Most of what I know about writing -says Haruki Murakami- I’mve learned through running every day.
These are practical, physical lessons.
How much can I push myself? How much rest is appropriate – and how much is too much? How far can I take something and still keep it decent and consistent? When does it become narrow-minded and inflexible? How much should I be aware of the world outside, and how much should I focus on my inner world? To what extent should I be confident in my abilities, and when should I start doubting myself? I know that if I hadn’t become a long-distance runner when I became a novelist, my work would have been vastly different. How different? Hard to say. But something would have been vastly different.
There is a definite crossover in the mental endurance required for running as well as for writing.
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Love Murakami’s writing! I’ve been meaning to read his book concerning running.
I always enjoy your blog, Alastair, as I enjoyed “Moods of Future Joys” and “Thunder and Sunshine”.
Keep doing it all. You’re an inspiration to keep me getting out my front door for those cold Winter runs.