I am a runner. A slow runner, but a runner nonetheless. This morning I went out for an 8-mile run in my favorite running shoes. These New Balance 1225's are a little bigger than my normal runners, and I save them for long races and training runs.
A couple of years ago, while on vacation in Toronto, I gave some thought to the different identities that we have. I am a runner. I am an emerging photographer. These identities are both a part of me. But if I had to rank them, I think that running would win out. I say this because, on that vacation, my husband and I were out for a run along Lake Ontario on a beautiful morning. We saw a lot of photographers who were out there with their cameras and tripods, and it made me think - in a beautiful environment, would I prefer to be running or photographing the scene. Ultimately, I decided that, if I had to make an either/or choice, I'd prefer to be running - I get a physical release from running that I just don't get from photography (at least not yet).
Even now, after completing my marathon and while I'm tapering down from the longer distances, I still feel that being a runner is a stronger part of my identity than being a photographer is. That might very well change over time, although I'm sure that running will always be a very important part of who I am.
Which brings me back to this photograph. My husband has always said that I get a special smile on my face specifically when I try on runners that fit me well. These shoes still give me that smile, so I decided to make them my subject of the day.
