Casco Bay SwimRun- first of its kind in U.S.- helps injured veteran’s foundation

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 sizeable lead on the other teams.

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.

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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:

Chris Shorr

About Chris Shorr

Chris is a sixth generation Portlander who loves all things Maine. He has worked with mentally ill and marginalized adults at a Portland non-profit, on a lobster boat in Casco Bay, at several high-end Portland restaurants, and at a local meat packing plant. He also ran for Portland City Council in 2013, wrote a weekly column in the now defunct Portland Daily Sun, and currently writes a weekly column in The Portland Phoenix.