Marathon Handbook's weekly podcast covers everything you need to know about running, from wrapping your head around running your first 5K to qualifying for the Boston Marathon!
Each week, our team of editors chat about what's going on in the running scene, as well as timely training tips, the hottest new gear and tech, and what's happening at the world's biggest races. We'll cover everything from the Boston Marathon to the Barkley Marathons, often podding live from the most important moments in running!
Watch our video podcast each week on YouTube, and listen to it wherever you get your podcasts!
For inquiries: hi@marathonhandbook.com
Marathon Handbook's weekly podcast covers everything you need to know about running, from wrapping your head around running your first 5K to qualifying for the Boston Marathon!
Each week, our team of editors chat about what's going on in the running scene, as well as timely training tips, the hottest new gear and tech, and what's happening at the world's biggest races. We'll cover everything from the Boston Marathon to the Barkley Marathons, often podding live from the most important moments in running!
Watch our video podcast each week on YouTube, and listen to it wherever you get your podcasts!
For inquiries: hi@marathonhandbook.com
Content Advisory: This episode includes adult subject matter, including sexual content. Listener discretion is advised.
In this episode, Michael Doyle speaks with Nick Thompson — CEO of The Atlantic and author of the new book The Running Ground: A Father, A Son, and the Simplest of Sports — about how he became faster in his 40s and why that journey uncovered a deeper story about grief, trauma, psychology, and the complexities of the father–son bond. Nick explains the book’s origins (02:04), how cancer shaped his mindset (04:09), and why writing candidly about his father was both terrifying and necessary (06:06). He recounts his father’s extraordinary life (07:15), how running kept them connected (11:59), and why midlife can break or remake us (47:12).
The conversation digs into training nerdery, including mileage and threshold work (23:05), diet and supplements (26:54), gear choices and heart-rate breakthroughs (28:59), and the central governor theory (31:10). Nick also shares insights on AI and future training tech (32:45), the powerful story of Michael Westphal (38:35), how he knew the book was finished (45:05), and what running means to him now as he chases new goals (53:21).
This episode is brought to you by the Wahoo’s KICKR RUN – go to https://wahoofitness.com and use promo code MHRUN to get 25% OFF FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY, plus a free $319 KICKR Headwind Fan with your treadmill order!
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