Monique Merrill

Veteran adventure racer Monique Merrill, or “Mona” brings eleven years of racing experience in a variety of mountain sports to Team Nike. In addition to helping the team gain top finishes at major events in 2005, Monique has accrued a garage full of awards from pro NORBA, Xterra, Nordic and Randonee competitions. During the 2005-2006 season, she competed in the World Championships of three different disciplines, finishing 9th at the XTerra World Championships, 2nd with Team Nike at the AR World Championships and 9th at the World Championship Randonee Uphill in Italy. She was the overall National Ski Mountaineering Champion in 2005 and was honored with the Teva Mountain Games Everest Award for Adventure Racing in 2006.

The element of adventure racing Monique loves most is its capacity to evoke self awareness and help participants push past fears and gain a larger perspective about the world “Adventure racing” reflects Monique, ” enriches my life by providing me with perspectives and shrinking my fears. I end up being more grateful for my amenities at home and having more humor and patience. The world, thankfully, becomes a bigger place – and I become more humble.” Monique is currently engaged to endurance athlete Pete Swenson. They divide their time between Pete’s home in Boulder and Monique’s home at 10,500 feet above Breckenridge, Colorado, where she runs a small natural foods store called Amazing Grace.

2006 Primal Quest Championship, 1st Place

2006 World Championship Randonee Uphill, Italy. 9th, Individual Hill Climb

2005 North American Ski Mountaineering Championships, 2nd

2005 Adventure Racing World Champions, 2nd (Team Nike)

2005 Life -Link Randonee Ski Mountaineering Series National Champion

2005 Raid Adventure Racing World Championships, 3rd

2005 XTerra World Championship, 9th

2005 XTerra National Championship, 3rd

2005 Adventure Raid World Cup #2, 2nd (Team Nike)

2004 Mild Seven Outdoor Quest, 2nd (Team Nike/Balance Bar)

2004 Beaver Creek 100 Mile Mountain Bike Race, 2nd (Tokyo Joes)

2004 NORBA Pro MTB Race, Crested Butte. 1st (Tokyo Joes)