LIVE, LEARN, & LOVE SERIES #50. What I Talk About When I Talk about Running (authored by Murakami Haruki)

LIVE, LEARN, & LOVE

Do you take delight in watching films, listening to pop music, or reading books? For English learners, movies, songs, and books are one of the most wonderful sources to explore the language! You can indulge in your favorite pastime and still learn some expressions, words of wisdom, and oftentimes good lessons while you’re at it.

 

#50. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running: A Memoir (authored by Haruki Murakami)

This book offers a personal exploration of writing and running, and the remarkable ways they connect, from acclaimed bestselling author Haruki Murakami. It is a memoir in which Murakami reflects on his dual passions for long-distance running and writing. He shares insights from his marathon training and explains how the discipline of running has influenced his creative journey of writing since he began in 1982. Blending elements of a training journal, travel narrative, and introspective essay, the book recounts his racing experiences, his choice to pursue writing, and his thoughts on endurance, pain, and solitude.

 

“Forgive me for stating the obvious, but the world is made up of all kinds of people. Other people have their own values to live by, and the same holds true with me. These differences give rise to disagreements, and the combination of these disagreements can give rise to even greater misunderstandings. As a result, sometimes people are unfairly criticized. This goes without saying. It’s not much fun to be misunderstood or criticized, but rather a painful experience that hurts people deeply.”

ð     Murakami suggests that since each person holds distinct values and viewpoints, tension and miscommunication are bound to occur. He explains that the characteristics that make someone unique —such as his own way of seeing scenes or experiencing emotions — enable him to produce original work. At the same time, these differences can invite criticism and cause emotional pain.

Although he recognizes that being misunderstood can be difficult, he ultimately views this “emotional pain” as something valuable. It affirms his identity as an independent individual rather than a mere imitation of others. His central realization is that instead of avoiding criticism, he embraces it as the necessary “cost” of preserving independence and sustaining a voice that is entirely his own as a creative author.

 

“When I’m criticized unjustly (from my viewpoint, at least) or when someone I’m sure will understand me doesn’t, I go running for a little longer than usual. By running longer it’s like I can physically exhaust that portion of my discontent. It also makes me realize again how weak I am, how limited my abilities are. I become aware, physically, of these low points. And one of the results of running a little farther than usual is that I become that much stronger. If I’m angry, I direct that anger toward myself. If I have a frustrating experience, I use that to improve myself. That’s the way I’ve always lived. I quietly absorb the things I’m able to, releasing them later, and in as changed a form as possible, as part of the story in a novel.”

ð     Haruki believes in using physical endurance as a way to process his emotional struggles, deepen self-understanding, and inspire creative work. For him, running is not merely exercise but a solitary, therapeutic, and transformative practice. That is, he turns to running as a method for coping with unfair criticism or misunderstanding that happens to him. By pushing himself to run longer than usual, he channels emotional strain into physical exhaustion, effectively converting inner tension into bodily fatigue. Extended and demanding runs compel him to confront his physical boundaries and acknowledge his weaknesses. Recognizing these moments of struggle strengthens him not only physically but also mentally and emotionally.

Rather than expressing frustration outwardly, he internalizes it and uses it as motivation for self-improvement. This reflects a thoughtful and disciplined approach to growth rather than an impulsive reaction. As he explains, he quietly takes in his experiences and later releases them in altered forms through his writing. In this way, difficult emotions and events become material for his fiction. This idea aligns with his broader philosophy that emotional pain is the cost of independence. Running becomes his personal method for navigating life on his own terms and preserving his individuality.

 

** Jean’s Small Thoughts:

It has been nearly three decades since I first began running. In the beginning, even 15 to 20 minutes felt like my absolute limit. I doubted whether my body could handle the strain—aching legs, sudden side stitches, blisters on my heels, and the constant irritation from chafing fabric. Yet over time, my daily running log began to reflect growing energy and commitment, with longer distances steadily becoming the norm.

Like Haruki Murakami, I’ve come to value my early morning runs as the most meaningful part of the day—a time when I can be fully alone with my thoughts, unrestrained, unbridled, and calm. During those long, sweaty, and tiring stretches, I find a sense of clarity and prepare myself to face a world often filled with troubling news and overwhelming noise. I relate to Murakami’s idea of transforming frustration and anger into something constructive, much like he channels it into his writing. If accepting the world’s unfairness is unavoidable, then I choose to make each day meaningful in my own way—by turning it into a day worth running.