Lessons on running from Murakami
A novelist’s layered perspective on a seemingly simple sport
Whenever I train for a race, I like to re-read Haruki Murakami’s “What I talk about when I talk about running” to develop mental resilience. This book is not just about running, but also its deep connection to the art of writing. In typical Murakami style, the book is an observer’s take on running as a meditative sport. His intricate thoughts and illustrative opinions on running as a novelist can teach us some very valuable life lessons.
1.The joy of familiarity : Breathing in crisp air early in the morning and running on familiar ground can be a rewarding experience. The sound of footsteps, breathing and your heartbeat all blend together into a unique polyrhythm. Ideally, runners are often motivated by individual goals. There is a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in completing a run, but also making some significant discoveries about yourself in the process.
2. The power of solitude : While Murakami is an established introvert who actively seeks out solitude, this quality makes a runner more self-aware. There is a certain joy in silence that can be re-energizing. Runners can detect even the slightest seasonal shift in the feel of the wind against the skin, its smell and direction. You become aware of yourself as a tiny entity amidst the gigantic mosaic of nature.
3. The paradox of thoughts : Thoughts that occur during running can be very transient, just like clouds in the sky. The sky both exists and doesn’t exist. Clouds are mere guests in the sky that pass away and vanish, leaving behind the sky.
On some days, a runner just runs in nostalgic silence. In a void. Or rather, running in order to acquire a void. All thoughts and ideas that invade your emotions are a subordinate to this void. You will always go back to this homemade void — it is a wonderful feeling, no matter what anybody else says.
4. The mind-body connection : Running is primarily a mental sport. Running longer distances mentally challenges you to channel your inner frustration and improve yourself. There is an eternal question regarding the connection between one’s mind and body. Is a person’s mind controlled by the body or is it the opposite — does the way your mind work influence your body? Or are they both closely influencing each other ?
Manipulating your mind and body to be fully alive with clear goals is far better than living in a perpetual fog. Murakami has an eye-opening take on this —
Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest.
5. The connection between writing and running : Just like running, the whole process of writing is exhausting — the process of sitting at your desk with a laser-sharp focus, imagining out of a blank horizon, creating a story with a flow requires far more energy over a long period of time.
Literature is abundant with indisputable writing from luminaries like Balzac and Dickens and these heights are almost unreachable by modern day writers. The methods and directions that writers take to supplement themselves is what contributes to their individuality. Murakami’s writing style of magical realism interspersed with self-discovery and acceptance is what makes his work unique.
6. Acceptance of time : Long-distance running and training for marathons can lead to significant fallout or “runner’s blues” which is more mental than physical. As you age, you learn to accept longer time to run distances with the notion that growing old is a privilege given to those who’ve avoided dying young.
