The mile marker we pass on the highway was not destined to reside where it sits today. Following the Romans example (who probably plagiarized from a previous culture), we decided to mark our roads with mile markers. Another round of decisions was made about which point to use as Mile Zero and then measuring and marking began.

The uniformity of mile markers works, but it is not remarkable. I cannot recall the closest mile mark to any location. What I do remember are the markers that define a place. There is a church on the sixteenth switchback of the road to Alpe d’Huez, a famous French cycling climb. There is a small evergreen tree that is missing a limb before the steepest and fastest cross-country ski descent. A full-scale replica of a military plane used on movie sets rests in a large tree on the island of Oahu, marking the start of the most challenging climb I run during a trail race.

We can create markers. Art museums engage world-renowned architects to design buildings that will define a city. Communities commit to greenways and bike lanes that make non-vehicle travel incredibly easy and enjoyable. These investments define a way of life (bike garage outside Amsterdam Centraal train station). Causes run iconic events, and participants know precisely where to find them.

What have you created that will define your location? Is it memorable, or does it blend in with the other mile markers?