In the opening scenes of the new documentary on James Carville, the famed Democratic strategist is seen running the halls of hotels — in his own mind, anyway.

What he’s actually doing is walking, a fast walk, yes, but not even close to the speed of Olympic race walkers who can cover up to 9 miles in an hour.

Carville later said that he actually perceived himself as running until he saw the film and could no longer entertain that fiction. I’m happy to keep it up for him, however. The late Dr. George Sheehan always said that the only difference between a runner and jogger is a race entry, and I’ll go farther and say the only difference between a walker and jogger is what’s in your mind.

If you’re flying down a hotel hallway in your mind, who am I to say you’re only walking? The runner’s high is available to anyone who puts in the work. 

I love the Carville documentary for other reasons, detailed here, but mostly because the subject  is so eminently lovable — while he has the strong political passions that so often incite rage in those who don’t share our views, they are offset by his self-deprecation, cheerfulness and wit. And his story is truly compelling. He grew up in relative poverty in a small town in Louisiana that at the time was remarkable only because nearly half the population had leprosy – from 1894 to 2005, a hospital colloquially known as “Carville” was the national treatment center for Hansen’s disease.

He didn’t win his first political race until he was 42 and still speaks with emotion about having to ask the campaign up front for his airfare because he was so broke he couldn’t afford to get there. After his fortunes changed, both literally and figuratively, he orchestrated Bill Clinton’s winning campaign. Footage of him tearfully talking to his team after that win, his voice choked with emotion, will make you Team Carville for life, regardless of your political leanings. Would that we all feel so passionate about our work. 

I saw “Carville: Winning is Everything Stupid” when it aired on CNN last month; it’s set to stream on Max beginning Nov. 14 and I hear it will be available in theaters eventually. If you get a chance, check it out — if not for the politics, for the inspiration of Carville lacing up his running shoes and doggedly running the halls of the hotels he’s staying in. 

He says that he has been running roughly 350 days a year since Aug. 1, 1981 and started “hotel hall running” about 10 years ago. 

“It’s not overly scenic, but any 79-year-old (he’s since turned 80) will tell you they don’t look at the horizon, you just look at what’s in front of you because you’re scared you’re going to trip,” he says in the film. “On the up side, you can’t get hit by a car.”

When he packs for a trip, the most important things are “running shoes, running shorts and good bourbon” — the latter poured into TSA-friendly 3-ounce bottles.

“”I”m so slow, people say, ‘Hey, Mr. Carville, glad you’re enjoying your afternoon walk!’ And you know, (expective), I thought I was jogging,” he says.

I rarely drink, but I’m thinking about adopting “Running shoes, running shorts and good bourbon” as a motto  — there are far worse ways to go through this life. 

“Carville: Winning is Everything Stupid” is directed by Matt Tyrnauer. Photo of James Carville is courtesy of Greenwich Entertainment.