to have a monstrous engine.
JB is my hero! Team Total Aversion ™ FTW!!!
(PS - the Josh Beck can’t swim thread was/is one of my all-time faves.)
And it needs to be said again, for emphasis:
Josh Beck ain’t no skinny little climber dude.
It’s f’n amazing how well he climbs for such a big guy.
Just a monster - on land.
