“Because I was a very good high school runner, I had it in my head that running was pointless unless you were really good and that it wouldn’t be fun if you were mediocre. And then, now that I’m a mediocre runner, I realize that being a mediocre runner is even more fun. In fact, I think I would rather be a mediocre runner than a good one at this point…because then you can just enjoy it for what it is. You don’t have any expectation of winning everything. That was this epiphany that happened to me at the grand old age of 50. Actually it’s fine that I can just join a group of people and we’ll run nice times – not amazing times. I’m never going to win another race for as long as I live but it’s better to do that.”

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Our guest this week is Malcolm Gladwell who almost needs no introduction but for those of you who are unfamiliar. He is the best-selling author of “Outliers”, “Tipping Point”, “David and Goliath”, “What the Dog Saw” and “Blink”. You might also know his work from articles in The New Yorker or as the host of Revisionist History – the popular podcast where he delves into events, people, ideas and many things that are often overlooked and misunderstood. We take a dive into his running roots and how he ended up running with the New York Harriers. We get to hear a few funny stories about getting lost on the run in Tennessee, his goals for running as a masters athlete, why it’s nicer to be a mediocre runner and his searing hot take on America’s untapped resources for distance running. Please standby as Chris and Malcolm geek out about professional running for a few minutes as well.

Catch the eight episodes of the show now and be sure to subscribe on iTunes. We were also recently added to Spotify! For listeners who prefer a listening experience on Google Play, we’re also now available there!

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Music for the show is by Future Generations. Podcast artwork by Kyle Klosinski.