Ryun was born in Wichita, Kansas.
He now lives in Lawrence, though he was listed in the House roll as "R-Topeka."
He also owns a farm in Jefferson County.

Ryun met his wife, Anne, when she asked him for an autograph after he broke the world record for the mile in Berkeley.
They married in 1969 and have four children and seven grandchildren.
He and his sons, Ned Ryun and Drew, have co-authored three books: Heroes Among Us, The Courage to Run, and  In Quest of Gold – The Jim Ryun Story.

After graduating from the University of Kansas in 1970 with a degree in photojournalism, Ryun moved to Eugene, Oregon; looking for a good training situation to continue his track career.
Six months later, he moved to Santa Barbara, California, where he and his family remained for nine years.
He and his family moved back to Lawrence in 1981.

Raised in the Church of Christ, Ryun and his wife are members of Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Lawrence.

President Donald Trump awarded Jim Ryun the Presidential Medal of Freedom on July 24, 2020.
Ryun was born in Wichita, Kansas. He now lives in Lawrence, though he was listed in the House roll as "R-Topeka." He also owns a farm in Jefferson County.
Ryun met his wife, Anne, when she asked him for an autograph after he broke the world record for the mile in Berkeley. They married in 1969 and have four children and seven grandchildren. He and his sons, Ned Ryun and Drew, have co-authored three books: Heroes Among Us, The Courage to Run, and  In Quest of Gold – The Jim Ryun Story.
After graduating from the University of Kansas in 1970 with a degree in photojournalism, Ryun moved to Eugene, Oregon; looking for a good training situation to continue his track career. Six months later, he moved to Santa Barbara, California, where he and his family remained for nine years. He and his family moved back to Lawrence in 1981.
Raised in the Church of Christ, Ryun and his wife are members of Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Lawrence.
President Donald Trump awarded Jim Ryun the Presidential Medal of Freedom on July 24, 2020.
Jim Ryun