NAC Master's Profile: Rusty Miller
NAC Parent Rusty Miller is up next in our NAC Master's Profile! Thanks, Rusty!
When did you join NAC Masters and how often do you swim?
I joined NAC Masters in 2003 when Jeremy was coaching the group. I try to swim four times a week. Less than three times a week and I find my fitness level going backwards.
What is your background as a swimmer and athlete?
I am the oldest of four with a brother slightly more than a year behind me and two younger sisters. Needless to say, Mom was very interested in getting us out of the house to burn some energy. There was group of kids on the block where I grew up that swam with the St. Mary’s Whalemen at Marist College. We joined the carpool when I was 8. A year later we moved to CT.
By graduation in 1992, I was an NCAA athlete and Senior National qualifier. I swam for four years at Princeton finishing as high as 6th in conference as a flyer and backstroker. We won conference three of my four seasons and were undefeated twice. I was a state champion and high school All-American for Darien High School as a freestyle sprinter. At the New Canaan YMCA, we finished in the Top 10 at YMCA Nationals where I placed as high as 3rdindividually and 2nd on a relay. As an Age Group swimmer, I was ranked nationally from 1982 through 1987 in more than 20 events. In 1985, I swam the (then) 6th fastest recorded 200 IM time for 13-14 boys (1:57.03) ranking 2nd in the U.S. behind some kid from Nashville (editor's note: Chas Morton). The swim remained in the NAG Top 100 until 2008 and is still the CT resident record today.
What motivates you to wake up and swim at 6am?
I get to see friends, focus on my fitness for an hour before others wake up, and know that I’ll feel good throughout the day and sleep well when it ends. A pretty sweet bargain if you ask me.
Outside of the pool, who are you?
I am the proud father of four wonderful children (Grace 11, Thomas 9, Julia 6, and Lauren 3). The older two are on Red Team. The younger two are learning. My amazing wife, Heather, is a pediatrician in private practice. I am an economist by training and a banker by trade. I work at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. I enjoy baseball and cooking.
Some people might be surprised to know that...
My Honda Civic is the only car I have ever owned (it is 19 years old) and I still have all my baseball cards from middle school.
Favorite Brian Allen-ism:
mornin’ sunshine
