SavageMan 70.0
Deep Creek Lake (Garrett County, Swanton), USA · September · SavageMan Triathlon Festival (Kinetic Multisports; Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation benefit)
Why people love it
- Westernport Wall, 25 percent average and 31 percent maximum, with a name-in-a-brick reward
- Big Savage Mountain climb, 11.6 km (7.2 mi) and 594 m (1,950 ft)
- Clear Deep Creek Lake swim with sighting buoys every 75 m (82 yd)
- Themed aid stations, bused spectators and ice cream at the finish
Watch out for
- Current status unverified: last confirmed edition was 2021, and no 2022 to 2026 coverage or results were found
- About 1,830 m (6,000 ft) of bike climbing; bring very low gearing
- Narrow descents at about 72 km (44.7 mi)/h (45 mph) with frequent braking
- Run has trails and a steep fire-road climb each lap
- Not a PR course; most reviews date from 2007 to 2014
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.2
Forum veterans ranked it in their top five and praised the food and atmosphere, but the evidence dates from 2007 to 2014. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.0
Reviewers call it well run, with themed aid stations and bused spectators; one rider waited about 30 minutes for the sag wagon in 2009. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyExperts only1.2
Gearing advice down to 34x28, grades of 25 to 31 percent and walked bikes; sold as a true test for hardcore athletes. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialVery slow1.1
The race director says it is not built for personal bests, and riders needed about 4:00 for 89.6 km (55.7 mi). · High confidence
- Course easeExtreme1.1
The Westernport Wall, about 1,830 m (6,000 ft) of climbing and a trail run with a steep fire road. · High confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.3
Past water was about 18 to 24 °C (64 to 75 °F), mostly under the 24.5 °C (76 °F) limit; no explicit rule found. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.8
About 18 to 24 °C (64 to 75 °F), a wide spread from year to year. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.0
A lake with an in-water start; fog, not chop, was the reported issue. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.2
A simple rectangle with sighting buoys every 75 m (82 yd) and a beach finish. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.2
Crystal-clear lake and a beach finish, though some years were foggy. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed2.8
Narrow, twisty, forested roads; no surface complaints but little detail. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.0
Not documented; narrow rural roads with a sag wagon and volunteers. · Low confidence
- Bike scenerySpectacular4.6
A 2007 rider called it the most beautiful half-century he had ridden. · Medium confidence
- WindMostly calm3.5
Mountain valleys and forest; no report mentions wind. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedVery slow1.1
About 1,830 m (6,000 ft) over 89.6 km (55.7 mi) with 25 to 31 percent grades; a 4-hour rider averages 22.5 km (14 mi)/h (14 mph). · High confidence
- Bike flatnessMountainous1.0
About 1,830 m (6,000 ft) in 89.6 km (55.7 mi), far above the level that counts as mountainous for a half. · High confidence
- Bike simplicityVery technical1.2
Narrow descents at about 72 km (44.7 mi)/h (45 mph) and walls of 25 to 31 percent; the field is capped because of technical descents. · High confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.7
A block party and bused spectators at the Westernport Wall, with costumes and signs; the trail run is quieter. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.4
Themed aid stations with costumed volunteers; a 2009 veteran praised service and stocking. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Deep Creek State Park trails and the lake edge. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsHard2.2
Post-bike fatigue, a fire-road climb and trail and lakeside surfaces; the founder calls it a real challenge. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessHilly2.0
The run rolls and rolls, with a steep fire-road climb at the end of each lap. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.9
Mid-September mountain climate; no temperatures were found. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
Fog on the lake in some years; no cancellations found. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyStunning4.5
Mountain lake in Allegheny country, with autumn colour. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.8
Buses to the Westernport Wall block party and food at the finish; the bike course is otherwise remote. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeModerate3.1
The bike climbs to over 850 m (2,800 ft); the lake itself is about 750 m (2,460 ft). · Low confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.4
Deep Creek Lake is a vacation rental and resort area; no availability data. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.0
Resort-area pricing is likely, but no data was found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.2
State park venue with accommodation spread around the lake. · Low confidence
- Travel easeAwkward2.2
Remote Garrett County, about 2 hours by road from Pittsburgh. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.0
A multi-day festival with several courses; details were not researched. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.6
Free ice cream and barbecue at the finish were praised; the McHenry resort area is nearby. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Deep Creek Lake (Garrett County, Swanton), Maryland, USA
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 19 September 2021
- Organiser
- SavageMan Triathlon Festival (Kinetic Multisports; Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation benefit)
- Field size
- About 1,000 athletes
- First held
- 2007
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Deep Creek Lake (State Park beach) (lake)
- Water temperature
- 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Swim start
- deep-water
- Bike climbing
- 1,830 m (6,000 ft)
- Key climbs
- Westernport Wall (about 25% average, 31% max); Killer Miller (22% per a 2009 spectator); Big Savage Mountain (7.2 mi / 11.6 km, 1,950 ft / 594 m gain, Eastern Continental Divide); Otto Road and Foy Road late in the ride
- Nearest airport
- Pittsburgh (PIT), about 2 h by road (general knowledge, not in sources)
- Where to stay
- McHenry / Deep Creek Lake, Swanton
- Booking
- Deep Creek Lake is a resort and vacation-rental area; no race-week price data found.
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch forum: SavageMan Course Preview (edInMD)Raced 2007 · forum · Positive
Detailed preview: 4:02 bike at about 14 mph (22.5 km/h (14 mph)), the 'most difficult but most beautiful' half-century he'd ridden; about 800 ft (245 m (804 ft)) in the first mile of the Wall-to-Big Savage climb with 25% pitches, roughly 2,000 ft (610 m (2,000 ft)) of vertical in 6 mi (9.7 km (6 mi)), then a very hard final 15 mi (24 km (14.9 mi)) with Otto and Foy Roads.
“the most difficult but most beautiful”
- Slowtwitch forum: SavageMan Scouting Report (smegal and others)Raced 2007 · forum · Mixed
Inaugural-year scouting thread: a 4:00 bike with the bike walked twice, 'relentless' hills, the Wall short but steep, the hardest stretch Twin Churches, Otto and Maynardier Ridge Roads late; a 53/39 with 11-21 cassette was too hard and a 27-tooth cog recommended.
“relentless”
- Slowtwitch forum: SavageMan 2009 threadRaced 2009 · forum · Positive
Participants call it well organised and well run with good barbecue, ice cream and an old-school feel; ABGJay ranked it top five and harder than 70.3 Monaco, noting the run 'rolls and rolls' with a steep fire-road climb each lap and a 42x28 low gear needed on the Wall. One rider waited about 30 minutes for the sag wagon after a mechanical.
“well organized, well run”
- Slowtwitch forum: SavageMan Westernport Wall videosRaced 2011 · forum · Positive
Threads of Wall videos: riders say video does not capture it, Killer Miller is harder still, 34x25 was too easy and 34x28 or lower is advised, volunteers carry bikes up, and 'bike carnage' on the steepest ramp. Veterans plan to return despite rough days.
“bike carnage at it's finest”
- Slowtwitch: Meet SavageMan Kyle YostRaced 2011 · article · Positive
Founder interview: 2006 invitation-only test weekend, about 5,700 ft (1,737 m (5,700 ft)) of climbing, most of it after the Wall, run called a real challenge, field capped because of narrow roads and technical descents, race sold out two years in a row, themed aid stations, bused spectators and a brick wall of cleared-Wall names (46 bricks in 2007, 253 in 2010).
“participant experience first”
Show 5 more
- Triathlete: Race Radar, Maryland's SavageManRaced 2014 · article · Positive
Race radar: Wall billed as the steepest road-triathlon climb at 31 percent with a name-in-a-brick reward, about 1,000 athletes across the 70.0 and 30.0, costumes, signs and spectators bused to the Wall; the director says it is 'not built for PRs'.
“true test of endurance and courage”
- Endurance Sports Wire: Big Savage Challenge prize purseRaced 2021 · article · Positive
2021 press release: SavageMan long course of 1.2 mi (1.9 km (1.2 mi)) / 55.7 mi (89.6 km (55.7 mi)) with about 6,000 ft (1,830 m (6,000 ft)) of climbing including a 7-mile (11 km (6.8 mi)) Eastern Continental Divide climb / 13.1 mi (21.1 km (13.1 mi)) in Deep Creek State Park; race director Greg Hawkins of Kinetic Multisports.
- Deep Creek Lake vacation guide (Railey)Raced 2018 · article · Positive
Visitor guide listing the 2018 two-day festival from the SavageMan 20 to a 1-mile / 67 mi (108 km (67.1 mi)) 'SavageMan 80', with lake swim, Garrett County hills and Deep Creek State Park trail-and-lakeside run, and encouragement for spectators.
- Event listings: Let's Do This and RunSignupRaced 2015 · aggregator · Positive
Listings describe a Westernport Wall at 31 percent, Big Savage Mountain climb of 7.2 mi / 11.6 km (7.2 mi) with 1,950 ft (594 m (1,950 ft)) of gain, a crystal-clear lake swim, and mention a 1.2 mi (1.9 km (1.2 mi)) swim with mid-60s to mid-70s F (about 18-24 C) water in past years.
- RaceRaves SavageMan pageaggregator · Mixed
No ratings or reviews yet on RaceRaves for the SavageMan festival (gap noted).
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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