What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

Pick it up: If you’re a runner, writer, aspire to be either, or you’re simply interested in the creative process and the pursuit of a balanced and meaningful life.

In this 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 after deciding to become a full-time writer, 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.

We read 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, and Murakami reflects on his enjoyment of 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.

We read about his experience running numerous marathons, an ultramarathon, and triathlons around the world. Murakami reflects on the realities of aging and on coming to terms with his body’s limitations.

The purpose of the 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 our lives a sense of purpose and balance, something 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.)