Charlotte Observer reporter Théoden Janes continues his series of interviews with often-influential, always-intriguing people who live and work in the Charlotte area — conducted while they run a handful of miles together. The hope is that the release of endorphins and dopamine will trigger responses that are less canned, less inhibited, more thoughtful, and more focused.
This week’s interviewee: Kerrel Thompson, 41, co-owner (with wife Nkem) of Charlotte’s acclaimed Bird Pizzeria — which in 2024 was anointed by The New York Times among “22 of the Best Pizza Places in the United States.”
Notable endurance-sports achievements: 6:54:51 at Ironman 70.3 North Carolina in 2024; 1:06:22 at the Around the Crown 10K in 2023; 43:04 at the Charlotte Turkey Trot 8k in 2021; 2:57:19 at the Miami Man Triathlon in 2021.
Where we ran for this interview: From the McAlpine Creek Greenway Trailhead off Old Bell Road in Charlotte.…