The geek's guide to running faster

Key takeaways

Turn off motion smoothing on your TV to achieve a more natural picture that aligns with what filmmakers intend; use 'Filmmaker Mode' or similar settings as a quick fix.
For optimal viewing and gaming, adjust your TV settings—like brightness, HDR format, and refresh rate—based on your specific use case and room conditions.
Budget-friendly TVs from TCL and Hisense offer excellent value for under $500, with features suited for most viewers' needs, including HDR and good brightness.
'Frame' style TVs are good for displaying art but generally fall short as quality viewing screens due to limitations like poor black levels and limited brightness.
Incorporating technology into running—such as smartwatches, specialized shoes, and AI tools—can significantly aid training, but understanding what data truly matters is crucial.
Having an external coach or accountability partner can enhance training effectiveness far more than relying solely on self-tracking and data.
Affordable wireless earbuds, especially those from Nothing, are highly recommended for good sound quality at a reasonable price, suitable for everyday use and Black Friday deals.

Summary

Interview with Nick Thompson on Running and Technology

The episode features a conversation with Nick Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and author of 'The Running Ground.' Nick discusses his personal running journey, emphasizing his desire to run fast and his meticulous use of technology in training, including smartwatches, specialized shoes, and custom AI tools like GPTs. He explains his dual approach to running: one mode focused on optimization through data collection and analysis, and another for spiritual, unmeasured enjoyment outdoors. Nick shares insights into his training routines, experiments with different gear, and how he learns to interpret the vast data he gathers, highlighting the importance of understanding which metrics are genuinely useful. He also reflects on the influence of training partners and coaches, his pursuit of pushing physical limits, and how he balances his intense running obsession with everyday life.

Understanding and Managing TV Settings and Buying Advice

The episode provides a detailed guide on TVs, focusing on how to improve viewing experiences during the holiday season. John Higgins explains what motion smoothing is, why it should usually be turned off because it creates the unnatural 'soap opera' effect, and how to use 'Filmmaker Mode' to get a more cinematic picture. He advises on initial setup steps, including switching to more accurate picture settings like 'Filmmaker Mode' or 'Cinema' mode, and explains the impact of energy-saving modes. The discussion covers gaming settings, like enabling low input lag mode, and choosing the best specs for TVs, emphasizing brightness, HDR support, and refresh rate over misleading specs like contrast ratio. John also recommends budget-friendly TVs from TCL and Hisense for good performance and explains the limitations of 'Frame' style art TVs, which typically do not perform well for immersive viewing. He suggests that good projectors are an alternative and discusses mounting challenges with certain TVs over fireplaces, ultimately favoring affordable, quality TVs for most consumers.

Additional Tech Recommendations and Listener Engagement

The episode concludes with recommendations for affordable earbuds, highlighting brands like Nothing, which consistently receives strong praise from listeners for their quality and value. The host shares insights from listener emails and calls, emphasizing the popularity of Nothing's earbuds and their reliability, especially during Black Friday sales. The episode also invites audience participation through the Vergecast hotline and email, encouraging questions on tech purchases and experiences, reinforcing community engagement. The show wraps up with teaser info about upcoming episodes and annual review content, emphasizing a focus on making informed tech decisions.

Show notes

It's a holiday week for many of us, which means a lot of Turkey Trots and a lot of TV. We have something for both in this episode! First, Nick Thompson, the CEO of The Atlantic and author of the new book, The Running Ground, joins the show to talk about his lifelong journey as a runner, and all the tech — from smartwatch to shoes to custom GPTs — he uses in training. After that, The Verge's John Higgins makes his first Vergecast appearance to help us understand how motion smoothing works, why you should turn it off, and all the other ways you can improve your TV watching experience this holiday season. Finally, David follows up on a question on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com!) with some recommendations on inexpensive earbuds worth cranking up the volume on.