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Race Reports for Savageman 70.0

[1]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: "Overall course based on my ability:" option above needs an "OMFG, ARE YOU CRAZY?!?" setting. If you've never done Savageman - you owe it to yourself. While it is definitely the hardest race course you are likely to ever do, that bike course is also probably the most beautiful. Several times along the way, I just took some time to take it all in - utterly gorgeous country! I'm sure that I've left out a TON of things I wanted to say here, but I do want to remember to give a shout out to all of the folks wearing Bib #'s 35 and under (especially my rack mates 1-12) - it was great to see everyone along the way throughout the weekend and give each other a little nod, a high five, or just small cheers as we all finished the 120.0
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[2]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This is a race that will long be remembered. The physical challenge, the beauty of the area, the variability of the weather all add to it's reputation. Setup took over from Kyle Yost and seemed to do a pretty good job. I will not be back next year, but I think I might do it again when I am in the 55-59 AG.
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[3]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Too hard

  • Comments: Need sports drink other than Heed. Otherwise I loved it.
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[4]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This race is hands down the hardest event I've ever done. Period. It was brutal. But ... at the same time, it was one of the best events I've ever done. Very well organized, BEAUTIFUL course, well volunteered, very laid back vibe throughout, lots of local community support, crazy fans lining most of the entire run course. This is one of those great bucket-list races that you just have to do - no matter how painful it is. Go for your brick on the westernport wall, chase the guy carrying the case of Miller Lite up "Killer Miller", make it to the top of the fire tower hill on the run... then do it again. Your body will scream no, your mind will tell you you're insane. Once you cross that finish line though - you'll realize it was all worth it.
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[5]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Despite it being the hardest race I've ever done, it was the best!!
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[6]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Savageman doesn't disappoint - it's an epic event with amazing support from the organizers, volunteers, spectators, and fellow participants. Despite my hopes coming into the weekend, I left without a brick, again - maybe next year. But as I said to my sister Sunday night, lots of people get bricks. It's quite likely that I'm the only knucklehead to take on America's hardest triathlon, all 6700 feet of climbing, on a 35lb comfort bike with fat knobby tires, and still cross the finish line with 30 minutes to spare. I love this race, I hope it make it back next year to try it again.
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[7]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This course chewed me up and spit me out. I'm already looking forward to coming back. I'm just not sure when. Kyle Yost has enlightened the triathlete world about the magnificient cycling in the Appalachian Mts and for that I am grateful. Deep Creek is stunningly beautiful and quite savage!
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[8]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I am really happy with the way this race turned out for me. Being it's only my 3rd triathlon ever(1 sprint, 1 other half iron, and this half iron) - I'm overjoyed with how things went. I can see why this was rated the best triathlon last year by Triathlete magazine. It's beautiful yet brutal. Like a sign said on the way up savage mountain - "They don't call this race - Wussyman!" The volunteers were outstanding and can't be thanked enough! I do think I've seen enough alpaca's though for a while.
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[9]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: The race was just fantastic -- I wouldn't change a thing about it!
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[10]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Shared the house with Dan, Ryan (who won his age group and earned 10th in KOM), Aaron and Dale Toce (dtoce from BT) as well as Dale's son Michael. It was fun to meet up with and swap stories with everyone. I cooked pre-race dinner and I think the day worked out well for everyone. I beat my 2012 Savageman PR by more than 9 minutes (5:57:13). I went into the race thinking I would participate and enjoy the scenery. I was pretty sure the run would be ugly because my legs felt so trashed. As it turned out, my ride was pretty good but the climbing (the most important feature of this course) was off. And, as it turned out, my run was way better than expected. I never really felt cooked on the run although I did experience some significant pains in the hamstrings.
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[11]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Too hard

  • Comments: Wow. Harder than CDA!
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[12]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Too hard

  • Comments: I know I cried lick a little bitch during this race report, but it was a bucket list race and rated the hardest triathlon in North America. If you like pain and suffering and you love to climb mountains not hills. This is your race. great support and the town and area is wonderful. I would do it again some day, but only after I suppress the memory that I ever did this race. Also goal reached. I got my brick and finished. Check.
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[13]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Kyle has put together one hell of a race experience. This race course is so incredibly difficult but so rewarding. The organization is top notch and the vibe is awesome. If you love cycling or love difficult courses, you really need to give this a try.
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[14]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I look forward to this race every year. I've only earned one brick out of three starts. It is a great place to ride and an epic course.
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[15]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: There are some things that change you: this race is one of those things. Training for this race was hard: it was hard on me, it was hard on my family. The training over the last two years was the toughest I have ever experienced. If I doubted whether all the training for some race was worth it, those doubts were swept away upon realizing that my suffering was nothing compared to those who suffer from cancer and other immunodeficiency-related diseases: people I know and for whom I care. To say I was encouraged by my families and donors the last two weeks before the race was an understatement: they lifted me up from my mentally exhausted state at the end of my training to remind me that yes, this was something worthwhile. I would not have been able to cross the finish line of "the toughest triathlon in the world" without the support and prayers of my family, friends, and of course my generous donors who helped me raise money for Joanna M Nicolay Melanoma Foundation, in the hopes
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[16]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: One of the best races in the world!
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[17]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Savageman is famous for the Westernport Wall and the bricks, and that really is a memorable part of the event, but I'm not alone in saying that it's a pity that this overshadows the rest of what is a fabulous event. The setting is beautiful -- Deep Creek Lake in early fall is just stunning -- and the race organization is incredible. There are races that are well organized and efficient, put on by well-oiled companies. But Savageman shows at every turn the care and creativity of Kyle Yost and his team. This helps to create an amazing vibe, which only adds to the enjoyment. I don't expect this to ever become a big event (the course couldn't handle it; and it's not a route for everybody), but it richly deserves its iconic status. I don't know whether I will be back next year, as it comes at a tricky time of year for me, but I will definitely be back some time.
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[18]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: awesome race. would definately do next year
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[19]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This course is as challenging as it's reputation, and this attracts a bunch of studs, so if you want to challenge yourself against a brutal course and a fast field, this is the race for you. This event is well run with only a few suggestions for improvement, and those relate more to spectators than athletes. There should be a few more port-o-potties at the race venue, and there should be some at the Westernport Wall (There weren't any at all for the spectators who were there for several hours). Also, something playing in additin to the theme from Rocky on a continuous loop at the Wall wouldn't hurt. My wife said she wanted to rip her own ears off after hearing it several dozen times without a break. Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the Wall comes to mind immediately as another option, and I'm sure it wouldn't be that hard to come up with a few more for some fun variety. The post-race food was awesome! I had a pork bbq sandwich with some side dishes.
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[20]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Too hard

  • Comments: To be sure, the Savageman 70.0 event takes adequate training in order to prepare for the challenges that one is faced with on different parts of the course. Despite not climbing the "Wall", I still got a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction out of conquering not only the other hills on the bike, but then also coming back to have a great run and conquer the hills there as well. Savageman is well-run with plenty of volunteers and amenities for the racers. Crowd support is just super too, especially at nearly all the significant climbs. Plus, the whole festival takes place in an exceptionally scenic area. And the event in one for a good cause too. If you think you'd like to challenge yourself in ways that you've not experienced in other triathlons, then consider signing up for Savageman some year. Though I don't know when/if I'll be back, I'm glad I was able to participate and finish at least once.
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[21]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: 4:14:26 in zone 3 95/144/176 heartrate 6,327 calories Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN4BaOw8rpI from about 6:08 to 6:23. I'm in red/white/black jersey with black sleeves. See also, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hb247eT0FU at 13:42 in the background and at about 14:05 through 14:25. I dropped 57 minutes off of my 2010 debut at Savageman and made it over the Wall for the first time. Next year, I want to go under 6 hours and run under 2 hours.
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[22]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Savageman is a great race - enough good things can't be said about it. The volunteers are great, both pre-race, on the wall, on Killer Miller, and at the finish. The pre-race swag is good (real cycling gloves) and the finisher shirt is a tech tee. I would really love a medal, but that's minor. There's also something that I can't quite put my finger on, but even my wife B commented on how "relaxed" everything felt. It's just a really fun environment. I highly recommended the race, but caution any weak cyclists away from the 70. The course is truly unforgiving. Of the 27 people dumb enough to do the 100, I was 9th overall with a combined time of 8:44:32. There were 20 men and 7 women.
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[23]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Savageman is without a doubt, the toughest triathlon I've ever done. It's also one of the most beautiful. This fact gets overshadowed too often. I would love to come back (race or not) and just camp at some of the places we biked through. Luckily, I was often going about 3mph so I got a good long look at some of the views. But not being able to stay longer is my biggest regret. The volunteers are simply unmatched. I was impressed with the ones at B2B.... these were better! Everybody was rooting for you and everybody was in such good spirits. The whole atmosphere was great. And because of the slow speeds, it often felt more like a charity ride than a race. We were all suffering together which just brings people closer. I am, most definitely, doing this race again next year!
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[24]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This race is seriously fantastic in every way. Completing it is a major accomplishment for all those who take it on - but beyond the well advertised challenge, there is a unique spirit to this race, from the crowds, to the signs along the course, to the volunteers, to the racers - it's like everyone knows that they are part of a unique, special event and it comes through in everyone's attitude that you encounter during the day. I can't believe there is another race experience out there that can match this one, and it is done for charity, not profit. Just fantastic all around - something tells me what I'll being doing on New Year's day next year when the race comes available for entries.
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[25]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Too hard

  • Comments: OUTSTANDING RACE! This is one tough course, but it is Savageman! The only real hills I've riden before this race were at the Branson 70.3 and the Silverman Full, both last year. Those hills are long, but they're not steep. You can gear down and it's kind of like riding into a big headwind. You can get through them with no big power spikes. The Savageman hills felt totally different to me. They're so steep and long, you really have to put out sustained power for extended amounts of time to get up them. I rode a compact with an 11x28 and was wishing I had another gear or two. I'm not sure how much of that was me and how much was the cold I've been fighting. This race is definately a great experience. Hardest tri I've ever done, by a long ways. I would highly recommend this race!
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