An excerpt from a 2004 interview with Murakami in The Paris Review brings home the connection between physical strength and creating extraordinary work:
When I’m in writing mode for a novel, I get up at 4:00 A.M. and work for five to six hours. In the afternoon, I run for ten kilometers or swim for fifteen hundred meters (or do both), then I read a bit, and listen to some music. I go to bed at 9:00 P.M. I keep to this routine every day without variation. The repetition itself becomes the important thing; it’s a form of mesmerism. I mesmerize myself to reach a deeper state of mind. But to hold to such repetition for so long—six months to a year—requires a good amount of mental and physical strength. In that sense, writing a long novel is like survival training. Physical strength is as necessary as artistic sensitivity Haruki Murakami "He wanted to impart some of the truths Bruce Denton had taught him, that you dont' become a runner by winning a morning workout. The only true way is to marshal the ferocity of your ambition over the course of many days, weeks, months, and (if you could finally come to accept it) years. The Trial of Miles; Miles of Trials. How could he make them understand?" "In mind's special processes, a ten-mile run takes far longer than the 60 minutes reported by a grandfather clock. Such time, in fact, hardly exists at all in the real world; it is all out on the trail somewhere, and you only go back to it when you are out there." — John L. Parker Jr. 50/50 by Dean Karnazes is a great book on the nuts an bolts on running very far, make sure you buy the book. Also read ultramarathonman.
check out his web site; http://www.ultramarathonman.com After marathons: Drink plenty of water eat a healthy meal immerse in an ice bath - 10 mins Sleep Run Again ( My favorite. This guys is amazing. Do it again) Eat more protein in the morning to help with weight loss Do a lot of cross trainbing to reduce injuries Books he recommends; The Courage to start Marathon and Beyond www.injured runner.com Substitue pasta with Kombo noodles Medicine for Mountain sickness - Diamox (prescription), Ginko Bilboa, raw ginger Train doing hill sprints or drills Sometimes just do a runabout run- all day - just go somewhere. Increase training in increments of 10% Take your pulse each morning and record. A rate higher than normal means you may need more recovery time from the last workout. To correct muscles imbalances; single leg squat, side step up, cook hip lift (?) eat raw vegetables Performance technique drills; Butt Kicks, High knees, one legged run Run whenever, even if only 10 minutes, which can burn a 150 calories at a hard pace. To make time to run; plan ahead stay on schedule do what works for you don't be afraid use teamwork multitask ( run to store) be flexible and oppurtunistic Attack your weaknesses; lack of speed - do intervals endurance - longer runs or maybe twice a day lack of fitness - do smaller marathons |
Click to set custom HTML
Categories
All
Disclosure of Material Connection:
Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” |