Dean Thompson Using Running As A Ministry Tool

Talented North Georgian Now Helping Others Achieve Personal Goals

  • Thursday, November 13, 2014
  • John Hunt

Dean Thompson had dreams of one day being a major league baseball player, but through the influence of an outstanding high school coach, he chose to become a runner instead.

Sounds like he made a pretty good decision.

Thompson is the reigning Open Male Runner of the Year for the Chattanooga Track Club, but it didn’t start out that way for the 49-year-old Cohutta resident who was born in New Jersey before growing up in Riverdale, a community just south of Atlanta.

“I ran track and cross country in high school and I also love playing baseball.  I was the centerfielder and didn’t let anything hit the ground, but the track coach came up to me and said that baseball and track seasons are at the same time and that I couldn’t do both,” he said while relaxing in the lobby of the downtown YMCA Wednesday afternoon.

Who knows what his numbers were on the baseball field, but he put up some pretty impressive numbers as a runner as he earned three state championships at Riverdale before graduating in 1983. 

He won the state cross country title as a senior before winning the 1600 and 3200 titles in spring track.  Those accomplishments helped him earn a scholarship to Georgia Tech.

“I ran at Georgia Tech for one year, but I didn’t have much respect and appreciation for the coach, so I went out and got a job.  I did learn how to be a good student while I was there.  I almost flunked out at the start as I wasn’t serious about academics, but I made the Dean’s List five of the last six semesters before I graduated in 1988,” he stated.

Thompson had a degree in management and later spent more than 26 years working at first for Queen Carpet and then for Shaw Industries in Dalton. He did a little running during that time, but was never really dedicated to the sport in which he has since excelled.

Dean is the father of two sons, including Matthew who is 24 and Caleb, who is 20.  Matthew decided to run cross country in high school and that’s what ultimately got his father back on the running path.

“Just before I turned 40, Matthew started running cross country and that got me fired up to get started again,” Dean said.

His running has really taken off since that time and recent results just prove the quality of his performances.

He went to Wilmington, N.C. on October 25 for the Beach to Battleships Ironman race where he finished 18th overall with an outstanding time of 9:44. 

“I had hopes of being around 10 hours that day if everything went perfect, but things went better than expected.  The swim was fast as the tide was coming in and the rest of the race went really well,” he stated, noting that his bike split for the 112-mile ride was something like 5:15 before posting an amazing 3:22 for the marathon.

“That was my first Ironman and my last.  It had been on my bucket list, but it’s checked off now.  I think I’ve done three triathlons now and two of them were sprints.  I may do some shorter ones, but I hate the swimming as I’m so bad at it.

“But I really enjoyed that Ironman.  Being out there all day, the pain came on so slow, but I couldn’t believe the energy I had at the end.  I finished with a good run, but the miles felt so long and slow,” he added with a smile.

He didn’t give himself much time to recover as he led the pace group for the 3:15 marathoners last Saturday at Chickamauga.  It was the third straight year he’s been a pacer and he’s pretty good at that too as he finished in 3:14:58.

“I really didn’t know how I’d feel just two weeks later and I was hurting toward the end trying to keep the pace.  But I helped a guy run a 3:16 whose previous best had been a 3:44, so it was all worth it,” he said.

Thompson hasn’t run that many marathons – “maybe 10 and three have been as a pacer” – but he posted his personal best of 2:39 at Myrtle Beach in 2013.

Turns out he was the overall winner that day as he caught the winner in the last mile to prevail over a field that included more than 1,800 runners.

“I won that day, but I was lucky.  I had no idea I might win, but there was a little out-and-back section at the 22-mile mark and I saw the leader at that time.  A race volunteer told me that he wasn’t that far ahead, so I started pushing harder.

“I didn’t see him when I got to 23 and I still hadn’t seen him at 24, but I finally spotted him when I got to the 25-mile mark.  I finally caught him with about a half-mile to go and felt bad for him, but not enough to slow down.  That was a neat experience,” stated Thompson.

Now that the Ironman and Chickamauga Marathon are both in the past, he’s now focused on the National Masters Cross Country Club Championships, which will be in Bethlehem, Pa. on Dec. 13. 

He’s been doing this event for the past five years and represents the Chattanooga Track Club as he runs with guys like Tim Ensign, Hugh Enicks, Chad Varga, Ryan Shrum and Joe Johnson among others.

“This will be my fifth time and you never know what kind of course we’ll get, but it is a 10K and we’re looking forward to it,” he said.

Dean’s focus has changed a bit in recent months as he changed jobs and is doing something totally different than in years past.

Mitchell Hollis started the Run For God organization some five years ago in Dalton.  It’s a basic running program that helps people start running and allows them to follow a simple plan where they can complete a 5K in 12 weeks.

A book will be coming out on Black Friday that includes short devotionals and short, inspiring stories about running.  That writing connection is what got Dean involved.

“Mitchell and I got to know each other, but he had no idea that I have a passion for writing.  He asked if I would be willing to write a short story for all 52 weeks and I agreed to do that,” Dean responded.

What started out as a part-time job has now evolved into a full-time position.

“We have nine races and four of them are virtual, but I’m the National Race Director.  All of them are local with some in Dalton and a couple at Camp Jordan.  The book had information for the 5K at the start, but now includes programs for a 10K and a half-marathon.

“We’ve sold more than 50,000 books and we’re having a free 5K this Saturday night at Coahulla Creek High School where the race finishes inside the gym.  It all starts at 7 p.m. and we’ll show Billy Graham’s movie “My Hope For America” afterward.

“We’re just wanting to give something back to the community.  It’s been a great experience, but it’s all about helping someone do something they don’t think they can do.  I love to run, but it’s not just about me.  I feel like God has a purpose for me as he gave me the ability to run.  I feel like I’m doing what he wants me to do,” he added.

Another thing that most folks don’t know is that Dean is currently writing a book about running.  He’s already got a name for it, which is “Running Into Faith.”  He’s completed the first eight chapters and hopes to finish it in the coming months, but that’s something he’s been working on this summer.

Debbie is his wife of 13 years and she’s his biggest supporter.

“I’ve very blessed to have her by my side as she’s my biggest fan.  There are two things I told her before we got married, that I don’t buy jewelry and that I’m going to run.  She’s always there to support me and I call her and my mother after every race,” he said.

Running has been a significant part of Dean Thompson’s life.  It helped him get a college education and it’s providing a way to make a living today.  So what’s next on his list?

“I’ll celebrate my 50th birthday next September and I’m planning to be in the best shape of my life,” he said.

Dean has experienced his own personal victories through running and he’s helping others to achieve their own.  And that’s what makes the whole thing so meaningful for him.

(This is the 38th in a series of features on runners in the Chattanooga area.  If you know someone who might make an interesting story, email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@comcast.net)

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