The long and short, of average cable length?

["Mike Rooke" picnet2]

Hi,
     Im wondering as the subject suggests if an average cable length, or 
specifically a rule of thumb that experienced field recordists use when planing 
trips?

I realize the answer may vary greatly based on the conditions / environment and 
how far you really need to isolate yourself from the subject and me myself and 
I from the actual mic - but how far would that be?

Ive typically placed the mic 10 meters / 33 ft away, but is that the norm? 

Theres a few requirements here, cable weight, distance required for the subject 
to the mic + distance of the recordist to reduce noise (shuffling,belly rumbles 
etc) in the recording itself. - Specially when the gain is near max.

Kind Regards,
Mike.