From Boating on the Mississippi to Swimrunning on Cape Cod

Hilliary Thompson loves to race, as does her sailboating spouse. Just don’t ask her to do any “pull” drills..

How did you get interested in swimming?
I grew up boating and camping on the Mississippi River, so my mom made sure my older sister and I learned how to swim. My sister eventually joined a team, and I followed (mostly because waiting on the deck with my mom was boring).

How long have you been swimming with ARMS?
I started with ARMS in January. My husband’s career in the Navy has caused us to move frequently, so I’ve swum with teams all over — from Tampa to Rhode Island to San Diego.

How often do you swim?
Three times a week. I swim with Masters on Sundays and solo before work on weekdays. Late-day workouts are my kryptonite: 90% of the time, I choose sleep over swimming. Maybe make that 100%.

Do your kids swim?
My oldest son retired from swimming after eighth grade to row crew, which he continued to do through college. He also rides centuries for fun.[1] My younger son swims for Tufts.

Does your spouse swim?
He’s a proud product of summer-league swimming in the 80s. So yes, he swims, but he prefers to spend time on the water, racing one-design sailboats (ILCA).[2]

Where did you grow up?
I proudly hail from Freeport, Illinois, although I attended high school at Pine Crest in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

What do you do for work?
Earlier this year, I joined Alexandria City Public Schools to teach high-school Earth Science. I’m excited for the new school year to begin. Thanks to my frequent moves, I’ve taught at as many schools as I’ve swum with Masters teams. I even taught English for two years at a Japanese high school when we were stationed at Atsugi.

Describe your pre-practice routine.
I pack my swim bag and head to the pool.

Post-practice?
Pack that bag back up and head home.

On a scale of one to 10, how hard do you typically work in practice?
An eight if I’m with a group; a four when I swim on my own. I excel at recovery workouts and tapering.

Tugging on the lane line: Every now and then, or never?
Only during warm-up and warm down.

Do you do the full 500 for warm-up, or do you follow the crowd?
I’d really prefer to do about a 100 and spend the extra time talking on deck, but I usually manage to swim at least a 400.

How do you decide which lane to swim in?
I’m pretty indifferent — I just prefer not getting lapped or being in a lane that isn’t crowded.

What do your lanemates know about you that others don’t?
I despise pulling and avoid it at all costs.

Do you stop after the last set, or do you warm down?
I always try to cool down, or my body holds a grudge.

Long course, or short course? Why?
I prefer long course when training for open-water swims. But short course always seem easier.

Favorite drill? Why?
Social kick. Because, duh, talking!

Least-favorite drill? Why?
Anything with breaststroke — because blegh breaststroke.

Favorite practice of the week?
I like Sundays because of the morning start time and the extra 30 minutes.

Favorite pro swimmer? Why?
Don’t have one.

What’s your one big (swimming) goal for 2026? Any upcoming meets?
I’ve gotten into ÖTILLÖ (Swedish for “island to island”) style Swimrun races[3] — and love trail running, swimming in shoes (well, that kind of sucks to be honest, but it’s fun), and racing with a partner. My nephew and I are teaming up for Swimrun Cape Cod this October (with a promise that he’ll take it easy on me!). In addition to a few summer open-water swims, I also throw in a random winter swim meet around January or February just to keep myself honest. I love racing in new venues whenever possible.

What’s your biggest pet peeve about swim etiquette?
I hate when people swim up my ass and then won’t go in front of me. (Fortunately, that hasn’t happened here.)

What do you love most about swimming?
Being in the water usually feels natural and easy — especially compared to running — and I love how I feel after a good workout. While I still fight a slightly irrational fear during open-water swims, nothing beats the feeling of swimming in clear water with wide expanses and incredible scenery. Dolphins are a big bonus.

What do you think about while in the water?
Honestly, not much. Swimming usually clears my mind, which is part of why I love the sport. That said, if I’m really hungry, I’m definitely thinking about what I’m going to eat after practice.

[1] Editor’s Note: I had to look up “century.” Apparently, it means biking 100 miles (an imperial century) or 100 kilometers (a metric century). Let’s hope it’s the former, which is brutal enough.

[2] Editor’s Note: “ILCA” stands for the International Laser Class Association. It’s the global organization that manages the single-handed, racing sailboat formerly known as the Laser.

“One-design” racing means that all vehicles (in this case, sailboats) have identical designs, avoiding the need for handicaps.

[3] Editor’s Note: ÖTILLÖ is the original and premier Swimrun race series. Teams of two alternate between trail running and open-water swimming across multiple islands.

Jonathan Rick, a freelance ghostwriter, is a lifelong swimmer who’s written for SwimSwam, attended Olympic Trials, and already booked tickets for LA28.