We’re proud to highlight Interstate Sales Manager Shane Thompson as Gentle Giant’s Athlete of the Month for December!
Shane is a long-distance runner who has had an eventful year. He started 2023 with a challenge for himself: run a marathon every month for the entire year. While that original plan evolved, the end result may have been even more impressive. Shane completed two marathons, three 50-milers, the Loup Garou 40-miler, five 50Ks, and a full circumnavigation of the Pemigewasset Loop in a single day.
Shane has been working out consistently since his freshman year of college, gravitating toward sports like weightlifting, CrossFit, and distance running where success comes down to consistently showing up.
His first serious stint with running was from 2008 to 2011. He trained hard, got fast, and eventually burned out. For the next nine years, he focused primarily on weightlifting and CrossFit until gym closures during the pandemic brought him back to running.
This time, Shane returned to the sport with a different mindset. At 42, he isn’t focused on beating the personal records he set more than a decade ago. He still wants to challenge himself, but now the emphasis is on having fun rather than chasing speed. That philosophy became the foundation for his big year of running.
Shane gravitated toward longer trail races, where he could enjoy the scenery and the close-knit communities surrounding smaller, more obscure events. He became involved with the local Trail Animals Running Club (TARC), which organizes free and low-cost trail races and group runs around the Boston area with a simple attitude: “no medals, no tee shirts, no whining.”
To finish out his year, Shane traveled to Ville Platte, Louisiana, for the Loup Garou 40, a trail race through the region’s bayou country that stood out to him for its beautiful trails and strong sense of community. Shane finished the race in third place.
Shane also sees a connection between distance running and his own history at Gentle Giant. He started his career working on the trucks and says the experience helped develop many of the same skills required for long-distance running. Physical fitness, endurance, and drive are obvious areas of overlap, but balancing training with the rest of life also requires honest communication and many of the qualities represented by Gentle Giant’s H.E.A.R.T. values.
We’re happy to share Shane’s story, celebrate an incredible year of running, and recognize him as Gentle Giant’s Athlete of the Month for December!