On Sunday, seven islands in Casco Bay played host to the first island to island style SwimRun race in the nation. 121 two-person teams competed, covering four miles of open ocean swimming and ten miles of running over the rugged terrain of the islands.
Matthew Hurley and John Stevens from Portland, Maine, arrived on the rockiest section of the course at Vaill Island with a sizeable lead on the other teams.
SwimRun is a relatively new sport in which competitors run and swim along a set course of cross-country runs and open water swims without any stops in between stages.
Sunday’s race drew competitors from across the country and included professional triathletes and top level SwimRunners.
As an added bonus, a $10,000 donation was made to the Travis Mills Foundation as the race’s charity partner.
Staff Sergeant Travis Mills is one of just five quadruple amputees to survive after being injured in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. His foundation is building a retreat in the Belgrade Lakes region of Maine for veterans and their families.
All photos from slowtwitch.com:
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- Earlier that day, following a half hour delay due to heavy fog the race got underway on Chebeague Island with a 1.8-mile run.
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- Dan Kimball and Marcus Barton are a very experienced and accomplished team, and they were in a tight race for the men’s podium throughout the day.
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- Matthew Hurley and John Stevens from Portland, Maine, arrived on the rockiest section of the course at Vaill Island with sizeable lead on the other teams.
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- The second team to come ashore on Vaill Island was the mixed team of pro triathlete David Thompson and Bridget McCoy from Minnesota.
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- Teams pacing over the rugged terrain on Vaill Island.
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- The exits and entries of some of the swims required careful attention to footing.
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- A women’s team experiencing some of Casco Bay’s natural habitat following the longest swim passage of the race.
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- Racers are welcomed to Peaks Island after a 1700-yd swim with an aid station and enthusiastic spectators.
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- Teams strung out on Seashore Avenue on the way to Torrington Point on Peaks Island.
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- The winning men’s team Hurley and Stevens at the finish line.
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- The winning mixed team was Thompson and McCoy with their lobster buoy awards.
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- The winning women’s team Erin Hunter and Emily Finanger at the finish. The teammates also finished third overall in the field of 120-plus teams.
