This is an insightful memoir that intertwines the author's experiences as a long-distance runner with his thoughts on writing, life, and aging, Murakami uses his passion for running, which he took up in his early thirties, as a central metaphor for his life and his craft. He explores how the dedication, perseverance, and even the pain of long-distance running mirror the challenges and rewards of writing.
He writes about his disciplined daily routine, about the importance of consistency and the almost meditative quality that both running and writing provide. Both running and writing are solitary activities - Murakami reflects on the pleasure he finds in being alone with his thoughts.
He writes that long distance running suited his personality better than team sports or a sport like tennis or squash, because in long distance running he was not in competition with anyone else. It allowed him to do his own thing, the only times that mattered to him were his own. He shares his experience of running numerous marathons, an ultramarathon, and triathlons around the world, and he goes on to reflect on the realities of aging and on coming to terms with his body’s limitations.
The purpose of this book is not to make someone want to be a runner - running isn’t for everyone. Each of us might be inspired, though, to find an equivalent in our own lives, something that gives us a sense of purpose and balance, something that we are willing to do day in and day out, and something that despite the pain or aggravation we cannot imagine ever giving up.
(The title of this memoir is inspired by a book titled 'What We Talk About When We Talk About Love', by Raymond Carver, one of Murakami’s favourite writers.)