"SavageMan. In A Word - Awesome!" The SavageMan Triathlon Festival has been embraced by participants as an extraordinary, must-do event with the atmosphere of a Wildflower and a scenic, challenging course without peer.
Over 96% of 2007 participants responded they would return for 2008, so we strived to improve the experience.
And we did, with an overwhelming 99% of 2008 participants claiming they would return to SavageMan and recommend the race to others. What Our SavageMan Champions Are Saying
Click Play to listen to 2007 Champion Chris McDonald describe his experience at SavageMan:
View 2008 SavageMan 70.0 Triathlon Champions Björn Andersson and Susan William's award ceremony speeches:
"SavageMan is truly one of the standout races around the world with an old school feel and a very scenic and very brutal course. I enjoyed it tremendously! See you next year!"
- Björn Andersson, 2008 and 2009 SavageMan 70.0 Triathlon Champion
"That was by far the hardest Half Ironman course I have ever done, and I've done St. Croix where they have "The Beast", but it's nothing compared to this! I'm going to tell all my friends back in Colorado they've got to come try this race!"
- Susan Williams, 2008 and 2009 SavageMan 70.0 Triathlon Champion and triathlon bronze medalist at Athens Olympics
"I came into the race knowing it was going to be tough but I really did not expect it to be near as tough as it was! Around mile 40 of the bike all I could think was 'Brad (Race Director of "World's Toughest Half") needs to rename his race!'"
- Chris McDonald, 2007 SavageMan 70.0 Triathlon Champion
"Awesome! Just awesome! Amazing course, amazing volunteers, amazing organization. This race is epic and sure to become a triathlon classic. So beautiful and oh so hard. Just awesome!"
- Tara Norton, 2007 SavageMan 70.0 Triathlon Champion, 2008 Runnerup, and 12th pro at 2007 Ironman Hawaii
"Savageman combines all the best attributes that you could ask of a triathlon- a super challenging course, a great venue for spectators, a great atmosphere, and a worthy charity. There are tons of triathlons that you can race, but Savageman is one that you have to survive. It's great!"
- Josh Beck, 2007 and 2009 SavageMan 70.0 Triathlon Runnerup
"I'll be back! I've raced for 20+ years and from experience I can say that you'll have a blast.
I have now raced both the SavageMan 70.0 Triathlon and the SavageMan 30.0 Triathlon, and finish either one and you will have a huge smile on your face."
- David Cascio, 2008 SavageMan 30.0 Triathlon Champion
"SavageMan 30.0 Triathlon is perfect for those who like a challenge, but don't like toppling over on their bikes.
It has most of the scenery, and a lot less of the suffering. And the ice cream at the finish line is the same, whether you climb The Wall or not! I highly recommend this well-run and fun race!
- Kelly Green, 2008 SavageMan 30.0 Triathlon Champion
"My team has participated in all three "Tri-To-Win" Savageman
Triathlon weekends and what has struck me the most about the race is the atmosphere. There is a real grassroots community response and as an athlete
I'm not sure how you could feel like "just another number" in the field. As a coach, I'd be hard pressed to find a better end-of-season bonding,
training, or racing event for my team. The venue, race leadership, and course volunteers are top notch and I look forward to participating for many
years to come."
- Ed Zerkle, Founder and Coach of TeamZ - 3-time SavageMan Club Champions
Comments From Participants
"This race just went into my all-time top five favorite races in the world, for its old school feel (inspirational signs dotting the course), its true, honest course, great service, great organization, great volunteers. Anyone who complains about drafting or cookie cutter courses should ante up and come do this race."
-Jay Prasuhn, Senior Editor, Triathlete Magazine
"I love it! I mean, I really do love it. I've made it up the Wall all three years!"
-Adrian Fenty, Mayor of Washington, DC
"Now, THAT'S a triathlon!"
"This race was one of my two favorite two races I have ever done in 10 years of triathlon. I especially liked the extreme difficulty of the course, the venue's scenery and the overall organization (course markings, food, "Savageman" print for prize, etc.) It was obvious a lot of thought and care went into the race planning. I would certainly sign up again."
"There were so many things that came together to make this the BEST triathlon event I have ever done (10+yrs of triathlons, 20+yrs running, lifelong cyclist). EVERY ASPECT of Savageman was excellent.”
"This was one of the best races I have done and that includes other tri's, ultra-marathons, etc. The people were great, the course was a killer, and the post race chow was perfect.”
"I loved the scenery at Deep Creek. It was well-organized and the course well-marked. Volunteers were supportive and helpful. Awards and food were good.”
"Well organized!! Well marked, manned, and good communication. Great course - hard as hell, but so worth it.”
"Toughest bike course of any road bike race / triathlon I have ever done. Scenery amazing. Westernport looked like so much fun, I wanted to get off my bike and watch other riders go up The Wall.”
"Super course in a super area. It had fun and adventure, not just a stopwatch obsession event.”
"It was truly challenging and different from other triathlons I have done. The people were all very friendly and supportive - both volunteers and the other competitors. Very good group with the right attitude about the event. Great experience.”
"Let me tell you something about your race. It was the best organized event I have ever participated in! The course was hell, but awesome! That is what it is all about. I've been doing triathlons for over 10 years and this is the event I am most proud of!"
"Loved the excitement and mystique surrounding the event. The bike course is amazing. The volunteers, bar none, were the best I have ever seen, whether it be a running race or a triathlon.”
"This race rocks! The bike course is phenomenal! That's the BEST looking tri shirt I've ever seen! Got any extra?"
"This was my first triathlon. I'd been thinking about doing one for some time, and when I saw the website, I knew this race was it, so I signed up for the SavageMan 30.0 Triathlon. Although my time on the bike was slow, the course was stunningly beautiful and I thoroughly enjoyed all of it -- I will train properly this year to be ready for the truly savage half next fall! I was really cheered by the kindness and friendliness of all the people of SavageMan -- the organizers, volunteers, and other competitors. The real camaraderie of the other competitors made this race truly remarkable -- while everyone was seriously intense about her or his own performance, at the same time people were encouraging each other on the course -- it was the perfect combination of individual intensity and a genuine desire to encourage others. Combine that with the breathtaking scenery and the race itself was seriously the most wonderful and exhilarating thing I've done in a long, long time. When I crossed the finish line and caught my breath, my first thought was, "oh NO, I can't believe I have to wait a WHOLE YEAR to do that again!" THANK YOU for such a fantastic experience! See you next year!"
"The "Bricks In The Wall" prize for getting over the Westernport Wall is the best prize in the history of triathlon! I also loved the signs categorizing each climb, listing distance to top, percent grade, etc.... You thought of every detail."
"Can I buy a lifetime registration to SavageMan? It won't be long until this races sells out in seconds, and I want to be back every year!"
"I loved the bike course. As a first-time triathlete with a cycling background, it was the highlight of the race. The volunteer and professional support was top-notch throughout."
"This race is truly Savage. Climbing the Westernport Wall with the spectators screaming and music and party going on was without doubt the most exhilirating athletic experience of my life. Thanks for putting on this race!"
"We loved Deep Creek Lake State Park and the area and we plan on staying longer next time. The race atmosphere was cheerful, fun, and encouraging for all."
"I enjoyed the fundraising. It's nice to see a triathlon work to help a good cause. Loved the race and the Champion Fundraising schwag."
"I'm pretty sure I was the last finisher and I was totally unprepared for the true Savageness....I loved every minute of it. The volunteers were the best of any race I've been in! The race director and crew were awesome!
And the speedy swimmin', pedal pumpin', gravel grippin' go fasters who won still cheered slow old me when I crossed the line. It doesn't get any beter than this! See you next year! Can I register now?"
"This is the one race I've ever bragged about finishing! I'm a retired Navy EDO diver, used to hard PT on a daily basis. This is the hardest physical endeavor I've ever experienced...Thank You for creating and continuing this event!"
"Roads like those are why God invented cycling. Thanks for putting on the SavageMan, it's the kind of race triathlon sorely needs more of."
"I thought SavageMan only was half-ironman, so I was happy to find that there was an olympic distance also. It was a great end of the season. I would rather do the SavageMan than Annapolis or Nations Tri and highly recommend it. Please don't change a thing. It was the most challenging and well-organized triathlon that I've done."
"Best swim ever. The water was crystal-clear and so clean. I loved being able to camp at the State Park just a few hundred yards from the start."
"Hardest bike course I've ever done - training or race. Westernport and Big Savage was hard enough, but Killer Miller? Just insane. Can we climb it twice next year?"
Excellent race. Very well organized. Beautiful location. Best pre-race banquet I've been to."
"The run along the lake and on the rolling road (State Park Rd) is great. The lakeside finish is awesome and the post-race food was fantastic. I enjoy the fun atmosphere."
"The hardest tri I've ever done, but it was also the most fun. The volunteers and signs along the route made my day."
"I just loved how the event had that grass-roots feel to it. This was, without a doubt, the most challenging bike course of any distance I've ridden (Lake Placid and IM Canada have nothing on your hills).
Awesome race! I've told many of my friends that this is definitely a must-do race. You guys have done a wonderful job creating something really special."