Mary Patton

City: Gallatin Canyon State: MT

Favorite Shoe: Nike Air Zoom Orizaba Size: 8.5

Age: 48.1 years old

Marital Status: widowed

Family members:
I have 3 labs---2 blacks and 1 chocolate.

What I do for work:
I am in property management at Big Sky. I basically take care of other people's 2nd homes.

Places I’ve called home and why I like where I am now:
I have lived in Bemidji,MN; Sun Valley,ID; Vail,CO; and spent 10 summers in Yellowstone Park. I love my home in the Gallatin Canyon---I can walk out my door and run, hike, ski,etc. and it's so peaceful!

When I started running and what got me started:
I started running in college to lose weight and discovered I was one of those people who actually loved running and it just went from there.

What does running mean to me:
Running means a time all to myself where I can be alone with my thoughts where no one can "get" to me. It also represents all kinds of challenges---as many and as difficult as I choose to accept!

Running accomplishments:
I have run 11 marathons including Seattle, Twin Cities, and Boston. I place 26th out of 2500 women in TC, and 8th in my age group in the Boulder Boulder---2nd in the Governor's Cup. I have also finished dozens of trail and "incline" runs all over the country.

What I like about trail/mountain running:
I love feeling the pain and that sense of accomplishment when I'm finished---I really feel like I've done something.

Favorite running trail and why:
My favorite trail run is the Asbestos Mine trail in the Gallatin Canyon. I'ts close to my house and it's got a 1/4 mile patch that's just a killer!

Favorite trail/mountain race and why:
My favorite trail race is the Cache Creek Free-For-All in Jackson Hole. It's about 11 mi. so it's a decent length and it's got a lot of hill climbs throughtout. Not to mention it's a gorgeous run!

Best running experience:
I jumped in a 5k in my hometown, once, after a 7 mth. injury related lay-off. I didn't feel that great and when I got to the finish, my dad, who has since passe away, was standing there waiting for me.

Worst running experience:
The LA marathon---I suffered from heat exhaustion and puked about half-way thru!

Neatest thing found on a run:
Once, I stumbled right over a little mule deer fawn all curled up trying to be "invisible." Very cool!

Running related bathroom stop story:
When I worked at Fishing Bridge in the park I had gone out for an evening run and it was packed with tourists. I had to go #1 so bad and I was not near any trees and I just couldn't hold it anymore, so I just squated right on the side of the road and let 'er rip. The wierd thing is, I don't think one person noticed what I was doing.

Running pet peeves:
My running pet peeve is probably that come up next to me in a race and want to chat and chat. I try to get the message across nicely that I don't want to, but sometimes it doesn't work.

Something non running related that no one would guess about me:
That I have a big tatoo of the spirit bear on my lower back.

Other hobbies and interests:
I love to read and listen to music.

Other stuff:
I have entered the Ridge Run twice and both times have gotten injured or sick about a week befor and had to nix it. I want to run it before I'm 45. I just went thru 2 yrs of phys. therapy to get my hips back in alignment and I think I'm going to be ready, next year!

Page last modified: 7/16/2005