What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, by Haruki Murakami

Send us Fan Mail Send us Fan Mail In 1982, having sold his jazz bar to devote himself to writing, Murakami began running to keep fit. A year later, he’d completed a solo course from Athens to Marathon, and now, after dozens of such races, not to mention triathlons and a dozen critically acclaimed books, he reflects upon the influence the sport has had on his life and—even more important—on his writing. Equal parts training log, travelogue, and reminiscence, this revealing memoir covers his four-month preparation for the 2005 New York City Marathon and takes us to places ranging from Tokyo’s Jingu Gaien gardens, where he once shared the course with an Olympian, to the Charles River in Boston among young women who outpace him. Through this marvelous lens of sport emerges a panorama of memories and insights: the eureka moment when he decided to become a writer, his greatest triumphs and disappointments, his passion for vintage LPs, and the experience, after fifty, of seeing his race times improve and then fall back. By turns funny and sobering, playful and philosophical, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is rich and revelatory, both for fans of this masterful yet guardedly private writer and for the exploding population of athletes who find similar satisfaction in running. Link for 20% discount on Caffeine Bullet Discount automatically applied and visible on checkout Support the show Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: Podcast webpage: If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! Link for 20% discount on Caffeine Bullet Discount automatically applied and visible on checkout Support the show Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: Podcast webpage: If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site!

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What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, by Haruki Murakami is an episode from Running Book Reviews with Alan and Liz by Alan and Liz.

This episode is 56:54 long.

This episode was published on May 1, 2026.

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