Distance is a Matter of Perspective...or is It?

For someone who does not run, just the thought of putting on a pair of running shoes and they'll break into a sweat. For the person who has built up to running 3-4 miles at a shot, the idea of going out and running 10 miles seems unreachable. The same thing can be said for someone who regularly logs 10-12 miles but wants to run a marathon. I experienced this the first time I built up to running a marathon. I could not imagine running that far. But as I slowly progressed up the running food chain from 5K to 10K, 25K and then to the marathon, I found that in the rearview mirror, each distance that I thought was long at one time, seemed shorter. But I just finished running 14.5 miles and even though this is only going to be a around half of the distance of the total race, it is still, empirically and forever, a long distance. Even if I ever ran a 100 mile race (yes, they do have 100 miles races), 14 miles will still be a long way to run. When I run for over two hours, when I arrive home, I feel good. I feel like I have really accomplished something.

For me, running is performance art. While it does not offer a social commentary and it is not political satire, what running does do is show me (for I am the primary audience of my own art) who I am. It serves as a mirror to my own psyche. When pain rises up in my legs, lungs, side, or head, just as it does it life, I am forced, nay, I am given the opportunity to practice my response to pain. Even thought it is hard to understand, running gives me more than it takes. It does not give in kind, but it gives in abundance. It is an art whose full appreciation requires some level of participation.

Enough waxing poetic. I'm trying to decide on how to carry my fluids and food. I have a Camelbak that will hold plenty of liquid, but it doesn't have much room for things like granola bars, nor is it easy to access on the run. So yes, I am considering a "runner's waist pack" (a.k.a a fanny pack). If I decide on one, I'll be sure to post some picture.