You can reap what you sow for the Mile

PREPARATION is key for swimmers looking to make a splash at this year’s Merrifield Mile, on February 26 at Wriggleswade Dam.

To complete the two main distances, the 1.6km Mile and the 500m Dash, casual swimmers will want to be fit enough to have fun and competitive swimmers will want to be fast enough to have a shot at the prizes available in each category.

There is also a short-course event – the Spur Splash – for children younger than nine but, for this, it is enough just to be competent on a pool noodle!

“Swimmers should be doing at least two sessions per week,” advised Stanmore Aquatics owner Marcelle Manson, who is also a former Springbok water polo and Springbok hockey player.

“For the dash, the swimmers should be concentrating on the shorter distance training and speed work since it is such a short, fast and exciting event. You want to make sure you are fit enough to be able to go at your fastest for the full dash! As for the mile, I would encourage the swimmers to be swimming longer swim sets at training. The Merrifield Mile, as fun and social as it is, is still 1.6km of hard swimming. So for average swimmers I would suggest you do one to 2km training sessions and then, for the speedsters, they should be aiming at doing 3km and more per training session.”

Manson encouraged swimmers of all abilities to get involved.

“The Merrifield Mile has become such an important sporting event in East London that I encourage all families to enter. Swimming is such a fantastic sport to do, whether you are young, old, fast or slow. This event especially caters for all the family and friends and is a great day out to enjoy.”

Merrifield Prep School head Debbie Lacey, a keen swimmer herself, said she had noticed an upswing in swimming training ahead of the Merrifield Mile.

“Pools around town are getting busier with some swimmers upping their training to improve on last year’s time. Others are getting advice on stroke correction, while the stalwarts are in the process of finding a costume that fits and then heading for a few swims to jolt the old muscle memory,” she said.

“Whichever category you fall in, be it for the Mile or Dash, we suggest you get out there and join in the training efforts. Put up a challenge among your colleagues, teammates or group of friends and come and join us for a fun family day outing on the banks of the Wriggleswade Dam.”

Lacey had a special challenge for the school swimmers out there, as there is a prize up for grabs for the high school and primary school with the most entries on the day.

“Merrifield students are out in force and you will see a very busy pool every morning before school. Both prep and college have been given a challenge of completing specific distances which is dash or age appropriate. The swimmers are ready and fired up and challenge other prep and high schools to get into the water and come swim with us.”

Event organiser Tracey Mangold, who is also Merrifield Prep School and College’s marketing manager, urged swimmers to get their entries in for the 15th edition of this event.

Each swimmer receives a goody bag and swimming cap, to be collected at registration at Merrifield School on Saturday, February 25, between 9am and 1pm. All entries can be done online at www.merrifieldmile. at Sportsmans Warehouse in Retail Park, Cycle HQ in Nahoon or at Merrifield Prep School and College, on the corner of Bonza Bay Road and the N6.

Entries cost R110 for the longer swims, open to any swimmer aged nine and over, and R80 for the Spur Splash, which is open to children aged nine-and-under. Entries remain open right through to Sunday morning where late entries, at a cost of R150 cash, will be accepted until 11am at Wriggleswade Dam.

Find event information, including overnight camping at the dam, at www.merrifieldmile.co.za. For further details, contact Tracey Mangold on 043-748-6094 or email — DDC