As far as I am concerned, "long distance" is a kind of telephone call. But for thousands of people, this phrase means MARATHON.
The Houston Marathon route comes within a block of our house. Last weekend Charlie and Ethan came over, and we bundled ourselves up at 7:15 a.m. and went to cheer like crazy for friends and strangers, alike. 
Although I never struggled through a distance greater than 5K, my brother is the other sort. He has completed marathons, ironman triathalons, and and even an ultra (100 miles straight). He even organizes a marathon in rural Arkansas where we grew up. This is for you, if you want to sprint through farmland for 26.2 miles next fall.
Ah, we used to live a block away from the path of the New York City Marathon and there were few things more fun than watching it. We'd pick out a runner and scream whatever happened to be on his or her t-shirt... such fun.
I was training to WALK the marathon 2 years ago (yes, some people walk it) but my number was not picked in the lottery. :(
Posted by: panthergirl | 23 January 2005 at 08:48 AM
I have always looked as running as something you do when you are trying to get away from someone or when you are trying to catch a bus. I admire these people! I know so many of them have stories and are running for someone or something. Cool you get to see it.
Posted by: Barbara | 23 January 2005 at 11:57 AM
as a marathon runner and triathlete (altho lapsed for the last season) i can appreciate the pain and pleasure on the peeps faces...and your brothers marathon looks a lot of fun...i find it better running through countryside rather than city streets ... i always enjoyed a rather brutally cold marathon run around canterbury countryside in england in january..usually lots of snow..than the harsh streets of nyc or london...
Posted by: neil | 24 January 2005 at 10:29 AM