What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is a casual, entertaining read on Murakami’s long-standing relationship with running. Set in the years 2005 and 2006, he records his thoughts and feelings in realtime while also recounting his past experiences, all related to running.

I was surprised to discover that he is an extremely consistent runner, often clocking in over 50km in a week. He also mentioned that he hit his peak at a staggering 40 years of age. To someone like me who struggles to keep a running habit, he is an inspiration.

I picked up this book due in part to my interest in running, but mostly my curiosity in his lifestyle. What has running to do to with an author? Would someone as prolific as Murakami be equally consistent in his running? How does running play a role in his lifestyle as a creator? I wanted to learn how to optimise my lifestyle in the future.

Perhaps having a contrasting habit is essential to a creative lifestyle. Or maybe the answer is as simple as Murakami explains in his book: running leads to good health, and good health leads to consistent writing.