Andy Dillon

City: Colorado Springs State: CO

Favorite Shoe: Nike or New Balance Size: 10

Age: 47.1 years old

Marital Status: Married

Family members:
Wife Jane, also an IC member.

Places I’ve called home and why I like where I am now:
Moved from Nottingham, England to Colorado Springs in 1997 with the idea of staying a year or two. We liked it so much we decided to stay.

When I started running and what got me started:
I used to do cross country at school but I was never much good at it and much preferred playing soccer and cricket. I used to jog occasionally on the rainy streets in England or through the mud in the local parks but it never appealed that much - UNTIL I CAME TO COLORADO! The trails and the weather are so fantastic I just love to get out there now whenever I can.

What does running mean to me:
It's a great way of staying fit and exploring the trails with like-minded lunatics :-)

Running accomplishments: View my Pikes Peak Ascent/Marathon results

What I like about trail/mountain running:
It's great to run with a group of enthusiastic people through beautiful scenery. I never seem to get bored running on the trails in Colorado Springs.

Favorite running trail and why:
I like the trails through Garden of the Gods, Waldo Canyon and Barr Trail. You can't beat the scenery and the varied terrain.

Favorite trail/mountain race and why:
Pikes Peak Ascent. It's a great occasion and an enormous challenge.

Best running experience:
Went up to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and found a spectacular trail round a lake - Jenny Lake - which Jane and I ran. The scenery was fantastic with the Grand Tetons in the distance and the weather was perfect. But it's hard to beat Colorado...

Worst running experience:
First time doing the Ascent (in 1999). Got leg cramps and stomach problems above the treeline and wanted to die! I eventually crawled to the top in nearly 6 hours and vowed never to run this stupid race again. But lack of willpower set in and I did it again in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Running related bathroom stop story:
See story about the Ascent of 1999. The bad stomach thing all happened above the tree line so it's not easy to hide! Might have had something to do with eating oatmeal for breakfast - won't do that on race day again!

Other hobbies and interests:
For about 20 years I was a big soccer fan in England and most Saturday afternoons were spent supporting a team called Nottingham Forest. I'm wearing the team hat in the photo. Whenever I visit England I try and get to a game.

I like to ski (downhill and cross country) and play soccer.

Page last modified: 11/17/2005