This week, I read 'What I Talk About When I Talk About Running' 

The book a memoir by Japanese novelist Haruki Maruakami, focusing on his experiences of running and writing. 

Personally, I felt at times while reading that this could almost be a letter to myself from the future. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say that I like to believe I will have the same level of dedication and mental focus to one day lay my thoughts out so clearly and honestly as Haruki does here.

As someone who has begun running relatively recently, many of the things said in this book have been occurring to me lately, although they have never really taken any kind of written or spoken form, and almost certainly would not have been so poetically expressed if they had.

Ultimately, two things have come out of my reading this book. Firstly, I am inspired to run more and focus more attention on the discipline involved in training for long distances, and secondly I intend to read more of Haruki's work. 

'What I Talk About When I Talk About Running' is a beautifully written and plainly honest window into the mind of a man who understands himself and his existence much better than most of us can claim to.

These are my Nike Free 3.0's.

I got them after reading about the benefits of 'barefoot' running shoes.

So far, I'm impressed. 3 Half Marathons and a total distance of about 85 miles later I feel like they are much better for my feet than the stiff old trail shoes I had been running in. Certainly on road, where I seem to do the bulk of my running at the moment, but also on the trail. They weren't made for mud and roots and rocks and slippery moss, but thanks to the way they make you think about each foot-fall and consider your route more carefully than shoes with a ton of padding do, they are better than I expected. I'll wear them out and see if they've manager to make me loyal.

Better get a move on with this weeks then...

I never feel bad about buying a new book. 

I only feel bad when I find ones on the shelf that I still haven't read.

They sit there, taking up space. Waiting to be uploaded.

Books are for reading, and they let you know it.

The sight of an uncreased spine nags me the way a digital file never could.  

So I said I'd do a book a week.
Here's the first. Reading now.

Digital distribution definitely has advantages.

You can reach an audience of millions in a matter of moments. 

You save on materials, you don't need to employ drivers and delivery firms.

Your customers are contactable 24/7. Your shop is open all the time. 

You can operate from anywhere. 

But what are the downsides? 

Well, people don't want to pay very much for digital. 

Digital doesn't feel like a possession. 

Digital can't become an heirloom. 

Digital doesn't wear out faster the more you love it (advantage?)

Digital needs to be plugged in. 

The case for not selling your products online. Article on The Economist.  

Recommended viewing - a special report on the Impossible Project over at Monocle.

"This video has lots of fun dancing but also strikes an eerie note, since it focuses on the ideas that a) lots of people dance alone b) in their underwear and c) not many people look beautiful dancing, especially once they’re slowed down, sped up, or frozen. The result, however, is quite beautiful: Intimate, lonely, and still fun. The video was directed by DANIELS (Daniel Scheinert and Dan Kwan)."
-stereogum

Sent from my iPhone

Sent from my iPhone