John Payne

Used the 5k on St. Patricks day as the last 3 of an 18 mi.

“Someday I will no longer be able to run, today is not that day”

City: Colorado Springs State: CO

Age: 48.4 years old

Marital Status: Married

Family members:
1 wife
1 son
1 daughter
1 dog
1 cat
1 fish
(no, for real, it just worked out that way)

What I do for work:
Policy Analyst for SAIC

Places I’ve called home and why I like where I am now:
Grew up in Denver, spent four years in Germany (Army) and landed here. The Springs is a great place, not too big, not too small, just right.

When I started running and what got me started:
Christmas 2007 I endured approximately 476,823,947.27 gibes and jests from family and friends about "puttin' it on around the middle" and decided that crap had to end.

What does running mean to me:
freedom, endless challenges, space to think (or not), sunsets and sunrises, blizzards, heat waves, the sudden smell of lilacs, waving encouragement, getting stronger

Running accomplishments:
2008 GOTG 10mi 1:35:00
2008 Pony Express Trail Run 2:28:22
2009 Rock Canyon Half-Marathon 1:48:02
2009 PPRR (long)Winter Series (including the valentines day massacre)
2009 Collegiate Peaks Trail Run 25M 4:56

What I like about trail/mountain running:
I've always loved hiking and backpacking, running is just another cool thing to do in my favorite places

Favorite running trail and why:
I haven't run it but I think the stretch of Colorado trail that goes through the Weimenuche wilderness is pretty close to heaven

Favorite trail/mountain race and why:
The collegiate peaks race is the longest, so I'm proud of that but the Pony Express is fun because it's so informal and the horseshoe is awesome.

Best running experience:
The Saturday I ran the Waldo/LRR double alone in a snowstorm, nearly hypothermic at the end, took nearly 6hrs. Stupid you say? Yeah but, I did it.

Something non running related that no one would guess about me:
I consider myself a Christian based on my belief in Christ. Now if only I can follow that up with being a decent human.

Other hobbies and interests:
Camping and hiking, discussing politics and religion, beer, coffee, medieval history, and since Amanda has got into cooking I'm a bit of a foodie.

Other stuff:
Eat dessert first, read HHGTTG (all 5 of the trilogy), If there is a God he has a wicked sense of humor, so be godlike, laugh.

Page last modified: 5/30/2009