"Murakami gives me a reason. It might seem romantic, but it's true. I had to run?but I didn't enjoy running. I do enjoy, however, running with Murakami." (Ioan Marc Jones Huffington Post UK)"Murakami distils his own process of writing fiction in this layered and meditative memoir." (Big Issue)"A wonderful exploration of work, place and life?s meanders." (Geographical)"It?s an inspiring, reflective read that?ll make you want to dust your trainers off" (Andy McNicoll Professional Social Work)"Hugely enjoyable... You don't have to have run a marathon to be captivated" (Sunday Telegraph)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, he reflects upon the influence the sport has had on his life and on his writing. Equal parts travelogue, training log, and reminiscence, this revealing memoir covers his four-month preparation for the 2005 New York City Marathon and settings ranging from Tokyo's Jingu Gaien gardens, where he once shared the course with an Olympian, to the Charles River in Boston.By turns funny and sobering, playful and philosophical, this is a must-read for fans of this masterful yet private writer as well as for the exploding population of athletes who find similar satisfaction in distance running.