I'm very new to a serious running training and I would say that Murakami's book could be part of the runners starter pack after shoes and mineral salts.
The title fascinated me before reading a single word and it is probably because I read it in Italian, where the title can be translated in English as “The art of running”. My mind started building the image of the body as a temple, as moving matter carried on by the power of the mind in the perfect balance of beauty.
Well, I didn't read anything about that, but honestly the contents were pretty inspiring for me. I can't really say I liked the way it is written in terms of organic sequence of events, sometimes I was a bit lost finishing a chapter and starting the new one, but for sure I liked the experience the author is sharing.I found very interesting the intersections between Murakami writer and Murakami runner. He is a very rigorous and determined man, he ran a ultra-marathon, he runs at least one marathon per year, he trains regularly for triathlon competitions and runs something like 10 km per day 6 days a week. To a very beginner like me he is an Iron Man (the only competition he never attempted) and I often think about the fatigue he described in the book, while I run my few kilometres.
The idea the author supports and I definitely buy, is the continuous challenge with the self.
In long-distance running the only opponent you have to beat is yourself, the way you used to be.
I'm not actually a big fun of competitions but I'm extremely interested in self improvements and challenges that are learning time and self discovery. I believe the endurance he talks about is also a good metaphor of life.
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. Say you’re running and you think, "Man, this hurts, I can’t take it anymore". The ‘hurt’ part is an unavoidable reality, but whether or not you can stand anymore is up to the runner himself.
It's a very inspiring book both if you love running for real or as a metaphor and if you would like to be one of those to cross the ultimate finish line and say:
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