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

I have often said that the value of a book about running is whether it inspires me to get off the couch and go run.  Haruki Murakami's What I Talk about When I Talk about Running: A Memoir passes that test with flying colors.  Many American readers are not familiar with Murakami, an award-winning Japanese novelist.  He has written dozens of novels and short stories that have been translated into more than 50 languages.  In this running memoir, first published in 2008, Murakami talks about how his work as a novelist, his life, and his running are all a piece of who he is.

Murakami took up running at the time he decided to become a full-time writer.  He knew that sitting at a desk writing or thinking about writing all day would be detrimental to his health.  He began a habit of running an average of six miles a day and training for a marathon each year.  Later on he began competing in triathlons.

At no point does Murakami come off as an elite runner.  But he certainly sets an example as a dedicated, competitive amateur.  His work has clearly benefitted from his activity as a runner.  Most of us will never be famous novelists (or famous anything), but he models for us the habits of life and attitudes that can contribute to our success and overall well-being. 

Murakami's writing is engaging, personal, sometimes funny, and, most of all, relatable.  Not only does he inspire me to prioritize habitual running and racing, but I may also need to check out some of his novels.