Geno Phillips and Dean Thompson didn’t have much competition
Monday morning in the FCA races at Chattanooga State.
Phillips was victorious in the 10K with a time of 35 minutes
and one second as he beat runner-up Andy Highlander by almost two minutes. Highlander was timed in 36:48.
Thompson was the winner in the 5K with a time of 17 minutes,
two seconds as he beat runner-up Peyton Miller by 27 seconds.
This was the 26th annual event that benefits
local chapters of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Temperatures could have been cooler and the
humidity level could have been lower, but considering it was Labor Day in
Chattanooga, circumstances were about normal for a race on a flat course with
lots of food and beverage waiting at the finish line.
Phillips is that 42-year-old middle school teacher who is
still trying to get back in shape following a stress fracture in his hip. He had a better than average time, but
considering that he had to run virtually the whole way by himself, he was
pleased with the results.
“There’s not too much to tell as I was by myself the whole
way,” he said a little while after finishing.
“I wanted to dip below 35 minutes, but it was hard to keep
my rhythm when I zig-zagging around runners in the 5K. I feel like I had a pretty good run, but I
should be a lot quicker in the fall when it cools off a little. I did 12 on Saturday and another 12
yesterday, so I think I’ll take the rest of the day off,” he smiled.
Highlander, the 27-year-old civil engineer, is still focused
on running a strong race at the Air Force Marathon in Dayton, Ohio on Sept.
20. His most recent road races have been
used as training runs where he’s trying to get used to holding a six-minute pace
as long as possible. He knew that
battling Phillips for the overall honor was totally out of the question.
“I wasn’t racing him as I was running my marathon pace. It felt great as I just used this race as
another speed workout. But I’m hoping to
run 2:40 or better and I think that’s attainable,” he added.
Thompson will celebrate his 49th birthday on
Sept.
11. This is his ninth straight
year to run this race, but the first time to win it.
“It was a little warm out there. I had hoped to go under 17 minutes, but I
didn’t quite make it. If I’m going to
win a race, this one is my pick. I had a
5:25 first mile, but was by myself after that.
I didn’t slow down much and my pace didn’t increase either, so I’m
happy,” he added.
Thompson is now working for the Run For God organization as
he does marketing work in addition to starting a newsletter. He’s also involved in a daily devotional book
that will come out the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Miller is a 24-year-old MBA student at UTC. He knew exactly what his chances were long
before he reached the finish line by the tennis courts.
“I felt good today, but I had done a track meet with Dean
last week and I knew what to expect. I
gave him a little rope, but I just wanted to keep him in sight. This is my first race in a couple of months
and I’m very pleased.
“My goal was the lower 17s and I gave it all I had. I made a wrong turn near the end, but it only
cost me about five or six seconds,” he explained.
While Phillips and Thompson were the overall male winners in
the two races, Heritage senior Caitlin Craft was the women’s winner in the 5K
with a time of 20:23.
“This was my best race of the season so far. I have a big race on Saturday where I hope to
break 20, but I wanted to get in the low 20s so the jump wouldn’t be so
big. I had a good race today, but I
probably should have started out a little faster,” the slender 17-year-old
said.
While Craft was the women’s 5K winner, 37-year-old Renee
Beasley was the women’s winner in the 10K with a time of 49:38, which was 16th
in the field of 83 finishers.
Monday’s race marked the 26th straight year that
John Dixon was a participant and finished with a smile on his face like always.
Dixon is now a retired educator and coach from Polk County
who is the founding member of the Porky Pig Striders. He was running with his 12-year-old son
Barton, who is now playing football at Ocoee Middle School.
“It’s just another year, so tack on about three more
minutes,” he joked after finishing 237th out of 250 in the shorter
race with a time of 48:18.
“There are three races I do every year, including Peachtree
in Atlanta, the Karen Lawrence Run on New Year’s eve and this one. Today I ran with Barton,” the father said
proudly, noting that his son has run the last four FCA races.
Another smiling face at Monday’s gathering belonged to Louis
Priddy, who started this race when he owned the Front Runner. He’s been suffering from Bronchiectasis,
which is some kind of lung disease, for the past 19 years and he doesn’t get
out as often as he would like.
“I’m 78 going on 90,” the personable Priddy said while
watching runners cross the finish line.
“I just love seeing my old friends when I come to this race
and I’m so thankful for Chad Varga and the fact that he was willing to keep it
going when I sold the store to him.
We’ve each been the race director for 13 years now,” Priddy smiled.
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@comcast.net)