Why Nicholas Thompson Made a Custom GPT to Run Faster
To most of Around the world, Nicholas Thompson is known as an editor, AI enthusiast, or a bit of a LinkedIn influencer. But the former WIRED editor-in-chief, now CEO of The Atlantic, is often better known to his colleagues as the guy running to the office.
Tuesday, Thompson releases The running field: a father, a son and the simplest sport. As the title suggests, this is a book about his involvement in running: Thompson runs a ridiculously fast marathon and holds the American 50K record for the 45-49 age group. Ultimately, however, the book examines the complicated relationship between the sport, Thompson, and his father, who first took him running when he was just 5 years old. Tech obsessives, of course, will also have their solution: The racing field includes numerous science-backed training tips and documents Thompson’s experience training with elite Nike trainers.
In this week’s episode The big interviewI spoke to Thompson (who was also my first boss; he hired me as an intern at WIRED in 2008) about his book, the interplay between running and addiction, and what he thinks AI can do for runners. And for writers.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
KATIE DRUMMOND: Nick Thompson, welcome to The big interview.
NICOLAS THOMPSON: Thanks Katie. It’s a joy to be here with you at Condé Nast at WIRED. It’s been a while. I loved riding those elevators. I love seeing you as editor-in-chief. That’s a plus.
It’s so nice. I’m glad you’re here. We’re going to start this conversation the same way we’ve started all of them, which is with a little warm-up and a few quick questions.
PULL.
In honor of your new book, The racing fieldI’m going to make them completely themed. With apologies to our listeners…ready?
I mean, if your listeners don’t want to hear about running…
…now would be the time to go.
But let’s go.
Trail or track running?
Trail running.
Run to music or in silence?
Silence.
The worst running injury you’ve ever had.
The Achilles tendon goes capooch in an ultra.
The most false myth about running. The one you wish people would stop talking about you about.
Just run 20 miles before a marathon.
