Built on Payne

When my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer at 46, my mom and her 6 siblings learned early what it means to keep moving forward in the face of adversity. She fought with extraordinary strength and lived long enough to meet all 16 of her grandchildren before passing at 76, leaving behind a legacy of grit and courage.

Over the years, we’ve faced more heartbreaking losses, including my Uncle Brian in 2022 to colon cancer and Lindsey Payne Welch to adrenal cancer. Each battle has deepened our commitment to showing up for our health and for each other. After my grandmother’s passing in 2005, my mom honored her battle and legacy by founding Team Payne for Swim Across America, a tradition that has become central to our family. Every July we dive into the Long Island Sound to swim in honor of the ones who can’t swim beside us anymore. For us, endurance isn’t just sport. Movement is medicine.

When my mom’s racing career ended in 2014 due to her own health complications, and after a legendary 9th place finish in her AG at the Kona Ironman World Championships, the next generation of Paynes picked up the torch. Last November, I ran the New York Marathon in honor of my Uncle Brian, and this summer my cousin Will (his son) and I completed our first 70.3 Ironman together on the very same course where my mom raced her first 21 years earlier.

Whether it’s open water swims, long bike rides, or miles on foot, the Payne name has become synonymous with resilience, grit, and unwavering support. As we carry the absence of our loved ones, their legacy fuels every race we enter and every challenge we take on. In our loss and grief, we have always come back to ourselves through endurance.

Payne isn’t just our family name - it’s a tribute to generations of finding strength in the fight for our health, a reminder that we are capable of more than we believe, and proof that movement can carry us forward even when we think we can’t go on.