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Malcolm Gladwell is a well-known author or 5 NYT bestsellers, host of Revisionist History podcast, journalist & public speaker.
What most people don’t know?
@gladwell is obsessed with running.
And like most obsessed runners, it might be his greatest passion.
A thread
What most people don’t know?
@gladwell is obsessed with running.
And like most obsessed runners, it might be his greatest passion.
A thread
1/ Born to parents of Jamaican & English descent, Gladwell grew up in Ontario, Canada.
His love of running began in high school, where he competed in the 800 and 1500.
He even had a rivalry with professional runner Dave Reid.
His early success earned him a national ranking.
His love of running began in high school, where he competed in the 800 and 1500.
He even had a rivalry with professional runner Dave Reid.
His early success earned him a national ranking.
2/ Gladwell ran for one year at Ontario's Trinity College.
After a mix of disappointing races and injuries, he quit.
Today, he regards this as the first real failure of his life.
He would not return to serious running for 30 years.
After a mix of disappointing races and injuries, he quit.
Today, he regards this as the first real failure of his life.
He would not return to serious running for 30 years.
3/ In the last 10 years Gladwell found his way back to serious running.
He attributes it to the realization that the amount of time left for high-level physical activity diminishes as you age.
Nowadays, he does a few long runs a week + a CrossFit day & 1-2 days of intervals.
He attributes it to the realization that the amount of time left for high-level physical activity diminishes as you age.
Nowadays, he does a few long runs a week + a CrossFit day & 1-2 days of intervals.
4/ A few years back he joined a local run club, the New York Harriers. But he rarely races.
He just loves running — the act of it. Why?
The purity.
No rules or refs, owners or teams, equipment, etc. It’s pure and it’s universal.
He just loves running — the act of it. Why?
The purity.
No rules or refs, owners or teams, equipment, etc. It’s pure and it’s universal.
5/ He starts his days w/a look at http://letsrun.com .
Gladwell runs late in day — the morning is for writing.
When he runs, he uses no tech except a Garmin watch for tracking.
He runs in silence because running with music is soft — to do so is running away from running.
Gladwell runs late in day — the morning is for writing.
When he runs, he uses no tech except a Garmin watch for tracking.
He runs in silence because running with music is soft — to do so is running away from running.
6/ It’s tempting to imagine Gladwell runs as part of his creative process. But he doesn’t.
It’s just fun — he looks forward to it like a good book.
His fave distance is the 5k because “it’s long enough that it has a narrative…the 1500 is a short story. And the 5k is a novel.”
It’s just fun — he looks forward to it like a good book.
His fave distance is the 5k because “it’s long enough that it has a narrative…the 1500 is a short story. And the 5k is a novel.”
7/ While he doesn’t link running to his work, there’s an unmistakable link between running & his identity.
From studying practitioners of the craft to pushing himself to his physical limits, running may be the greatest influence on Gladwell's life outlook.
From studying practitioners of the craft to pushing himself to his physical limits, running may be the greatest influence on Gladwell's life outlook.
8/ If you liked this thread you should check out @fittinsider — a weekly newsletter and podcast on the business of fitness and wellness.
https://insider.fitt.co/
https://insider.fitt.co/
