To most of the world, Nicholas Thompson is known as an editor, an AI enthusiast, or something of a LinkedIn influencer. But the former WIRED editor in chief, who is now CEO of The Atlantic, is often better known to colleagues as the guy who runs to the office.
On Tuesday, Thompson is releasing The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of Sports. As the title suggests, it’s a book about his commitment to running—Thompson runs a ridiculously fast marathon and holds the American 50K record for the 45-49 age group. Ultimately, though, the book examines the complicated relationship between the sport, Thompson, and his father, who first took him on a run when he was just 5 years old. Tech obsessives, of course, will also get their fix: The Running Ground includes plenty of science-backed training guidance and documents Thompson’s experience training with elite Nike coaches.
On this week’s episode of The Big Interview, I talked to Thompson (who was also my first boss; he hired me as an intern at WIRED in 2008) about his book, the interplay between running and addiction, and what he thinks AI can do for runners and for writers.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
KATIE DRUMMOND: Nick Thompson, welcome to The Big interview.
NICHOLAS THOMPSON: Thank you, Katie. It is a joy to be here with you at Condé Nast at WIRED. It’s been a while. I loved coming up those elevators. I love seeing you as the editor in chief. It’s a plus.
That’s so nice. I’m thrilled that you’re here. We’re going to start this conversation the way we start all of them, which is with a little warmup, some rapid-fire questions.
Fire away.
In honor of your new book, The Running Ground, I’m gonna make them entirely running themed. With apologies to our listeners … ready?
I mean, if your listeners don’t wanna hear about running …
… now would be the time to go.
But let’s go.
Trail run or track run?
Trail run.
Running with music or silence?
Silence.
Worst running injury you’ve ever had.
Achilles tendon going capooch in an ultra.
Most bogus myth about running. The one you wish people would stop talking to you about.
You only need to run a 20-miler before a marathon.