It's a short book, so it might seem odd that it has taken me over one year to finish it. I bought it last year in June, I think, in order to feed my inspiration after I had signed up for the 2017 Niigata City Marathon. I'd already been a Haruki Murakami fan for a long time (since my college days, really) so it wasn't that big of a leap to read this book on running. I knew it would be more of a reflection on life, than anything. And that's exactly what I wanted. Because that's exactly why I had signed up for my first marathon. To learn about myself, and life, and to take on a challenge I knew would surprise many, and which--most importantly--even surprised me. Even before I started training I had this feeling. No. Actually a kind of knowing, that I could and would do it.

In this post, as a kind of mile marker for the end of this leg of my journey as a runner, and a human being on the broader, longer path of life, I'd like to share a memorable quotation from the book for me. I hope you enjoy it and are intrigued, challenged, and inspired by these words as much as I was.

The reason I took so long to finish the book is, I guess, the same reason I took so long to finish Crime and Punishment, and other such meaty classics. There's a lot to digest, and I wanted to really reflect and absorb and ponder. In the case of this book by Murakami, I read it in bits as I trained, and it worked out nicely. When I turned over the last page last week, I almost had this bittersweet kind of feeling like a friendship was ending from "natural causes," such as a move to another city or something. It may sound funny, or a bit over-emotional, but I kind of felt like Murakami was right there with me throughout the whole process, in a really pivotal moment of my life. His books tend to do that regardless, but this one just seemed extra special. Anyway, here is the quote:

“People sometimes sneer at those who run every day, claiming they'll go to any length to live longer. But 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's far better to live them with clear goals and fully alive then 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 whole. I believe many runners would agree”

― Haruki Murakami, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

***

So, with that said, it's on to the next. I think I'll pick up another Murakami novel and dig into that, soon, as an accompaniment to my current training. With any luck, by next week I'll be writing to tell you that I have been accepted to run in the 2019 Tokyo Marathon! Who knows, maybe Murakami will be running, as well ;)

Thanks for reading.

-Graham