A Texas native, Payson relocated to Durango, Colorado in 2012 to position himself in the epicenter of endurance mountain biking where he spends a majority of his time training for races (20-30 hours weekly), often with other pro athletes in the area. “We’re all friendly, there’s no weird competitiveness. We’re just a bunch of friends that like to train together and make each other better.”

But don’t be fooled. The camaraderie Payson shares with his fellow competitors doesn’t negate a desire to win. In fact, it’s his ability to turn inward and risk it all that Payson says gives him his edge. “I’m a survivor. The rougher, gnarlier, and often longer an event goes, the better it is for me. I’m not always the most physically talented one in the group, but my ability to persevere is what sets me apart.”

So what’s next on that mile-long bucket list? Payson intends to discover the world by bike and trail. He just returned from a trip to Bentonville, Arkansas, a city that in recent years, has transformed from relative obscurity into a premier mountain biking destination. Eager to uncover the passion behind the hype, Payson designed and took on a self-mandated “trail challenge,” riding through Bentonville’s 142 miles of terrain in a single day. These are the types of experiences that get Payson excited and inspire him to cut back on smaller race events to make more time for passion projects.