Laguna Pueblo Resident Del Carrillo Becomes First to Achieve 500 Miles at Milan Swimming Pool

MILAN, NM – On December 20, the Milan Swimming Pool held a small ceremony to recognize their first swimmer to enter the 500-mile club. Del Carrillo, a 75-year-old resident of Seama in Laguna Pueblo achieved the feat and said that the feat took him 2 to 3 years to achieve. Del also received a certificate and a shirt to commemorate the 500 miles.

Carrillo spoke briefly about how he achieved 500 miles at the Milan Swimming Pool, “[I came to the Milan Swimming Pool] about 4 times a week, but it doesn’t always work out that way sometimes… But at least 4 times a week.” Carrillo then goes on to say that it takes an hour round trip to go to the Milan Swimming Pool and that bad weather in the winter prevents him from driving to Milan. Carrillo also said that construction to the pool and other issues were also a factor in how long it took to achieve 500 miles.

There has been improvement over time according to Carrillo, “I’ve increased milage over the years, I look back at logs that I kept when I first started swimming. One mile, 500 yards, that was good for me then. Now I average 50 laps, which is about 1.4 miles each workout. On a good day when I feel good, I’ll swim 62 laps, which is about 1.72 miles.” Carrillo is also very focused on keeping himself healthy, he said that he takes days off to recuperate and avoid injury. The 500 mile feat is very impressive, to put it in perspective, Grants, New Mexico to Las Vegas, Nevada is 500 miles.

Carrillo said that being in the Marine Corps has helped him achieve this goal, “The Marine Corps also instilled a lot of discipline in me. If it hadn’t been for that training. It’s very easy to wake up and say, ‘No I’ll do it another day.’” Carrillo thanked Pool Manager Marvin Platero for helping him reach this goal, “Plus with the help of people like Marvin. He helps me all the way, he gives me heads up if they are going to close, or something is going on… Because he knows I have to drive all that way. There’s been many times on the road when I was getting close to the exit, and I get a text from him, and I pull over [and say] ‘Well let me see.’” Carrillo also thanked the lifeguards because in order to swim a lifeguard needs to be present and he also thanked his family for “always encouraging me on.” “Just having this pool here in Milan. The leadership has kept it open through a lot of budget issues, mechanical issues, all kinds of stuff. Just a lot of support.”