I am an admirer of Murakami, I like writing and this is Murakami writing about running, so I was predisposed to like this - and I did. The blurb describes it as ‘part travelogue, training log, and reminiscence.’ It is short book, 180 pages long, using a series of essays from 2005 - 2006 when he was training for the 2005 New York City marathon. Within these essays he tells of other running experiences, including how he got started running (and writing), the hardship of marathons and training for them, interweaving these with autobiographical detail and reflecting on the relationship between running and his creative process. I have put a few excerpts in the image for a flavour of his style.
He started running in 1982 when he was 33 years old. He made the switch from 60 cigarettes a day jazz bar owner to professional writer and needed to find a way to keep physically fit once he was sitting at a desk all day. He started running and has been running ever since. He runs 6 miles, 6 days a week, more or less, and runs a marathon each year - or a triathlon, or ultra! His first race, though, was a 5k...
Long-distance running isn’t perhaps the goal (yet!) of most of us on this forum, but this book isn’t set up to be an inspirational story, or a dramatic one, or a ‘how to’ guide.
One of the things I love about Murakami is his lack of judgement. He states things very simply and I find reading him is like taking a drink of cool water. I found it to be a quiet, contemplative book and will be reading it again, because there is more to discover.
Sadie-runs recommends...
Am I doing this correctly ? What training should I do ??
Breathless when running
