The Next Big Idea Atlantic CEO Nick Thompson on What Running Can Teach Us
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Oct 30, 2025 
Nick Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and marathon enthusiast, shares his incredible journey in running and life. He reveals the profound lessons learned through endurance sports, including how pain can enhance performance. Nick delves into his complex relationship with his father, a brilliant yet troubled man, and how family dynamics shaped him. He discusses overcoming a cancer diagnosis that struck right after a personal best and emphasizes running's role in fostering presence and creativity amid chaos. Plus, he offers advice for budding runners.
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Getting Faster By Fighting Forces That Slow You
- Thompson realized he got faster in his 40s by studying forces that slow people down and how to push back against them.
- He frames this as a universal story about resisting age and decline through disciplined effort.
A Complicated Father Who Sparked Running
- Thompson describes his father as brilliant, chaotic, and a force of mayhem who taught him to run.
- Their complex relationship shaped Thompson's life and motivated much of the memoir.
Personal Best Followed By Cancer Diagnosis
- After a 2:43 personal best in 2005, Thompson discovered a thyroid cancer lump days later.
- The juxtaposition of peak fitness and vulnerability became emotionally jarring and formative.
