"‘Most of what I know about writing I’ve 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 definitely have been different." - Haruki Murakami
(Found here.)
I started running to get fit. I kept running because I found it made as much of a difference in my mental life as in my physical one. It provides training in stamina and endurance; time to think; fresh perspective; and the knowledge that concentrated focus and effort for a small amount of time every day brings concrete results. If I'm feeling stuck or I'm in a bad place emotionally, running always helps.
4 comments:
i read this post last night before i went to bed. i woke up this morning and went for a run, before i even had my coffee.
thank you.
running is such a beautiful physical and mental cleanse; unfortunately, i have fallen off the wagon lately and feel very lethargic as a result. thanks for your bit of extra motivation!
If only I could run! I sort of stagger. But I have been very focused over the last year about going to a gym class once a week. And I like to walk - also for that marvellous thinking time.
Nikki - I'm so glad! I hope it helped!
Blue Roses - it's so easy to get out of the habit - I completely sympathise.
Jayne - haha, I'm hardly the most graceful runner either! But good for you for staying so fit and active. Yes, wonderful thinking time.
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