When did Haruki Murakami start running? -

When did Haruki Murakami start running?

Murakami is an experienced marathon runner and triathlon enthusiast, though he did not start running until he was 33 years old, after he began as a way to stay healthy despite the hours spent at his desk writing.

Who wrote What I Talk About When I Talk About Running?

Haruki Murakami

How does Haruki Murakami compare writing with running?

Murakami draws a comparison between running a full marathon and writing a novel. Both endeavors are highly measurable. For writing novels, it can be how many words you’ve written per day. For running a marathon, it’s about training your body to be able to run over 26 miles.

Is Haruki Murakami still running?

After closing his successful jazz bar to pursue his writing career, he incorporated writing and running into his everyday routine. With these habits of challenging both his mind and body every day, he has gotten to the place he is now: a famous novelist and a not necessarily “great runner, but a strong runner.”

Is Murakami a smoker?

Approaching his 30th birthday, Haruki Murakami was the owner of a jazz bar in Kokubunji, Tokyo. He was smoking as many as 60 cigarettes a day and was committed to a life reckless sociability.Aug 9, 2008

Why did Murakami run?

This novelist uses his running to make his books top-notch. Why do you run, when did you start? I began running on an everyday basis after I became a writer. As being a writer requires sitting at a desk for hours a day, without getting some exercise you’d quickly get out of shape and gain weight, I figured.Oct 3, 2005

What I talk about when u talk about running?

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (走ることについて語るときに僕の語ること, Hashiru Koto ni Tsuite Kataru Toki ni Boku no Kataru Koto) is a memoir by Haruki Murakami in which he writes about his interest and participation in long-distance running. The book is translated by Philip Gabriel.

How many miles do professional runners run a day?

But, how much do marathon runners actually have to run? Most marathon runners prepare by running between 30 50 miles per week with less mileage in the beginning of marathon training and more at the end. This averages out to about 5-6 miles per day over the course of several months.

How many miles does Murakami run a day?

six miles a

How long do writers write each day?

Stephen King recommends new writers produce 1,000 words a day. If that’s too much, try for between 300 and 500 words a day. It takes a 30-minute writing session to write that many words. Achieving this each day will turn into several thousand words, on a good week.

What to do when you run out of things to write?

exercise takes you away from the moment. So, if you struggle to write, go for a walk. If you’re lagging and tired, go for a walk. If you run out of writing ideas, go for a walk.

How many words does Murakami write per day?

The only thing I’m able to do daily, is write 800-1,200 words in the morning. Setting and achieving this daily word goal will make you super productive. This way, you can finish a first draft of a novel in about six months. Stephen King does it as well!

How many words a day does Stephen King write?

Stephen King writes 6 pages and over 1000 words a day. By being consistent every day or at least every other day, the pressure to create perfect work will be alleviated because you know it’s just another day’s work.

How many words a day do good writers write?

The number of words per day varies from author to author, and then there is the question: how many salvageable words should one write per day? In his autobiography, Twain writes that when he was finishing his 1897 book Following The Equator, he would average about 1,800 words per day.

What is Haruki Murakami routine?

Murakami’s routine usually looks like this: Wake up at 4 a.m. Write for five to six hours. Run a 10K or swim 1,500 meters in the afternoon.

What is serious running according to Murakami?

I’m seriously running now. By seriously I mean thirty-six miles a week. In other words, six miles a day, six days a week. It would be better if I ran seven days, but I have to factor in rainy days, and days when work keeps me too busy.

What running shoes does Haruki Murakami use?

Mizuno Wave Rider 18 Mizuno became popular in India because of writer Haruki Murakami, whose obsession with running began with a pair of these Japanese shoes.Nov 3, 2014

What is Haruki Murakami strict schedule?

When I’m in writing mode for a novel, I get up at 4:00 am and work for five to six hours. In the afternoon, I run for 10km or swim for 1500m (or do both), then I read a bit and listen to some music. I go to bed at 9:00 pm. I keep to this routine every day without variation.

What I Think About When I Think About Running | by Mark

What I Think About When I Think About Running I love running, I love meditation. In this blog I’m exploring how the two fit together. #1 The Big Twenty! I just ran 20 miles (33 km). Next to running

Amazon.com: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running: A

An intimate look at writing, running, and the incredible way they intersect, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is an illuminating glimpse into the solitary passions of one of our greatest artists. While training for the New York City Marathon, Haruki Murakami decided to keep a journal of his progress.

What I think about when I think about running: a homage to

Murakami suggests that running provides the physical and mental stamina necessary to sustain life as a writer. He uses running as both a metaphor for the focus and endurance needed by a writer and a means by which they can be achieved: “most of what I know about writing fiction I learned by running every day”.

What We Think About When We Think About Running – Semi-Rad.com

What We Think About When We Think About Running. Mark Twain was not a runner, at least to my knowledge. But I think of this Mark Twain quote nearly every time I go running, once I’ve finally dragged myself out the door: “It’s easier to stay out than get out.”. When he wrote that line in the late 1800s, there’s almost zero chance he

What We Think About When We Think About Running – Outside

Here are a bunch of my favorites: 1 “You don’t have to do this. You get to do this.” —Tom Kubis (via Mira Brody) 2 “The point of diving into a lake is not immediately to swim to the shore, but to

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is a memoir by Haruki Murakami in which he writes about his interest and participation in long-distance running. Murakami started running in the early 1980’s and since then has competed in over twenty marathons and an ultra-marathon. Murakami gives reasons that make him run.

10 things to think about when running

Here are some things you may want to consider: 1. Switching up the terrain Surfaces that are too hard might cause joint pain or other injuries. But if you’re running on loose terrain like sand, you

Running Motivation: What Do You Think About When You're

“When I run I think about the things that are bothering me and usually I can figure out what to do in the course of the run, sometimes I end up running further than planned just to figure out a

READ When did Workers Compensation begin in the US?

How to Think When You Run – Long Distance Running Tips

Relaxation, such as relaxing your hands and upper body, has also been shown to reduce perception of effort and improve running economy, meaning you’re more efficient and likely to run faster as a

12 Things to Think About While Running – Run Eat Repeat

What to Think About While Running 1. Your Karaoke Song Quick – you find yourself in a karaoke bar and MUST sing a song. What do you pick? EVERYONE should have a go-to karaoke song in their back pocket (or running belt ). You never know when you’ll need it! Random…

What I Think About When I Think About Running by Eleanor

What I Think About When I Think About Running 32. by Eleanor Levenson, Katie O’Hagan (Illustrator) Paperback $ 10.50. Hardcover. $28.25. Paperback. $10.50. View All Available Formats & Editions. Ship This Item — Qualifies for Free Shipping Buy Online, Pick up in Store

What do marathoners think about while running? | health enews

If you have ever wondered what marathon runners think about while spending hours pounding the pavement, researchers may have found the answer. In the first study of its kind, runners training for a half marathon or marathon were asked to think aloud while they were running a distance of at least 7 miles. The thoughts were captured by a

RETHINK RUNNING – Blogger

#1 Listened to my compadre in running, Patton “The Dominator” Gleason, say that for the next adventure we will be “dipping our toe in the Red River”, running to the White Rock Marathon, and running it. 100+ miles in all and starting Saturday morning. #2 Decided I would run the 100 miles in a week that I have been trying to talk my friend out of.

Think running is not for you? Try this – Harvard Health

“Many people think running is not for them, or they can’t do it well, but running is a simple skill and an easy activity to get into,” says Michael Clem, a doctor of physical therapy at the Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Outpatient Center. “After all, we’ve been running since we could walk.” Run then walk

Solved Think about running a restaurant. It is likely the

See the answer Think about running a restaurant. It is likely the case that: A. valet parking staff are a fixed resource in the long run. B. cheese and other wholesale food items are fixed resources in the short run. C. a building is a variable resource in the short run. D. cooks and hosts are variable resources. Expert Answer 100% (1 rating)

I think about running | Spanish Translator

I think about running into her in Paris in 10 years. Pienso verla en París en 10 años. When I think about running the social media accounts for a major sports franchise, my brain immediately goes to the Seinfeld scene where George thinks he can be a GM due to the simple fact that he likes sports.

How to Think About a Running Mate – WSJ

In the run-up to this year’s Democratic Party convention, presumptive presidential nominee Hillary Clinton will get a torrent of advice about potential running mates. Reunite the party, some will

Harris: 'I Don't Think About' Biden Running in 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday said in an interview that she doesn’t “think about” whether or not President Joe Biden will seek reelection in 2024, saying that they “do not talk about” the election. “I’m not going to talk about our conversations, but I will tell. .. kamala harris, joe biden, 2024, presidential race.

Lenovo think pad running windows 10. – Microsoft Community

Lenovo think pad running windows 10. Yesterday I noticed my Lenovo think pad is locked on and I cannot access anything. The screen is showing the red and white Lenovo logo and underneath it it says, “Scanning and repairing drive (C:)” It has been running this for over 24 hours.

who do you think you are running around leaving scars ♥

READ FIRST! i know the name of this song is jar of heart, the title is just lyrics, for crying out loud. CALM DOWN just made a tumblr feel free to follow 🙂

Think Like a Doctor: Running in Circles – The New York Times

Think Like a Doctor: Running in Circles. Solve a medical mystery with Dr. Lisa Sanders. The Challenge: Can you solve the mystery of a 23-year-old man with uncontrollable episodes of aggressive, manic behavior? Every month, the Diagnosis column of The New York Times Magazine asks Well readers to sift through a difficult case and solve a

Why incompetent people think they're amazing – David

Check out our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/tededView full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-incompetent-people-think-they-re-amazing-david-dunn

Think Pink 5k

Think Pink 5k. Sat October 9, 2021 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 US Directions. Thank you! Your message was posted to Facebook. Close. Enter your Tweet. Register for the Think Pink 5k today! Tweet.

Think Like a Doctor: Running in Circles Solved! – The New

Think Like a Doctor: Running in Circles Solved! Solve a medical mystery with Dr. Lisa Sanders. On Thursday, we challenged Well readers to solve the mystery of a 23-year-old man with episodes of aggressive, manic behavior that couldn’t be controlled. Nearly 1,000 readers wrote in with their take on this terrifying case.

Think Blue 5K – Deerfield Beach, FL 2022 | ACTIVE

Love Serving Autism is proud to host the 4th Annual Think Blue 5K on Sunday April 3, 2022 at Quiet Waters Park. The Think Blue 5K will be a fun, entertaining, and enjoyable event for everyone. The 5K is chipped timed and awards will be provided to the top 3 overall (male and female), masters, senior masters, and age groups. Music and entertainment will be provided by Victory Sports own DJ

Running Minds

Brought to you by Running Minds. A 1 hour online course about the female presentation of autism for parents/carers, teachers, practitioners, therapists and autistic adults. (one off cost $99AU, certificate included) All Courses.

10 Tips for Organizing a Think Tank – LinkedIn

They speak about the unspeakable and run towards discomfort zones. The think tank is a major part of any problem solving initiative or Problem Management Process. Think tanks are very effective

Solved Do you think running a trade deficit necessarily

Question: Do you think running a trade deficit necessarily puts a nation at a disadvantage? Why or why not? According to the dictionary, the word deficit means “an excess of expenditure over revenue,” but another definition is “deficiency or disadvantage.” Might this dual meaning mislead pundits and policymakers into being more worried about

6 Benefits of Running – ACTIVE.com

The next time you’re thinking of skipping a run, think of these six reasons to get your butt out the door or on the treadmill. 1. Running Improves Your Health Believe it or not, running is actually a great way to increase your overall level of health.

I Think I Learned to Actually Like Running, so Maybe You

Buy for $40 at Amazon. There were some important personal take-aways for me from that conversation. First, that in order to start to like running, you have to give it 30 days. (I stumbled upon the

Running Technique: What You Think You Know Is Wrong

Running Technique Tips. 1. Incorporate strength training 1-2 times per week, including exercises which use both hip and knee extension (i.e. split squats, hip lifts, Bulgarian squats, reverse lunges, and back squats). 2. Complement this with suitable drills based on your ability to teach your body how to make use of this strength.

READ When should I worry about my child's behavior?

Running wild – Big Think

I started to run longer distances, venturing out more. It wasn’t easy or pleasant. My father-in-law, Paul McCadam, who runs half marathons in under two hours at 71, gave me the extra push I needed.

Running That Doesn't Suck: How to Love Running (Even If

This item: Running That Doesn’t Suck: How to Love Running (Even If You Think You Hate It) by Lisa Jhung Paperback . $16.99. Only 20 left in stock (more on the way). Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. FREE Shipping on orders over $25.00. Easy Running Plans: Total-Body Training for Speed, Strength, and Endurance.

installation – Running thinkorswim – Ask Ubuntu

Click Finish – Think or Swim will run. For now you can hit cancel at the logon screen. Type exit at any open terminal windows to close them. You’ll find a shortcut on your desktop as shown below. Right click – choose properties – click the permissions tab and tick the box to allow execution. You can now run think or swim from the desktop icon.

standard chartered: Bank CEOs now think they are running

Bank CEOs now ‘think themselves as running technology companies, as much as they do about running financial companies,’ Standard Chartered Plc Chief Executive Bill Winters tells Arijit Barman in an interview. Edited excerpts: Before we go into the macro picture, we would like to understand how technology is reshaping Standard Chartered and the

PDF Paradigm Running from hate Social Research, to what you

4 Running from hate to what you think is love: The relationship between running away and CSE Running from hate to what you think is love: The relationship between running away and CSE 5. Part one: Introduction Since the 1990s research focused on running away, child sexual exploitation (CSE) and

When Running Drugs Is Your Only Option | Think

Ryan Goldberg joins us to talk about how the Tarahumara people of Northern Mexico are used by cartels to run drugs across the border. Think is produced five days a week by KERA in Dallas/Fort Worth. Your ongoing support helps to provide a unique mix of thought-provoking topics and guests.

So You Think You Can't Run: A Beginner's Guide to Running

Think you can’t run? You can! Check out this beginner’s guide to running and try these easy first steps to get you on the road and running your first 5k! I hate running. I could never be a runner. I don’t know how people do that. It just doesn’t come naturally to me.

An Hour Of Running With Peter Sagal | Think

Don’t Tell Me” to catch up on the week that was and have a few laughs. Host Peter Sagal travels the country with the show, and the one thing he never forgets to pack is his running shoes. He joins us to talk all things running, the subject of his new book “The Incomplete Book of Running” (Simon & Schuster).

What We Think We Know About The Causes of Running Injuries

A new study suggests we may even know less than we think we do. high intensity, or running more than five or six days a week. But are these really the sources of our woes? To find out, a team led by Jean-Francois Esculier of The Running Clinic (headquartered near Montreal, Canada) and a medical professor at the University of British

Life After 50: Think You're Too Old to Do This? Think

Now, I run to think, solve problems, feel good, burn calories, and burn off steam. I run to be alone and to be part of a community. I run to look good in my jeans and feel good in my heart. But most importantly, I run . . . because I can.

Rick Perry — Not Who You Think — Running for Texas Gov

Rick Perry has thrown his hat in the ring as a Republican candidate against current Gov. Greg Abbott in Texas. But before you go to thinking there’s a big Texas show-down about to take place between the incumbent and and his predecessor, the man who showed up on the the official list of GOP candidates when the party updated it on Monday is not the state’s longest serving governor (2000-2015

2023: Who Do You Think Should Be Tinubu's Running Mate

2023: Who Do You Think Should Be Tinubu’s Running Mate? by Omicron007: 12:53am On Jan 17. It is no longer news that frontline Lagos politician Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu visited President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja recently where he informed him of his decision to contest the apex political seat in the country in 2023.

Frank Luntz: 'I Think Tucker Is Running For President

Republican pollster Frank Luntz said that his recent feud with Tucker Carlson is due to Carlson’s presidential aspirations. “I think Tucker is running for president,” Luntz told the New York Times podcast “Sway” Thursday. Carlson, who co-founded the Daily Caller, reported Monday that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy rents a room from Luntz in the pollster’s Washington, DC

Most Voters Think Trump Running in 2024 Would Be Bad for

Most Americans don’t think Donald Trump running for president again in 2024 would be a good thing for the country, a new poll from Quinnipiac University reveals. The survey, which asked a number of questions about elections in 2022 and 2024, revealed challenges and opportunities that both political parties will face in those years relating to voters’ preferences on what type of candidates

What do you think of men running shirtless in hot weather

Unless they are running in the middle of the road (side is fine) or knocking over pedestrians, I don’t care, and their shirt or lack thereof makes no difference. 8. level 1. Svataben. · 5y. I don’t care. (But if they say a single word about a woman running in a sports brah, I’ll want to kick their asses.) 27. level 1.

IS RUNNING A MARATHON A VIRTUE? | Think | Cambridge Core

IS RUNNING A MARATHON A VIRTUE? – Volume 17 Issue 48. To send this article to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account.

Thirteen Women Who Should Think About Running for

Thirteen Women Who Should Think About Running for President in 2020. Save this story for later. The senators Susan Collins, of Maine, and Amy Klobuchar, from Minnesota, are among the women in

What runners think about: How much running sucks

What runners think about: How much running sucks. (NEWSER) – Non-runners may look at a runner off in the distance and feel a twinge of envy, because surely that person is in some kind of Zen

Think running retail stores is more expensive than selling

Think running retail stores is more expensive than selling online? Think again. Published Wed, Apr 19 2017 2:28 PM EDT Updated Wed, Apr 19 2017 5:50 PM EDT. Courtney Reagan @CourtReagan.

8 Celebrities Say What They Really Think of Kanye West

I think anybody participating in politics, running — it’s too elitist now, too many elites. Even though Kanye himself is an elite, he’s a different kind of elite.

To Run Your Best, Think Fast | Runner's World

To Run Your Best, Think Fast. Building a strong mental game can help you on race day. By alex hutchinson. PhotoRun.

Think Spring De Pere | Half Marathon and 5K – Half

Think Spring Run De Pere by On Pace. This past year at On Pace, we had so much fun at our first event – Run De Pere. We felt blessed to get this race in prior to the Winter chill and we are so excited to bookend winter with our second annual event, Think Spring, De Pere!

READ When should SAP be used?

Think Pink 5k Walk & Run In Redding, Think Pink 5k Walk & Run

Think Pink 5k Walk & Run 3rd Annual Think Pink 5k Walk/Run. Nor-Cal Think Pink is excited to host the 3rd Annual Think Pink 5k Walk/Run on Saturday, October 22nd, at 11am at the Sundial Bridge in Redding. All proceeds benefit Nor-Cal Think Pink’s mission to save lives by educating the importance of early detection screening.

Do We Pause and Think Why?. While we are running towards

Do we pause and think while we are busy running notebooks ? In the first job we may not have a choice to find our meaning, but how long we are going to hang on there? When are we going to make that switch where we can do what we care about? Are we going to forget where we started, how we got support, or are we going to pass it all forward?

Think You Know BC's Running Game? Think Again. – Boston

Position Notes • BC dropped from 253.2 (8th nationally) rushing yards per game in 2019 to 101.7 (118th) in 2020. • Travis Levy brings 48 career games of experience as an Eagle with 693 rushing yards on 197 carries. He was second on the team with 321 rushing yards in 2020 and is a proven threat in the passing game with 71 career receptions, including 35 a year ago.

uTorrent seems to think I am running two versions

I have posted about this earler, but can’t seem to find a solution, so I thought I’d try a new thread. I am running Windows 7 Pro 64 bit and uTorrent version 3.4.3 (build 40298) [32 bit] I would really appreciate someone answering me. Also, I am not very technical, so a detailed answer would be m

What Marketers Think About Running Ads in Facebook Stories

What Marketers Think About Running Ads in Facebook Stories Over 300 million people are using the feature daily. Facebook. By David Cohen. .

On Think Tanks | Setting up a think tank: step by step

This will save a lot of time and allow the think tank to hit the ground running. Rather than thinking in terms of research interests, though: Focus on policy questions: Research questions are not the same as policy questions; And think in terms of problems to be solved: A few initiatives, not many projects, may be the secret.

Think Before Running For President – Outside The Beltway

Think Before Running For President Byron York argues that the lesson of Rick Perry’s candidacy is “Think before you run.” James Joyner · Saturday, · 21 comments

John Kerry on running for president in 2020: 'I'm going to

John Kerry on running for president in 2020: ‘I’m going to think about it’ By David Wright , CNN Published 3:13 PM EST, Wed

What do recreational runners think about risk factors for

What do recreational runners think about risk factors for running injuries? A descriptive study of their beliefs and opinions J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2014 Oct;44(10):733-8. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2014.5710. Epub 2014 Aug 25. Authors Bruno Tirotti

Beware Liz Cheney 2024: If you think that's a big

Beware Liz Cheney 2024: If you think that’s a big improvement on Trump, think again Liz Cheney has a strategy: Run for president as the fearless voice of the anti-Trump hard right.

Ron Paul: 'I would think' Rand is running in 2016

Hey Dad, is Rand running for president in 2016? “I would think so, he wouldn’t be doing what he’s doing, but I haven’t had a conversation of what your plan is,” Paul said on Morning Joe.

Right's think tanks are running dry

Right’s think tanks are running dry. The brains trusts meant to provide long-term ideas have succumbed to short-term politics of their own. Parnell Palme McGuinness. – 12.00am. Log

Think Pink 5k – runsignup.com

The Think Pink 5k is on Saturday to Saturday . It includes the following events: 5k and Virtual 5k.

jailbreak – How can I make an app think it's running on

Think of the iOS version test as sealing a door to nowhere opening up on the third floor of a building when the fire escape stairs (or balcony or whatever) is not yet built. When the program you deceive into thinking it’s running on iOS 5.x calls on code that doesn’t exist, the app will crash.

Running for Mental Health | We Think Twice

Running for Mental Health. On this episode of the Our Goals, Our Lives video series, Madison shares her journey as a competitive runner trying to break the stigma around athletes’ mental health. Trigger Warning: this video contains discussion of eating disorders and over-training. “I think something that I can offer to the growing field of

'I think the guy's dead:' Running toilet leads to dead

‘I think the guy’s dead:’ Running toilet leads to dead tenant at Ohio apartment. By Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk at 7:02 pm EDT.

Should Investors Think Twice Before Running After BioNano

Should Investors Think Twice Before Running After BioNano Genomics? Contributor. Thomas Niel TipRanks. Published. 4:31AM EST. B ioNano Genomics ( BNGO) could change the game when it

think, run, repeat – Blogger

think, run, repeat Monday, . I’m back So 6 weeks ago I sprained my foot falling off a ledge. This was after running the half marathon(13.1 miles) with my husband. I could/can run obviously, but not walk and carry stuff at the same time. Brrrrrrrrr!

JMeter: Changing "think-time" at run time – Stack Overflow

Define “think times” using JMeter properties having some reasonable default values via __P() function like ${__P(think-time,5)} When your test is running you can control think-time property value via Beanshell Server increasing or decreasing it according to your test scenario.

Run-Think-Shoot-Die | Members – GameBanana

Run-Think-Shoot-Die Joined 2y ago. Offline. 545 points Ranked 52,364th. 12 medals 1 legendary 1 rare. Run-Think-Shoot-Die. Profile Owner. 1y. I think I first played half life 2 when I was 7 or 8. Before then all I’d played was stuff like minecraft and garry’s mod (garrys mod being how I discovered half life in the first place).

Whose Think Thank is Running on Empty?

Season 2. Most Recent Episode. S2.E5:Whose Think Thank is Running on Empty? Sunday, Apr 10 2022 at 9:00pm on NBC. Star.

Mysterious cramps while running? Help! : running

Hello all! I have seen doctors about this issue but no one has been helpful, so it is the time where I ask strangers online what they think. Context: 23F, most of my life I have been running regularly. I was in good shape and would go on a 10-mile run at least once a week + shorter runs up until last year.

Devin Finzer (CEO) : "It's LAST CHANCE To Buy Bored Ape

What is Ethereum?Ethereum is a decentralized computing platform. You can think of it like a laptop or PC, but it doesn’t run on a single device. Instead, it

Meet the Africans running programmes at influential US

Meet the Africans running programmes at influential US think tanks Africa-Press – Seychelles. In Washington DC, a city that takes pride in wonkish debates, a group of experts meeting up for drinks to discuss African politics may seem like nothing out of the ordinary.