The Next Big Idea Daily How Running Can Unlock the Life You Didn’t Know You Had
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Nov 26, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and an accomplished ultramarathoner, reveals how running has shaped his understanding of limits, aging positively, and unlocking hidden potentials. He shares intriguing insights on pain perception and the spiritual transcendence found in constraints. Joining him is Sally Jenkins, a veteran sportswriter, who explores how lessons from elite athletes enhance workplace dynamics. She emphasizes the importance of conditioning, deliberate practice, and learning from mistakes to build resilience.
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You Age Because You Stop, Not Just Time
- Aging accelerates when you stop exercising; running sustains physiological and cognitive capacity.
- Nicholas Thompson argues continuity of practice lets you compensate for biological decline and sometimes improve with age.
Train The Brain To Tolerate Pain
- Reset your brain's expectations by deliberately over-stressing systems in training to reduce pain signals on race day.
- Use simple tricks (swish a drink, rub ice, smile) to change perceptions and push past predicted pain.
Not Knowing Enabled A Breakthrough
- In high school, Thompson ran a two-mile 10:48 because he didn't realize his pace and thus unlocked a faster self.
- Years later a coach reframed his limits and helped him drop from 2:43 to 2:29 in the marathon.
