In this episode, Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, and University of Puerto Rico professors Jeffrey Herlihy-Mera and Maritza Stanchich, discuss something deceptively simple: putting one foot in front of the other—and how that act can reshape the way we perceive the world. Seizing an idea from Steve Prefontaine—that running can be an act of creation—this episode considers how running can extend beyond the physical and extend into memory, relationships, and inheritance. They discuss how running can be a way of thinking, a way of loving, and, at times, a way of understanding who we are.
The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of Sports (Harper/Random House, 2025).
Nuevos Horizontes is the podcast of the Instituto Nuevos Horizontes at the Universidad de Puerto Rico-Mayagüez.
Quotes, organizations, books, athletes and scholars mentioned in this conversation:
Tony Ruiz, Central Park Track Club
“There’s a lot you can get from Tony Ruiz’s life that you can’t get through mine.” -Nicholas Thompson
“The dignity of enduring the complexity of my father.…she plays a major role in shaping me.” -Nicholas Thompson, about his mother
“It’s really hard when people are still alive to write these kinds of books. It takes a lot of courage on everyone’s part.” -Maritza Stanchich
“Only the disciplined ones in life are free.” -Eliud Kipchoge
Steve Prefontaine
W. Scott Thompson
Puerto Rican boycott of 1980 Olympic Games
Bobbi Gibb
Yaelis Carmona, University of Puerto Rico
Biomechanics
Falmouth Road Race
Paul Souza, Wheaton College
Souzapalooza, East Falmouth music festival
Phil (PJ) Alessi, North Attleboro
Bill Jennings, Brockton High School Track Coach
William McKay, Falmouth High School English Teacher
Mario Watts
Sergei Bubka
Matt Booth
Joe Gohring
Phillips Academy
Falmouth High SchoolEric Gethers
Falmouth Road Race
Northfield Mount Hermon
Edward Said, Culture and Imperialism
Frank Shorter
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