Date: 2010-07-28 20:20:48 Created: 2010-07-28 16:18:30
What I am talking about when I talk about running is a book by Japanese author Haruki Murakami. It has a sort of diary or refined diary form, as the chapters are in chronological order and written on given dates. The binding theme is the author's relation to and thoughts about running.
To condense my experience: after finishing the book I went out for a 20 kilometer run (my longest in over two months), and every step and breath was thoroughly enjoyable.
I think I have found the energy and fun in running again after a sort of slow period. It is, of course, not all because of the book. There are a whole series of circumstances and events which together make up this pleasant situation. But having the book right at the end of the chain seems completely right.
There are many things i recognize, from thoughts about life, how running connects and relates to the rest of it, to certain types of feelings while running. All filtered through and clarified by the humble mind of a writer with much more experience. It is a great joy to be able to relate to someone like this, to feel that you can connect with someone higher up a ladder of some type of experience.
I got the book as a birthday present, a fantastically right present to give a runner who is becoming one year older. So right that I can think of several people who , in turn,I might give it to, spreading it like a positive virus.
So, thank you for sharing, mister Murakami! I am looking forward to reading some of your other books as well.