Book Summary : What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, by Haruki Murakami

Haruki Murakami is a Japanese writer. His novels, essays, and short stories have been best-sellers in Japan and internationally, with his work translated into 50 languages and having sold millions of copies outside Japan.

‘What I Talk About When I Talk About Running’ is a memoir by Haruki Murakami, in which he talks about his journey as a long-distance runner. It’s not so much a normal autobiography as it is a self-explorative account of his identity, discipline, physical endurance, creativity, aging, and solitude.

Murakami has written the book in the form of essays and journal-like entries during the months leading up to the 2005 New York City Marathon; he offers from his personal experience insights drawn from over two decades of running and writing.

Haruki Murakami. Photograph: Patrick Fraser/Corbis Outline

The book is easy to read and has been written in a simple, conversational tone—often self-deprecating, occasionally philosophical, and always honest. Murakami gives a glimpse of his inner world and shares his memories, observations, and lessons learned stride after stride.

Murakami’s core belief is that both writing and running are spiritually and physically connected to each other. Both activities require daily commitment, mental stamina, and the acceptance of solitude. He mentions in the book that becoming a serious writer only came after he became a serious runner. Each morning, he runs to keep his body healthy and his mind sharp. He calls this an “automatic stabilizer” that helps him maintain emotional equilibrium. He believes that most of what he knows about writing he’s learned through running every day.

Murakami is steadfast on how invaluable habits are. According to him, perseverance trumps talent. His daily schedule includes writing for about 4–5 hours and running 10 kilometres. This persistent discipline has been the backbone of his life as well as his career. Murakami states that running has elevated his tolerance to withstand pain, tiredness and boredom—qualities he believes are indispensable for finishing a novel. He emphasises self-improvement over comparing self with others and trying to be better than them. To quote him, “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”

According to the author, both writing and running are solitary endeavours. He cherishes this solitude, and describes it not as loneliness but as a space where creativity and introspection thrive. During his runs, he often clears his mind or allows thoughts to drift, which in turn enables him to make sense of life and come up with story ideas. He has deliberately structured his lifestyle to allow for this solitude, which he sees as a requirement for creating deep, authentic work.

Murakami talks about the physical limitations he has had to face with growing age. He remarks that after his late 50s, he could no longer run as fast or recover as quickly as he could earlier. He marks as a milestone the 62-mile (100-kilometer) ultramarathon in Hokkaido, which proved to be a turning point where he tested the absolute limits of his endurance. But even as he grows older and his body becomes less and less strong, he finds meaning in adapting rather than resisting the changes brought by age. In his own words,

“I just run. All I do is keep on running in my own cozy, homemade void, my own nostalgic silence. Or maybe I should put it the other way: I run in order to acquire a void.”

Murakami acknowledges he is neither an extrovert nor naturally athletic. His success lies not in his charisma or innate brilliance, but in his consistency and understanding of self. The solitude and introspection that came with running helped him learn who he really was, and was not. Running helped him to stop comparing himself to others and rather focus on his own race—literal as well as metaphorical. His view of life is that of a long-distance run rather than a short, explosive sprint, where staying true to oneself is more valuable than brief success.

Murakami marks his first marathon—the original Greek route from Athens to Marathon—as his transformation into a serious runner. He jots down his experience elaborating the physical suffering and emotional insight he gained. Furthermore, he thinks that the Ultramarathon in Hokkaido (62 miles) was a brutally challenging and life-altering event that pushed him to physical and emotional extremes, revealing hidden reservoirs of endurance. He remarks that around mile 47, he entered a kind of trance state, continuing thereon through sheer willpower. He notes the New York City Marathon (2005)—occurring while the memoir was being written—as a frame for many of the reflections; he appreciates the communal energy of the runners and the spectators alike, and sees the event as a celebration of the spirit of running.

Murakami gives a philosophical angle to this memoir with thoughts on repetition, emptiness, and the real meaning of struggle. The meditative “void” he refers to is a place where the self dissolves, allowing insight and peace to arise. He reflects on physical and mental limits, sees suffering as a path to clarity, and believes that life’s “race” isn’t about winning but enduring with dignity and self-respect.

‘What I Talk About When I Talk About Running’ is not only about exercise or writing, but also about shaping a meaningful existence through reflection, rhythm and repetition. It’s a rare and intimate look at the personal philosophy of a private literary figure, offering a gentle but powerful encouragement to know oneself, honour one’s nature, and keep going.