Sports

Meet Eddie Switaj, Mercer Island's Fastest in Half-Marathon

Finishing 33rd overall, Islander and financial professional Eddie Switaj is a professional triathlete in his spare time and used and is training for the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon this June.

Starting a new job and a new family can be a challenge to staying fit for most people — who have a hard time fitting it all in. But Mercer Island's Eddie Switaj seems to be managing pretty well. He finished the with a time of 1:24:04, making him the fastest Islander in the race.

Switaj, an investment portfolio manager, also races as a professional triathlete on the side for Redmond-based VO2 Multisport Elite Team, which trains athletes from all over the Eastside and Seattle. He and his coach Ben Bigglestone have teamed up to win five races last year, earning his professional credentials. The half marathon served as a training race to get ready for the triathlon season that starts with Escape from Alcatraz in San Francisco in June.

"It's nice to be able to train on home turf," said Switaj, "I train on those roads ever week. It's nice to see so many people that I know on the Island as well."

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In addition to his full time job, he trains 15-plus hours per week, and is a new father to Emerson, his 7-week old daughter. Most days of the week you'll find the 27-year-old running or cycling along East or West Mercer Way — or entire trees in the road shoulder — with father-in-law Craig Hammond, training for the next triathlon. He also gets a lot of support from Islander Neil Chasen through his sports therapy shop in Bellevue, Sports Reaction Center.

"I grew up swimming at a high level, so it's great to be able to continue that part of my life," Switaj said. "It's nice to keep a good balance …  if you're getting stressed out at work it's great to be able to get out and go for a run or a swim."

A state champ in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly from nearby Sammamish High School, he competed at the collegiate level at the University of Arizona. Following graduation in 2006, Switaj returned to the area and married his high school sweetheart — 2002 grad Allison Hammond — and bought a fixer-upper.

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"For the past 3 years while he has been getting back into the sport, we have been remodeling every inch of our 50s charmer," Allison said.

Running is actually the weakest of his three triathlon legs, as he grew up as a swimmer, and didn’t start training for running until recently. He focuses on Olympic distance triathlons which comprise of a 1 mile swim, 40 kilometer bike ride and 10 kilometer run.

He is also sponsored by Bothell-based running company Brooks (is part of their Elite ID program) as well as swim company TYR and nutrition company GU.

The triathlon season kicks off for Switaj with the Escape from Alcatraz in San Francisco race this June.

— Story written with contributions from Allison Switaj


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