An Orillia couple is set to compete in the National Senior Games in Florida next month.
Tim and Nancy Payne will make the trip to Fort Lauderdale on May 10. Nancy will be representing Simcoe County on the global stage in the five- and 10-kilometre road races and the 1,500-metre track race (65 to 69 age group). Tim will be competing in the five-km road race and the 800- and 1,500-metre track events (70 to 74 age group).
Tim, 72, and Nancy, 66, have been passionate about running for as long as they can remember. They met through a running club in Toronto. Tim believes he’s been in 1,390 races throughout his running career. Nancy, on the other hand, hasn’t kept track.
Tim says running is a sport that is easily accessible to most people, and it requires minimal equipment, which is a plus.
“For me, I’ve always enjoyed the competitive aspect,” the Toronto native said. “Of course, as you age, running is very useful for other sports, also.”
Nancy likes the simplicity of running and the ability to exercise.
“It gives me a sense of freedom when I’m running,” the Windsor native said. “It’s something we can do together, too.”
The couple stays active by running in the winter on the indoor track at the Orillia Recreation Centre. They have been running together for more than 42 years.
Tim has been running in the National Senior Games every two years since 2001 (except in 2011).
“It will be our first trip of any sort to the States since COVID,” he said. “We love to have the chance to mix in with various seniors who are involved with the 20 different sports.”
Nancy has been running in the games since 2015.
“I’m excited to be in a warmer climate,” she said with a chuckle. “My sister is coming with us from Alabama, so I’m looking forward to that company.”
Tim is entering the event as a multi-time bronze-medal winner, but he has suffered injuries in his more recent performances at the games, which has limited his success.
“This year I’m going in healthier and more fit,” he said. “I don’t think medals are in the cards for me, but I think a top-10 finish is possible.”
Nancy has won a bronze medal in local cross-country running events, but her goal at the games is to just do her best.
“Medals are probably not going to be there for me,” she said. “The competition at these events is pretty steep.”
During the pandemic, the Paynes have been able to stay fit despite a series of international race competitions being cancelled.
“We’ve really enjoyed the Rotaract Snowflake Series here in Orillia,” Tim said. “There is a good running community here in the Orillia area.”
The duo has also been staying competitive by having weekly time trials in order to beat personal records.
“We’ve had the opportunity to try and do these with a few good friends of ours on the Orillia bike path system,” Tim said. “It’s been a consistent thing for us during the long pandemic and that has helped us stay more race ready and more race fit.”
The Paynes thank their friends, Roger Deplancke, Rick Ball and Dan Boon, for their support throughout the pandemic.
