Got to know this writer when xf requested for his books as xmas present.
And recently I managed to find his books in the library (:
A part training log, part memoir of his running days with some philosophy of life.
Short and interesting read.. there are some parts I could relate to and laugh with, and prompted me recalling how I started running.
I have ever mentioned in my old blog, I started running in 2005 as it is the cheapest form of exercise for weight management.
More importantly it is an activity that I can do alone and at ease.
When asked what does he think about as he runs, Mr Murakami replied ‘I run in order to acquire a void..’
For me, I like the quiet time when I’m running, when I just focus on my each step, pacing, breathing and nothing else. I do take note if a hunk happens to run past.. though that doesn’t happen very often.
I do almost always start every run with a huge mountain-load of inertia, but I’m always glad that I ran after all.
Reading Mr Murakami’s log of training, it put me to shame thinking about my own.
There was a time I thought I could push through a full marathon with limited mileage and half-hearted training, and in turn suffered an injury. Now that I met many others runners/tri-athletes, hearing the effort and time they had put into the sports, I realized how naïve I have been.
I’m glad that my injury could recover, and I can still run now, but with more awareness, got wiser, and more realistic about my ability.
To-date I have ran 4 half-marathons (phew, without walking), and a failed full marathon (walked 2/3 of it). My personal best of 2:24 from this year’s Sundown, and hopefully can further improve in year-end Stanchart half-Marathon. Meaning to say, I have to train hard from now on ):
From running, Mr Murakami went into triathlons, something which I tried last year, though my timing was pretty horrendous. Like him, I got myself a swim coach, to correct my front-crawl strokes and to overcome my fear of swimming in the open sea.
When you gotta pay, you probably learn better.
I’m happy to say that I’m a more confident swimmer now, and I have picked up breast-stroke as well.
My biking skill is likewise by far the worst among the 3 disciplines, which will have to wait till I get my own bike.
2010 was a year where I just had to devote all my energy to do something (don’t ask me why not focus on career, I’m just not that ambitious). Also don’t ask me why I chose to do a triathlon. I should be quite mad at that time. And funnily I managed to find a kaki to join me.
I was out doing something (run, if not swim, if not cycle) 5 days a week. Sadly it’s not the amount of time that matters, it’s the quality of training matter. 100 times of wrong actions aint going to make it right.
Anyway, it made me quite exhausted and occupied, but in a way was also what I wanted.
I still think we were darn lucky on our maiden attempt. Sea was relatively calm, it was a gloomy day, so even though our start time was like 1030am, we weren’t scorched by the sun, no headwind during bike. Hence I can only fault myself for the lousy timing.
BUT I completed it. Felt really good, an achievement that I never dreamt of getting. So timing doesn’t really matter (at least for this time).
Towards the end of his book, Mr Murakami wrote
'I’ll be happy if running and I can grow old together.’
I too, would like to keep running. Just for a plain reason - so I can keep eating (:
Short and interesting read.. there are some parts I could relate to and laugh with, and prompted me recalling how I started running.
I have ever mentioned in my old blog, I started running in 2005 as it is the cheapest form of exercise for weight management.
More importantly it is an activity that I can do alone and at ease.
When asked what does he think about as he runs, Mr Murakami replied ‘I run in order to acquire a void..’
For me, I like the quiet time when I’m running, when I just focus on my each step, pacing, breathing and nothing else. I do take note if a hunk happens to run past.. though that doesn’t happen very often.
I do almost always start every run with a huge mountain-load of inertia, but I’m always glad that I ran after all.
Reading Mr Murakami’s log of training, it put me to shame thinking about my own.
There was a time I thought I could push through a full marathon with limited mileage and half-hearted training, and in turn suffered an injury. Now that I met many others runners/tri-athletes, hearing the effort and time they had put into the sports, I realized how naïve I have been.
I’m glad that my injury could recover, and I can still run now, but with more awareness, got wiser, and more realistic about my ability.
To-date I have ran 4 half-marathons (phew, without walking), and a failed full marathon (walked 2/3 of it). My personal best of 2:24 from this year’s Sundown, and hopefully can further improve in year-end Stanchart half-Marathon. Meaning to say, I have to train hard from now on ):
From running, Mr Murakami went into triathlons, something which I tried last year, though my timing was pretty horrendous. Like him, I got myself a swim coach, to correct my front-crawl strokes and to overcome my fear of swimming in the open sea.
When you gotta pay, you probably learn better.
I’m happy to say that I’m a more confident swimmer now, and I have picked up breast-stroke as well.
My biking skill is likewise by far the worst among the 3 disciplines, which will have to wait till I get my own bike.
2010 was a year where I just had to devote all my energy to do something (don’t ask me why not focus on career, I’m just not that ambitious). Also don’t ask me why I chose to do a triathlon. I should be quite mad at that time. And funnily I managed to find a kaki to join me.
I was out doing something (run, if not swim, if not cycle) 5 days a week. Sadly it’s not the amount of time that matters, it’s the quality of training matter. 100 times of wrong actions aint going to make it right.
Anyway, it made me quite exhausted and occupied, but in a way was also what I wanted.
I still think we were darn lucky on our maiden attempt. Sea was relatively calm, it was a gloomy day, so even though our start time was like 1030am, we weren’t scorched by the sun, no headwind during bike. Hence I can only fault myself for the lousy timing.
BUT I completed it. Felt really good, an achievement that I never dreamt of getting. So timing doesn’t really matter (at least for this time).
Towards the end of his book, Mr Murakami wrote
'I’ll be happy if running and I can grow old together.’
I too, would like to keep running. Just for a plain reason - so I can keep eating (:
^.^
But the view just kept getting better.
I was immensely relieved when we finally reached our tents.
This route is again ‘curam’, what made it worse is the terrain – all loose small sand/rock.
Are we still continuing?’ again same question
WE DID IT. cheers with shoju (complete with shotglasses - brought by mike)
This is the most dangerous route for me.
