Race week is finally here! And just in time for this weekend's 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, joins Rob and Becs for a conversation about his newly published book “The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of Sports,”. Exactly the inspiration you need before your weekend run, Thompson's book explores how running shaped his relationship with his father, helped him navigate ambition and aging, and instilled lifelong discipline. He shares insights on the parallels between writing and running, and the lessons he learned from the sport, including training for his first marathon in 2005 and earning the American age-group record in the 50K in 2021. He opens up about how his father’s lack of discipline, which led him to die “a bankrupt tax fugitive running a brothel in Southeast Asia,” motivated him to take the opposite path by finding purpose through structure and focus. This Sunday, Thompson will toe the line for his 12th New York City Marathon and is hopeful that his son will join him at the start line in the future for some healthy father-son competition.

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Race week is finally here! And just in time for this weekend's 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, joins Rob and Becs for a conversation about his newly published book &ldquo;The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of Sports,&rdquo;. Exactly the inspiration you need before your weekend run, Thompson's book explores how running shaped his relationship with his father, helped him navigate ambition and aging, and instilled lifelong discipline. He shares insights on the parallels between writing and running, and the lessons he learned from the sport, including training for his first marathon in 2005 and earning the American age-group record in the 50K in 2021. He opens up about how his father&rsquo;s lack of discipline, which led him to die &ldquo;a bankrupt tax fugitive running a brothel in Southeast Asia,&rdquo; motivated him to take the opposite path by finding purpose through structure and focus. This Sunday, Thompson will toe the line for his 12th New York City Marathon and is hopeful that his son will join him at the start line in the future for some healthy father-son competition. <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DRa2nrXAtT44&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1761773875557912&amp;usg=AOvVaw0z1EXa5T2eN6_TZq0CSURk">Watch 26.2 on YouTube!</a> <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://go.rallyup.com/nycmarathon/Campaign/Details&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1761773875557947&amp;usg=AOvVaw3-wPdgCDvgFq_66woBVSYV">The Ultimate 2026 TCS New York City Marathon Race Entry Sweepstakes!</a> <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://organizations.nyrr.org/sites/organization_sites/07a100ee6605183fc2df&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1761773875557975&amp;usg=AOvVaw0K71DubIZKUBSZs22afnb-">Apply for TFK for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon</a> FOLLOW NYRR:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/nyrr/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1761773875557997&amp;usg=AOvVaw2UQBAbxVyK7maKGeeESk3-">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/NewYorkRoadRunners/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1761773875558017&amp;usg=AOvVaw08URFJ2DOSAPDWQA9OmWif">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/nyrr&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1761773875558038&amp;usg=AOvVaw1B-2accoKxasSL0XN4_xZB">X</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.tiktok.com/@newyorkroadrunners&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1761773875558058&amp;usg=AOvVaw0CEhO1pngzxssIUsMIA7zq">TikTok</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/@nyrrvideo/podcasts&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1761773875558078&amp;usg=AOvVaw0U_VFLfqeFwuy55gHk0-LU">YouTube</a> SUPPORT: Support the Set the Pace podcast! If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/set-the-pace/id1703616687&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1761773875558103&amp;usg=AOvVaw0ge3gB0lJ-YY4bnngAgL1y">Apple Podcasts&nbsp;</a>or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://open.spotify.com/show/2k1UziVCr4wYtMM5Awr2MA?si%3D871db22f44c049b1&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1761773875558124&amp;usg=AOvVaw26mFtINsI2jShXGBHZVsA_">Spotify</a>. <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nyrr.org/setthepace&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1761773875558148&amp;usg=AOvVaw0CJRBiSlC_huWslsq0AuVX">DISCLAIMER</a>

NYRR Set the Pace Presented by Peloton is the official podcast of New York Road Runners. Join hosts Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners, and Becs Gentry, Peloton Instuctor, every Thursday in conversation with inspiring athletes, from everyday enthusiasts to elite marathoners, to hear stories of perseverance, drive, and dedication. Each episode also includes an NYRR Member Moment spotlight and pro tip from 2009 New York City Marathon champ and Olympic medalist Meb Keflezighi.

Set the Pace

NYRR Set the Pace Presented by Peloton is the official podcast of New York Road Runners. Join hosts Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners, and Becs Gentry, Peloton Instructor, every Thursday in conversation with inspiring athletes, from everyday enthusiasts to elite marathoners, to hear stories of perseverance, drive, and dedication. Each episode also includes an NYRR Member Moment spotlight and pro tip from 2009 New York City Marathon champ and Olympic medalist Meb Keflezighi.

NYRR Set the Pace Presented by Peloton is the official podcast of New York Road Runners. Join hosts Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners, and Becs Gentry, Peloton Instructor, every Thursday in conversation with inspiring athletes, from everyday enthusiasts to elite marathoners, to hear stories of perseverance, drive, and dedication. Each episode also includes an NYRR Member Moment spotlight and pro tip from 2009 New York City Marathon champ and Olympic medalist Meb Keflezighi.

Writer, Marathoner, Record-Breaker: Nicholas Thompson and “The Running Ground”

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/dc1b3f8c-8a2d-4298-8405-b17000ea5872/clips/d8af1504-eaf6-4592-9651-b38501543a46/transcript

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