Savage-fierce, ferocious, wild, rugged…For the men and women who are brave enough to conquer the many different levels of this grueling event, I salute you! I realize that you are cut out of a different cloth than the rest of us. A cloth that has qualities that are both mental and physically superior. The raw grit it takes to train for years overcoming the thousands of pangs and punishment to your mind and soul is staggering to imagine for us mortals. It takes a ferocious commitment and deep down motivation to conquer this remarkable event.
This event has many different levels you can challenge yourself with. You will bike, run and swim pushing your abilities to the threshold of physical and mental exhaustion. A breakdown of the event is as follows:
SavageMan 70.0- Swim 1.2 miles, Bike 55.7 miles, Run 13.1 miles
SavageMan 30.0- Swim .90miles, Bike 22.9 miles, Run 6.2 miles
SavageMan 20.0- Swim .45 miles, Bike 15.5 miles, Run 3.1 miles
SavageMan 90.0, 100.0 and 120.0 combines Sundays 70.0 with one or both of Saturday’s 20.0 or 30.0 races.
The race has lots of highlights that are exciting to watch as a spectator. The swimming event is always a blast to watch. It’s hard to imagine swimming so close to what seems like thousands of people. It’s like a sea of arms chopping and digging through the water in a chaotic symphony. Nothing like swimming 1.2 miles and getting out of the water soaking wet and jumping on a bike for a 55.7-mile ride!
The beast of the event is THE WALL!! Going through the Westernport leg of the race you will find the infamous WALL that is the epitome of blood, sweat and tears. This is one steep biking challenge for someone who has fresh legs. It is gruelish for someone who has a mile plus swim and miles of biking behind them. Spectators line up to cheer on these machines of fitness. You will see some riders motor through the steep incline while others literally fall/crash on the famous rough stone base from sheer exhaustion. If you are here for the event, spend some time at The Wall and gain even more respect for these amazing athletes.
Of course the underlining star of the event is the breathtaking scenery. Garrett County has a fabulous reputation for some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. Some triathlon events have zero personality but the SavageMan boasts lovely views mixed with challenging elevation changes.
If you are competing, good luck for a safe and successful race! If you are not, I suggest you get out and find your favorite event from your favorite vantage point and enjoy this successful event!
