The Running Ground: A Father, A Son and the Simplest of Sports

Brought to you by Penguin.

How much does our speed and our decline depend on our minds, not our bodies?

In this thought-provoking and inspiring book, top 25 Master marathoner Nick Thompson invites readers to defy the inevitable decline that comes with age. After setting the American record in the 50km for the 45-49 age group, Thompson is on a mission to explore how pain, endurance and talent exist in the mind of a runner.

Inspired to run by his father as a young child, Nick Thompson began setting school records in high school and has never looked back since. The Running Ground is the story of Thompson's ambition to break down the physiology of running and reveals how we can power through psychological barriers and get faster with age.

Guaranteed to make you rethink what it means to get older, The Running Ground is an exploration of how and why we age and what putting one foot in front of another can teach us about ourselves.

© Nick Thompson 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025