Survival of the Shawangunks Race, New Paltz, NY

Hudson Valley Triathlon One of Country’s Most Grueling

Nov 18, 2008 Terence P Ward

A typical triathlon is a 140-mile race combining swimming, cycling, and running. The SOS is only a fraction as long, but with seven transitions it's one of the toughest.

The Survival of the Shawangunks, or SOS, was founded in 1983 as a way to train for the Ironman Triathlon. Taking place in New Paltz, New York, it has seven transitions as competitors race along the picturesque Shawangunk Ridge. Self-sufficiency in this race is celebrated; participants must carry their running shoes as they swim and may only have one assistant along a course that boasts thousand-foot changes in elevation.

When organizer Don Davis started the SOS, he ran it unofficially with only two others in secrecy, as they had not obtained permission from private landowners for the competition. After that initial test, he made the race official, but limited the competition to triathletes whom had completed at least a half-triathlon in the previous 18 months. The race was capped at 150 participants until 2007, at which point the field was expanded to 170.

Course of the SOS Triathlon

The race is 50.5 miles long, beginning at the Ulster County Fairgrounds. Participants begin by bicycling thirty miles. This is followed by a total of seven grueling transitions: a 4.2 mile run to Lake Awosting, 1.1 mile swim across the lake, 5.5 miles on foot to Lake Minnewaska, a 0.5 mile swim along that lake's eastern shore, an 8 mile run to Lake Mohonk, a 0.5 mile swim along the east shore of Mohonk Lake, and a 0.7-mile uphill run to the Skytop Tower on Shawangunk Ridge. The course gains and loses several thousands of feet of altitude and provides a number of stunning views for participants, and the finish line is visible from a number of points along the course.

The best overall time for the event was 4:10:43 by Erik Grimm in 1993; Jan Wanklyn holds the record for best female finish with her time of 4:44:49 in 2000. In 2002, weather conditions necessitated a modified course of 30 miles bicycling, a 19-mile run, a half-mile swim in Lake Mohonk, and a final 0.7-mile run up Skytop, for a total of 50.2 miles.

Independent Spirit

Most triathlons have a number of volunteers that help competitors change clothes, get their bicycles, and prepare for the next leg of the race. Not so for the Survival of the Shawangunks. Participants are required to carry everything they need to race with them the entire time, which leads to some interesting strategic decisions about shoes. Some swim with them on, or pull them on small rafts. Others tuck them into their swimsuits, and a few hardy souls run the final leg up Skytop barefoot. The self-sufficiency requirements of the SOS add to the challenges of this small but difficult race that attracts competitors from all over the continent.

The copyright of the article Survival of the Shawangunks Race, New Paltz, NY in Running & Marathons is owned by Terence P Ward. Permission to republish Survival of the Shawangunks Race, New Paltz, NY in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Some SOS Competitors Run Barefoot