Optimistic Runners: “Enter the Void”

Run. Run. “Enter the void.” Such is the mentality of writer Haruki Murakami while running.

For Murakami, listening to The Lovin’ Spoonful on an ageing Minidisc player for 62 miles—the length of an ultramarathon—through Hokkaido is sheer pleasure. Six miles a day, six days of week. “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional,” writes Murakami in What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. Part training diary and part actual diary, the book has evolved into a life manual for runners—and this is also true of Andrei Kravstov, the founder of the Berlin-based running apparel brand Optimistic Runners. His first marathon, also in Hokkaido, was sparked by reading of Murakami’s book, and led to the launch of his own sports apparel brand and run club.

But the prospect of running to a non-runner still seems to be a rather excruciating thought. Ahead of the Berlin Marathon this Saturday, September 29, I spoke to five members of the Optimistic Runners team—people who have decided to take the running out of run club and turn it into their careers—alongside a campaign and screenshots of their favorite Strava routes in Berlin. Only one question was posed: Why do you run?

Andrei Kravstov, Founder of Optimistic Runners

It was the boom of Nike. I started to run ten years ago when I lived in China. I had a lot of time on my hands. I was looking for the first marathon in Asia and decided to run it—in Hokkaido, Japan. It’s a special area for runners, which was a surprise to me. Leading up the race, I was reading about Haruki Murakami, who is also a runner. His books were my motivation, especially What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. I decided to do something new for myself and after that, I started running one or two marathons per year. Shenzhen, New York. It was such a high seeing how people supported me and other runners during the race. It motivates you to do the best result. When you run a marathon somewhere, it’s an excuse to explore a new city. You meet new people. It’s another way of exploring the world.

Running is also the motivation to start my brand, Optimistic Runners. It’s something I have believed in for a long time. After running my first marathon in Hokkaido, I realized that the message of being “optimistic” was not just about running. It’s about our life. Especially in Berlin, which has become a mecca for runners. A lot of runners dream about the Berlin Marathon—it’s really in the top six of the major marathons globally.

Robert Tscherny, Freelance Brand Manager

It’s coming to a state of mind where I feel completely in the now. I’m no longer two hours ahead, or one week ahead. It forces me to be in the moment. Just embracing the very moment of how I breathe and am alone with my thoughts. I feel my body working and how it is in sync with myself. I just take my house keys and then I go for a run. So, no phone, no music. I never run with music.

Brice Maillard, Captain of O.R. Running Club

This is quite a philosophical question…

It gives me freedom. Every day is a new day. Every time I run the same loop, I discover new things on the loop about myself. I don’t need to go far in order to be adventurous.

I’m 40 years old, but I feel younger than I did when I started my running journey at 30. There is something about doing the same thing over and over that makes you discover yourself and the people around you. I say hello to everybody I meet, everybody who is running the same loop. I’m just waiting to say hello. You know what? We are living at the same moment. I think training has given me an open door to discover myself, to feel better with myself, and also to feel better with others.

Lena Zwicker, Store Assistant

Running is the feeling of letting go. Of everything. You’re constantly trying to keep everything under control. Especially in the city, it’s hard because there is so much noise everywhere. But if you go outside, it feels just really pure. You’re left with the sound of your own breathing. It gives me a meditative state of mind. Instead of trying to control it, just let your natural breathing be when running.

There has not been a single run I have ever regretted going for.

Paul Schmihing, Store Manager

What do you do when you don’t want to be at home alone with your thoughts? It’s a good move to go outside. When you’re running, you don't have to talk to anyone. You can listen to music. I had a period when I was working remotely in Hamburg and had to make up my own schedule. Running clubs have done a great job there. At Optimistic Runners, we run every Saturday morning, and then you have a fixed thing to do on a certain day.

The thing I love about running is that you can do it with basically nothing. You just need a pair of shoes. I like the clothing, don’t get me wrong. But I also like the community. It’s not only the products. I feel like that’s something our customers are feeling, experiencing—there’s a little more than the product itself.

I would say that running has changed my life. And yeah, maybe I would say it has made me a little more optimistic.

Ahead of the Berlin Marathon this Saturday, join Optimistic Runners’ social run club on September 28, with a shoe testing session hosted by Hoka and a brunch. More details here.