Super Short Summary

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is a memoir by Haruki Murakami that combines elements of traditional memoir with philosophical musings about running and writing. Murakami began running in the 1980s, completing over twenty-five marathons and a sixty-two-mile ultramarathon. Adapted mainly from journal entries during his training for the 2005 New York marathon, the book explores how running helps build endurance and focus, qualities crucial for both runners and novelists. Murakami also discusses his personal history, his preference for listening to the Lovin' Spoonful and Eric Clapton while running, and how the act of running helps clear mental blockages, aiding his writing process. He addresses facing the "wall" in marathons and the therapeutic aspects of running, despite acknowledging that his marathon-running days may be limited as he ages.