Athletes, Volunteers Gearing Up For Second SavageMan Triathlon Fest

courtesy Republican News


Sep. 11, 2008

The second annual SavageMan Tri-To-Win Triathlon will take place on Sunday, Sept. 21, in Garrett County, and will involve nearly 600 athletes from all over the world. Several local residents will take part in either part or all of the three-sport event, joining registrants from 23 states, Washington, D.C., the Virgin Islands, Canada, Belgium, and Sweden.
"The excitement is growing. The SavageMan is a great attraction for the United States and internationally," said Greg Safko, race director and board member.

A triathlon is an athletic event consisting of swimming, biking, and running. After the success of last year's first SavageMan Triathlon, the local event has now become known as "the world's most beautiful and most savage triathlon," Safko said.

The internationally renowned "Half" distance event is a strenuous race consisting of 1.2 miles of swimming in the open waters of Deep Creek Lake, 56 miles of road bicycling, and 13.1 miles of running.

A second, shorter competition, called the International Race, has been added this year, offering athletes a "more forgiving" event. It consists of a .93-mile swim, 23-mile bike, and 6.2-mile run.

Safko wished to alert all residents to the paths of the races, so that persons may come out to watch and support the athletes, as well as make sure dogs are kept inside for the short duration when runners and bikers will be passing by. Drivers should be aware that racers will be on the roadways as well.

Both events will begin at the Deep Creek Lake State Park on Sept. 21 at 8 a.m. (with registration open that morning at 6:30 a.m.). Athletes will begin their journeys by running into Deep Creek Lake and swimming the allotted distances.

They will then move on to the biking portion of the race, with athletes getting to the road somewhere around 8:30 a.m. They will head out of the state park on Toothpick Road onto Glendale for about 3 miles, and then onto Spring Lick Road for about 5. They will be on Savage River Road for 6 miles, and then go on through smaller roads to Westernport Road for 4.2 miles. There the riders will encounter the Westernport Wall, which is the most challenging portion of the bike race.

A special spectator shuttle will transport supporters from the state park to the Westernport Wall, leaving the park around 8 a.m. and returning after the bikers have conquered the steep incline. Those wishing to ride the shuttle should register at the event web site: www.savagemantri.org. Fans are invited to bring noisemakers, because the athletes "need all the encouragement they can get as they get through Westernport," the web site states.

The bikers will then head back toward Garrett County, along McAndrews Hill and New Germany roads, and then Otto Lane. They will travel along Jennings Road for 1.8 miles, onto Miller Road, Maynardier Ridge Road for about 4 miles, and then on Bittinger to Orendorf roads.

They will be on Beachy Road for a little over a mile, and then on Rock Lodge Road for 5.2 miles. They will then follow State Park Road back to the park.

Bikers are expected to start returning to the state park around 11 a.m. They will then begin the run, which begins on the gravel road next to the lake. They will run the length of the state park and go behind the Discovery Center. Runners will then take a right on State Park Road and left onto Brant Road. After a turnaround on that road, they will circumnavigate the park's campgrounds and return to State Park Road. A 2-mile jaunt on State Park Road will lead to a 1/4 mile climb up Thayerville Fire Tower Road and to a turnaround. Runners will return again to State Park Road and down Meadow Mountain Lane, re-entering the state park and completing the loop.

The International Race participants will share part of this course in their events, although their paths are shorter.

The first athletes in the SavageMan Half are expected to come through the finish line sometime around 12:45 p.m. The International race should start wrapping up about an hour earlier.

The final cut-off for racers is 4:40 p.m. During those hours, all residents, especially those living in that area, are asked to take note of the roadways involved and be aware of the athletes. All are encouraged to come out and cheer for the participants, Safko said.

Some athletes will do one portion of the races, such as just the bike event or just the running. Others are taking on the entire race. The results will be available online at the event web site, and local results will be reported in The Republican when they become available.

All proceeds of the SavageMan "Tri-to-Win...the fight against melanoma" Triathlon Festival benefit the Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation's efforts toward medical research leading to a cure for melanoma, opportunities to educate the general public on prevention and the seriousness of melanoma, and the development of resources for patients and the entire melanoma community.

Melanoma is the most serious and lethal form of skin cancer that strikes individuals of all ages, races, and economic levels.

"The foundation is very instrumental as 'the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care, and cure,'" Safko said.


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