“The Loneliness of the Long Distant Runner”: What Makes Smith Run??? The theme of honesty is widely developed in “The Loneliness of the Long Distant Runner,” in which Smith tells us what honesty means according to him, and according to the governor. To be honest is interpreted by the governor as the easiest and most common way to win the race, to get out of the jail, and to have a family. Smith’s sense of honesty therefore must be seen as individuality; to be in charge of ones self and free of “the system” creates an honest man, a human individual. The governor’s interpretation shows honesty as conformity. Conforming to societies’