Triathlon training helps marriage, couple say

Dan and Alix Payton are training for Age Group Nationals and first Ironman.

Dan Payton (left) and Alix Payton of Springfield finish the cycling leg of the Giant Eagle Triathlon in Columbus on July 31. Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic

Barbara J. Perenic Dan Payton (left) and Alix Payton of Springfield finish the cycling leg of the Giant Eagle Triathlon in Columbus on July 31. Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic

ENLARGE PHOTO

Dan and Alix Payton at the Giant Eagle Triathlon in Columbus on July 31, 2011. Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic

Barbara J. Perenic Dan Payton (left) and Alix Payton of Springfield finish the cycling leg of the Giant Eagle Triathlon in Columbus on July 31. Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic

ENLARGE PHOTO

Phillips hits 2 HRs, Reds beat Braves
2012-05-22 23:40:12.385
Area Headlines: Shawnee senior signs with Urbana
2012-05-22 23:27:00.377
No shortage of corners drafted in first round
2012-05-22 23:13:01.053
Dalton: Arm is plenty strong
2012-05-22 22:47:37.149
McCoy hopes to get fair fight for starting QB job
2012-05-22 22:23:01.271
> More sports headlines

By David Jablonski, Staff Writer 10:08 PM Monday, August 8, 2011

Editor’s Note: The News-Sun is profiling area triathletes with a series of stories leading up to the Great Buckeye Challenge in Springfield on Aug. 21.

SPRINGFIELD — From the beginning, Springfield’s Dan and Alix Payton raced together. The first time they ran a marathon, in Columbus in 2001, they did it together. In April 2010, they competed in their first triathlon — together. In November, they will tackle their first Ironman — together.

In two weeks, they take their swimming, biking and running talents to the USA Triathlon Age Group Championships in Burlington, Vt. Racing together — be it in triathlons, running races or biking events — and training together is one of the big reasons they like the multisport competitions.

“That’s been huge,” said Dan Payton, 40, a 1989 Kenton Ridge High School graduate. “We had our kids pretty young. She was 19. I was 20. We didn’t have that time together as a couple. What fitness has done, through either cycling or running or triathlons, has been great for our marriage.”

The Paytons are one of the top married triathlon duos in Springfield. They won’t be competing at the Great Buckeye Challenge triathlon because they will be racing in Vermont, but they have been all over Ohio this summer competing.

Dan finished first in his age group (40-44) at the Giant Eagle Triathlon in downtown Columbus on July 31. His time of 2 hours, 8 minutes in the 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike and 10K run event was just six minutes behind the slowest professional racer. There were 18 male pros in the race.

Both the Paytons qualified for nationals with their performances at the Ohio University Triathlon on May 7. Alix, 39, finished first in her age group (35-39), and so did Dan — not bad for two triathletes who are still newcomers to the sport. Both still struggle with the swim.

“I panic,” said Alix, a 1990 Catholic Central graduate. “It’s the whole concept of open water. I just didn’t grow up doing swim teams. That’s my biggest battle, getting over myself.”

“We’re still fighting through it,” Dan said. “We’ve seen progress. It’s just one of those things where form and stroke efficiency matter so much. I don’t have it. I’m waling in the water still. We’re really trying. I’m seeing my times come down a bit.”

They both make up for any weakness in the swim with their times on the bike. The Paytons are not only members of the STAR racing team (Springfield Triathletes and Area Racers), but they also wear the green jersey of the Champion City Cycling team.

Both sport scars from recent crashes, but that hasn’t slowed them down. They take one day off every 10 days. That’s what you have to do when you’re training for the Ironman, a race that includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike and a 26.2-mile run. It will be Nov. 5 in Panama City, Fla.

“That’s our end goal,” Alix said. “Everything else is fun in between. We’re not getting any younger. If we don’t do it now, you just never know when it’s going to happen.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0351 or djablonski@coxohio.com.

Great Buckeye Challenge

When: 8 a.m., Aug. 21

Where: Buck Creek State Park

What: There are three types of races, each of varying distances: the Sprint, Mini and Half Iron. There is also an Aqua Bike race for athletes who are only swimming and biking. This year, there is also a women-only event, the Triathlon for the Cure, on Aug. 20 at Buck Creek.

More info: HFPracing.com.

Share this article