This WONDERFUL book by Haruki Murakami

“What I Talk About When I Talk About Running” is almost an autobiography of one of the greatest names in Japanese literature, who managed to completely change his lifestyle.

Who is Haruki Murakami?

I knew little about the author. But in this book, where he talks about his life-changing journey, he reveals a lot about himself.

Born in 1949 in Kyoto, Murakami previously lived in the US where he was a professor at Princeton, but before that, he was a bar owner.

In other books by the author, we see this theme of a jazz bar owner (as in "South of the Border, West of the Sun").

Before he started running, when he ran the jazz bar, Murakami would go to sleep when everyone else was awake and smoke a lot.

And right at the beginning of the book, he makes it clear that he doesn't want to talk about "let's run so we can all get healthy!", but he wants to show how much running meant to him and made him change in many ways.

"No matter how mundane an action may seem, stay with it long enough and it will become a meditative, even contemplative, act."

Who else has felt this while practicing an activity alone?

For Murakami, running is different from other sports. Because running is a solitary act in itself. It's you with yourself.

If you're the type of person who doesn't like competing with others, you've certainly never enjoyed playing sports with other people.

Murakami never liked to compete with others because people are naturally different, and every combination of differences creates discord.

And every discord can generate even greater disagreement.

But this is a suffering that is part of life, a necessary sorrow.

And realizing you're different from others is an excellent thing. Many people shy away from this realization (of admitting they're different), but that's where your greatest resource lies.

"Emotional hurt is the price a person pays to be independent."

This is what the author believes, and therefore, he actively sought solitude in various aspects of his life.

Murakami managed to channel his discontent with society into running. When he feels wronged, misunderstood, or socially exhausted, he runs more.

"I think most people would not approve of my personality. (...) Who could show sentimental friendliness to a person who does not commit himself; who, instead, whenever a problem arises, locks himself in the closet?"

Murakami satirizes his own personality. He makes self-deprecating jokes that resonate with us.

"Postponing the act of thinking about something is one of my specialties, a skill I've learned to cultivate over the years."

In 1978, at almost 30, he realized he was reaching an age where he would never be considered young again. And it occurred to him: "I can write a book." He wrote for a contest, won, and decided he wanted to write more.

Motivated to continue writing, he decided to quit smoking.

At the time, he was smoking sixty cigarettes a day and was overweight.

To help kick the habit, he decided to start running. But why running? Why not another sport?

Because besides not liking competition, running is simpler. It doesn't require anything special, other than a pair of sneakers and a track or street.

"To play tennis, you need to go to a court and you need another person. You can swim alone, but you need a pool."

Along with running, Murakami decided to close the bar and dedicate himself to writing professionally. He started running every day, which led him to quit smoking for good.

So many changes all at once: he changed careers (from bar owner to writer), changed his sleeping and waking hours...

"The natural desire to run more and more became a powerful motivation to stop smoking and help me overcome withdrawal symptoms. Quitting smoking was a kind of symbolic farewell to the life I used to lead."

I could talk a lot about this book because I identified so much with the author.

"I hated gym class. I could never stand being forced to do something I didn't want to do at a time when I didn't want to do it."

Murakami manages to connect running with the act of writing. They seem different, but both activities are about the same thing: 1) they're solitary; 2) they involve a keen sense of self-perception; 3) no one can do it the same way as anyone else.

I highly recommend this book. From the bottom of my heart.

He talks about the Boston Marathon (42km), how he felt throughout the race, and the time he ran 100km (yes, one hundred kilometers!) from Athens to Marathon, Greece.

You'll laugh and identify deeply with Murakami.