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What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (走ることについて語るときに僕の語ること Hashiru Koto ni Tsuite Kataru Toki ni Boku no Kataru Koto)
Published in Japan in 2017.
Translated into English by Philip Gabriel in 2008.
The book’s title was inspired by Raymond Carver’s collection of short stories entitled What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. Murakami is a great fan of Carver’s writing.
“For me, running is both exercise and a metaphor. Running day after day, piling up the races, bit by bit I raise the bar, and by clearing each level, I elevate myself. At least, that’s why I’ve put in the effort day after day: to raise my own level. I’m no great runner by any means. I’m at an ordinary—or perhaps mediocre—level. But that’s not the point. The point is whether or not I improved over yesterday. In long-distance running, the only opponent you have to beat is yourself, the way you used to be… Running has a lot of advantages. First of all, you don’t need anyone else to do it. And no need for special equipment. You don’t have to go to any special place to do it. As long as you have running shoes and a good road you can run to your heart’s content… People sometimes sneer at those who run every day, claiming they’ll go to any length to live longer. But I don’t think that’s the reason most people run. Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest. If you’re going to while away the years, it far better to live them with clear goals and fully alive than in a fog. And I believe running helps you to do that. Exerting yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: that’s the essence of running, and a metaphor for life—and for me, for writing as well. I believe many runners would agree. From Murakami 2020 Diary