The Running Novelist: Learning how to go the distance (2008)(newyorker.com)
newyorker.com
The Running Novelist: Learning how to go the distance (2008)
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/06/09/the-running-novelist
3 comments
If you enjoyed this article, there's an entire collection of Haruki Murakami's writing on running titled "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2195464.What_I_Talk_Abou...
This book is the reason why I start running and get addicted since then. It helps me quit smoking, be more disciplined, create some good habits in my life, and focus more on process rather than goal.
I was a bit disappointed in this book for reasons more about me than the book, ultimately: I expected the book to be more about writing than running, but it was ultimately exactly what it said on the cover.
It's a wonderful book. It connected me with running in a real way when I first started.
I've always hated running. But I started at it in my 20s. But never made it probably more than about 4-5 miles at a time. And it was always a labor.
Finally I tried something. I was going to run just a tiny bit longer every single day. I started at 2 mi or so. And at the mid point of the run, I'd pick a spot ahead of me I'd shoot for tomorrow. That's it. Not time limit, speed challenge. Just get to that next bench. That next tree. And see what happens.
Eventually I was past 5 mi. Then 6. Then 7. At 7 I was waking up eager to do these runs. At 8 I finally felt like I understood why people love long distance running. At 11 mi, I was in love. I ended up hurting myself and dreading the time it took to recuperate. But I was back at it, and going strong before Covid.
Now in Covid land, I've paused my running schedule. I'm just too freaked out. I live a little too boxed in here in Chicago. Near the lake with running trails, but soooo many runners. Someone ran by me and coughed yesterday on a walk I took and it's still burning in my brain :) So I'm avoiding those paths as much as I can.
I can't wait to get my running shoes back on.
Big lesson I got from all this is so many things can be unlocked just pushing yourself an almost unnoticeable amount each day. Focusing on the schedule and the tiny increment rather than "progress" or "success.
Finally I tried something. I was going to run just a tiny bit longer every single day. I started at 2 mi or so. And at the mid point of the run, I'd pick a spot ahead of me I'd shoot for tomorrow. That's it. Not time limit, speed challenge. Just get to that next bench. That next tree. And see what happens.
Eventually I was past 5 mi. Then 6. Then 7. At 7 I was waking up eager to do these runs. At 8 I finally felt like I understood why people love long distance running. At 11 mi, I was in love. I ended up hurting myself and dreading the time it took to recuperate. But I was back at it, and going strong before Covid.
Now in Covid land, I've paused my running schedule. I'm just too freaked out. I live a little too boxed in here in Chicago. Near the lake with running trails, but soooo many runners. Someone ran by me and coughed yesterday on a walk I took and it's still burning in my brain :) So I'm avoiding those paths as much as I can.
I can't wait to get my running shoes back on.
Big lesson I got from all this is so many things can be unlocked just pushing yourself an almost unnoticeable amount each day. Focusing on the schedule and the tiny increment rather than "progress" or "success.
> Eventually I was past 5 mi. Then 6. Then 7. At 7 I was waking up eager to do these runs. At 8 I finally felt like I understood why people love long distance running. At 11 mi, I was in love. I ended up hurting myself and dreading the time it took to recuperate. But I was back at it, and going strong before Covid.
I can really relate to this. Went through the same progression, and also ended up slightly injured, forcing me to scale it back for a few weeks, which really sucked.
> Now in Covid land, I've paused my running schedule. I'm just too freaked out. I live a little too boxed in here in Chicago. Near the lake with running trails, but soooo many runners. Someone ran by me and coughed yesterday on a walk I took and it's still burning in my brain :) So I'm avoiding those paths as much as I can.
That really sucks :(. Thankfully I'm in a relatively suburban area, so I don't run into many other folks. I have also been finding new places to run around the city throughout the week, and driving there, but this obviously doesn't work as well during the week, etc when you have a limited amount of time.
I can really relate to this. Went through the same progression, and also ended up slightly injured, forcing me to scale it back for a few weeks, which really sucked.
> Now in Covid land, I've paused my running schedule. I'm just too freaked out. I live a little too boxed in here in Chicago. Near the lake with running trails, but soooo many runners. Someone ran by me and coughed yesterday on a walk I took and it's still burning in my brain :) So I'm avoiding those paths as much as I can.
That really sucks :(. Thankfully I'm in a relatively suburban area, so I don't run into many other folks. I have also been finding new places to run around the city throughout the week, and driving there, but this obviously doesn't work as well during the week, etc when you have a limited amount of time.
I'm a lifter who runs. Love both, but I found learning running form to be more challenging than learning how to squat or deadlift.
I started off doing the Couch to #K programs, and they helped me commit to something without having to figure out the decisions. It told me to run, and I ran. It told me to walk, and I'd walk.
I ended up dong a Chi Running introductory thing, and then a full blown Chi Running course (the day long one). It was very helpful. There are more "running form" Youtube videos now than when I was doing this, but I'd still recommend a Chi Running session for anyone getting into it.
Nowadays I do low heart rate running, and though I'm not all that fast, I can run pretty far. Ultra- far.
I started off doing the Couch to #K programs, and they helped me commit to something without having to figure out the decisions. It told me to run, and I ran. It told me to walk, and I'd walk.
I ended up dong a Chi Running introductory thing, and then a full blown Chi Running course (the day long one). It was very helpful. There are more "running form" Youtube videos now than when I was doing this, but I'd still recommend a Chi Running session for anyone getting into it.
Nowadays I do low heart rate running, and though I'm not all that fast, I can run pretty far. Ultra- far.
Hey, has anyone read born to run? (Containment post for all born to run related posts, they just tend to muck up these threads.)
It's a good read, just take it with a good dose of healthy skepticism.
Yeah, I read it when I was going through my barefoot phase. It's a good story overall but I am far less convinced of the barefoot movement these days than I was ten or so years a when I read it.
I started running barefoot recently. I have a hip injury that seems to flare up badly when I run with shoes. Running without shoes has me running slower and in turn putting less stress on my hip. I'm not sure if it's a good idea long term but at least in the short term, it helps me get back to running.
I have, along with What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. It can be an inspiration to start running or start running longer distances. But beware of the pseudo scientific narrative, don’t take it too seriously :)
When I think of running and literature, I can only think of Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner.
Thanks for the tip!