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 School
Eric Gethers

Falmouth Road Race

Northfield Mount Hermon

Edward Said, Culture and Imperialism

Frank Shorter

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