Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, has found a unique balance between his demanding professional life and his passion for long-distance running. Known for his roles as a public speaker and a dedicated family man, Thompson has also made headlines with his impressive running achievements. He ran to the office on the day of our conversation, underscoring his commitment to the sport.
“Every time I go running, I’m opening my mind up, I’m engaging with nature,” Thompson shared. “It’s a break from the rest of life. It’s something I’ve always loved.” His enthusiasm for running is not just a hobby; it has become a crucial part of his identity. Remarkably, he has improved his marathon times even as he ages, recently setting the fastest 50-mile time in the world for his age group.
Running as a Legacy and a Discipline
Thompson attributes his passion for running to his father, Scott Thompson, who was a lifelong runner himself. “There was always energy and chaos and life around him,” he recalled. “He never slowed down, he never stopped.” However, Scott’s life was marred by personal challenges, including alcoholism and a struggle with sex addiction, which influenced Nicholas’s approach to running.
“In some ways, running is a way of mourning him after he passed away,” Thompson reflected. “I felt like one of the ways I could prevent that from happening to me was to run; that running gave me discipline through the rest of my life.” This discipline not only provided him with structure but also helped him navigate the complexities of his upbringing.
Thompson’s running journey faced a serious challenge at the age of 30 when he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. “It was just a shock,” he said, but the experience fueled his desire to continue marathoning. “One of the reasons I kept marathoning in my 30s and 40s was because I wanted to feel like the person I had been before I got sick.” His determination led to significant professional advancements as he took on roles at Condé Nast, where he became the editor of newyorker.com and later editor-in-chief of Wired.
Running as a Tool for Success
When asked if he would be where he is today without running, Thompson responded emphatically, “Definitely not.” He credits the sport with not only adding discipline to his life but also providing a mental space for reflection and creativity. “It is a way for me to have time where my mind can just wander, where I can think through things.”
At the age of 50, Thompson has experienced remarkable physical achievements, running faster than he did at 35. “I like to think of it as the aging process as a moving sidewalk,” he explained. “Every year I get a little bit weaker. But you can do things to kind of move forward faster than the moving sidewalk is going backwards.” This philosophy emphasizes the importance of intelligent training and understanding one’s body.
Despite the challenges, Thompson embraces the pain that comes with pushing his limits. He candidly shared a moment from the Lake Waramaug 50-miler, where he was on track to set an American record for his age group. “I was just hurting so much everywhere. But I still won the race,” he recounted, showcasing his resilience and commitment to the sport.
Running remains a family affair for the Thompsons. Nicholas often runs with his three sons and coaches their soccer team’s track sessions. “It feels like full circle to have learned the sport from my father when I was about 5 or 6,” he said, reflecting on the joy of passing on this passion to the next generation. “James is 11, Zachary’s 15, Ellis is 17. It’s a great thing.”
As he looks to the future, Thompson acknowledges the wisdom shared by his father about life falling apart at 40. “Well, I keep going because I enjoy it, right?” he laughed. “I keep running because my life didn’t fall apart at 40. But I don’t want to let it go. The really interesting transition in my life will be at some point I won’t be able to do this, and then I’ll have to figure out how else to hold on.”
Thompson’s journey is chronicled in his upcoming book, “The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of Sports,” set to be released on October 28, 2023, by Random House. His story serves as an inspiration, encouraging readers to embrace running as a path to personal growth and resilience.
