Weeks before the Condura marathon, I took out the book from the magazine box, peeled off its plastic cover and started to read the foreword. I couldn’t stop turning the next pages.

Haruki Murakami, the author, shared his personal experiences, real feelings, thoughts, and philosophies both as a runner and as a novelist. I could relate to some of his experiences, his reasons for running, and why he is silent when running. Interesting to note are his struggles as a newbie runner, as a marathoner, as a triathlete, and as an ultra marathoner. Here’s a special preview of his thoughts.

On Running

“Running is sort of a vague theme to begin with, and I found it hard to figure out exactly what I should say about it.”
“I’ve never recommended running to others.”

On Long-Distance (Marathon) Running

“Some people are suited more for marathon …”
“If some people have an interest in long-distance running, just leave them be, and they’ll start running on their own…”
“Marathon running is not a sport for everyone…”

On Being Competitive

“… When it comes to a game against someone, the competitive aspect makes me uncomfortable.”
“… I never cared all that much whether I beat others or lost to them.”
“World-class runners, of course, want to outdo their closest rivals, but for your average, everyday runner, individual rivalry isn’t a major issue.”

Interesting, eh? Find out more on what he said about runner’s blues, the difficulties he experienced the first time he rode a bike as part of his training for a triathlon, how he learned to swim, and many more.

Try to get a copy since this is not that expensive. It’s now available in local bookstores.