10 - The Atlantic's Nick Thompson On Writing His Book The Running Ground, Pushing His Personal Limits, and an Undying Curiosity

About this episode

A live conversation with Nick Thompson exploring his book, personal limits, and the role of running in his life.

A live conversation with Nick Thompson on curiosity, endurance, and a complicated relationship with both a father and the simplest of sports: running. This conversation between Nick Thompson and David Alm, a Brooklyn-based journalist, professor, and runner, offers a window to Nick’s process in writing The Running Ground , and to the people, stories, and moments that made it into the final draft and what didn't. Recorded live at Bakline’s HQ, the episode captures Nick in dialogue rather than interview, reflecting with David on the journalistic process, the discipline of editing, and the characters in his life, most notably his father, who shaped the person he has become. There is much to be gained from reading or listening to The Running Ground , the audio version of which Nick himself narrates. Its opening chapter alone should be required reading for anyone preparing to step onto the New York City Marathon starting line. What emerges in this rare and candid conversation, though, is something broader: a meditation on perspective and curiosity, and on how our understanding of our own abilities shifts over time. Along the way, Nick reflects on his relationship with his father and…

People in this episode

Host: David Alm

Guest: Nick Thompson

Topics covered

• curiosity
• endurance
• father-son relationship
• journalistic process
• running
• personal limits

Keywords

• curiosity
• endurance
• running
• father
• journalism
• The Running Ground
• New York City Marathon

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Running Ground

Places: New York City

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