Getting to know your Sponsors- The Thompson Family

Below we have a Q & A from a newer sponsor to the DINO Trail Running Series and events, The Thompson Family. Though their entire family act as participants and support the series, I "Joshua" have personally had the privilege of getting to know Paul Thompson over the course of this year and building what is bound to be a solid friendship. The Thompson Family and others like the Williams family "recently featured" are the definition of what the Trail Run Series races hope to do - Bring families outdoors and on the trail together in what often might be hidden gems in Indiana! We hope you enjoy as much as we did!

DINO - How long have you been racing with DINO ?  Are you involved in our trail runs, mountain biking, adventure races or triathlon? What was your first race with DINO? What was your most memorable race with DINO and why ? 

Paul Thompson - My first DINO race was the start of the Trail Run Series in 2015, and I've done three seasons at the 5k distance (plus a few bonus runs). My favorite DINO run was the Total Eclipse Trail Run in 2024 (I ran the 5 miler). The weather was perfect, and with the event's flexible start, I was able to enjoy the eclipse with my family before taking off under the still partially-eclipsed afternoon sun. The photos, the race shirt, the medals, and the total eclipse itself made it one of the coolest (and most surreal) races I've run.

Total Eclipse Trail Run per Paul's mention

DINO - What keeps you coming back to DINO year after year?

Paul Thompson - First, I should mention that our family doesn't live in Indiana, so we're traveling 2 or 3 hours to most races, and it's always worth the drive. The enthusiasm at DINO events is consistently high, with a mix of elite competitors, first-time trail runners, and everything in between (plus tons of friends & family cheering everyone on). Staff & volunteers are helpful and friendly, race courses are varied and beautiful, and there's really nothing like it in this region (especially true for the series). Our family enjoys visiting the various parks and preserves, many of which are hidden gems, and with so many events being held (5k & 10k, kids race, assorted bike divisions), every DINO weekend has a fun festival atmosphere, especially when camping is available.  Lastly, the trail running community has grown more focused on marathons and ultras over the years, so the 5k & 10k trail races at DINO are a welcome reprieve for runners like myself, who crave the all-out intensity and fast pace that longer distances lack.

DINO - Have you ever raced the series, either Mountain bike or run?  Tell us about your series experience and the way it challenged you during that particular year of racing. 

Paul Thompson - The series is everything for me - I like that it requires consistent training throughout a large part of the year, which helps keep me focused. The series points system adds interest and encourages friendly competition (while also providing a longer-term training goal). I also enjoy seeing familiar faces, getting to know the people at a similar ability level (the people I'm chasing and the ones chasing me), and watching runners improve throughout the season. The series creates a level of camaraderie that I've rarely experienced at a non-DINO race.

DINO - Tell us about your family's involvement with DINO. Do they also participate as athletes or are they primarily supporting you at the start/finish line? 

Paul Thompson - My wife also ran her first DINO race in 2015, while our daughters ran their first races this year (kid's races for our younger one). They've also been to many trail races over the years to lend their support. There is so much more to do on a DINO weekend than just the races, and we try to take full advantage of the whole experience - we love camping out at the DINO events whenever it's offered at the race venue, exploring surrounding towns (especially around Brown County), and finding new & interesting places to eat a post-race meal. My wife and oldest daughter are planning to run the half marathon at Tecumseh this year, while I'm doing the full marathon at Tecumseh and the 100k at Jackson County (my first time at the latter distance), so our whole family is getting more involved all the time. Next year, we're also hoping to get our act together and sign up for the kayaking opportunities before all the spots are gone.

DINO - You have taken your personal passion for endurance racing and chosen to expand that by becoming key financial sponsors for DINO. Tell us more about this decision. What is your driving force?  What do you hope will ultimately come from your sponsorship/partnership with DINO? 

Paul Thompson - As our sponsor logo implies, we're a family not a business, so the Series sponsorship isn't a marketing opportunity for us. We think DINO is really unique and exciting, and provides tremendous value to the trail running (and mountain biking) community in this region. It's been around for a long time, and introduced a lot of athletes to trail sports. That's something we want to continue in perpetuity, and we felt the best way to achieve that was with direct financial support. If you love something (whether that's a race series or your favorite restaurant) and want it to be around long-term, you have to support it to the extent you're able - it's really that simple. 

DINO - If you could encourage one person today, who doubts their athleticism and ability to race, what would you say to them? 

Paul Thompson - Fitness is a process not an event, and this applies to athletes of all abilities. Don't wait around until you think you're "good enough" - hit the trails, set a baseline for yourself, and keep working towards your goals. When I signed up for my first-ever trail race (a local 5k) I was still recovering from a couple of challenging years following a severe ski injury when training wasn't an option for me. I knew going into the race that I'd probably finish last, so my goal was just to train consistently, push myself, and give maximum effort on race day. Much to my surprise, I came in 4th! It was a small race, and I don't always finish that well, but I quickly learned not to assume that everyone else was faster, stronger, and training harder than me. All that aside, the race was exhilarating, the course was challenging, and I got to meet other people who shared my passion for trail running - even finishing last wouldn't have ruined that awesome day.

Thank you Thompson Family, from team DINO, our families and on behalf of the many DINO athletes like yourself you are helping support in this beloved sport!

HAPPY TRAILS!

If you would like to learn how to become a supporting sponsor hit us up info@dinoseries.com