"Every Hundred Miles: Discovering the Mile Markers of the Appalachian Trail"
Whether you’re running the Appalachian Trail or hiking, you will come across the hiker made 100 mile marker signs on the floor. Consisting of either stones, tree bark or sticks you will find these markers every hundred miles. In my experience, I’ve seen these mostly when travelling north.
Flooded with Emotions of satisfaction and accomplishment when arriving at one of these Marks. I would normally pull out my phone and take a photo with my shoes in the bottom of the picture.
The first 100 mile marker when going for a speed record attempt comes early afternoon on the second day. It’s a significant milestone that shows how far you’ve come but as a percentage of the whole journey it’s not very much making you realise you have more than 95% of your journey remaining.
after the first one, a kind of flow happens where sometimes without even noticing you arrive and at another marker, 200, 300, 400. But the 500 mile marker is another significant milestone. This represents 1/4 of your journey is now in the past.
Again a flow happens as you pass the remaining markers up to 1000 mile mark. 1000 miles it’s a major milestone. You’re almost halfway there. You’ve travelled such a long way but you have such a long way to travel. I always feel amazing and energised at this point.
Sometimes I would be overwhelmed with disappointment. You become more emotional when on the Appalachian Trail and if I missed a marker, I would feel somehow robbed. I’ve never actually made my own marker maybe I should do in the future.
After the 1000 mile marker every marker becomes significant. Representing another hundred mile step in the direction of the journey.
The 2000 mile marker is the point at which you realise your journey is almost over. When travelling north in 2022, I made a small video here. It’s funny because when you run 100 mile ultra marathon, you think you have such a long way to go. But at the 2000 mile marking point on the Appalachian Trail You still have almost 200 miles to run but it feels like nothing in comparison to 2000 miles.
Running such long distances has altered my perception of time and distance. For me progress is measured by time and distance. It’s a beautiful relationship and I feel empowered with every step I take.
I’ve been watching documentaries all my life and I’m inspired by the journey of the self. I recently watched a free diving documentary and the time and distance is measured vertically below the surface of the ocean. It’s beautiful to see such emotion in the face of the diver as they immerse from the water.
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