I can’t write this blog without mentioning Haruki Murakami’s What I talk about when I talk about running. For those thinking Haruki Who? Then let me introduce you to one of Japan’s top novelists. Author of quirky surrealist novels Norwegian Wood, Kafka on the Shore and The Wind-up Bird Chronicle.
Murakami’s has a gift for story-telling. He’s a master of surrealism. Personally, not my cup of tea but his straight-talking autobiographical What I talk about when I talk about running IS my kind of brew.
Murakami is also a long-distance runner: at least a marathon a year, a 100km ultra under his belt, dabbling in triathlon … It’s fair to say then, Murakami is living my dream.
As I dream of one day adding ‘novelist’ to my CV, I’m heartened to know Murakami didn’t start writing until his thirties, when he just up and sold his jazz bar and thought he’d give it a crack. No need to despair just yet, then.
His book got me thinking though, are writing and long-distance running related?
Obviously both are long, solitary activities that require commitment, mental stamina and an attitude to ‘slog it out’. Both imbue a ‘chipping away’ sort of approach in order to reach the end.
Those sort of values obviously match some personalities. I’m never going to be someone who sprints through life. I’m never going to run a sub-2o 5km and I’m never going to be the kind of writer who whips out 5000 words a day. I once spent fours hours on a paragraph that didn’t even make the final cut.
Slow, methodical, I’ll put in the hours to earn my reward. Especially if the reward involves cake and a lie down. I’m also an independent type, and both writing and running rely on no one but myself. They’re both fairly organic processes, and in the right mood, provide quality time to contemplate life’s daily dilemmas.
So what do I talk about when I talk about running?
You’re reading it, baby.
As for the rest, you’ll have to wait for the book.
runningwithabook 