A selection of runJMrun photos from 2014-2020 - taken by Josh Miller in locations from Louisville, KY to Paris, FR
runJMrun 2014-2020
Colorado 14ers - Josh Miller
Count: Colorado 14ers 🏔 8/58
On August 4, 2023, I hiked the two tallest peaks in Colorado - Mt Elbert (14,438') and Mt Massive (14,427'). Totaling 24.75-miles and over 9,000 feet of elevation gain, the hikes were challenging and a reminder of the majestic natural world we are a part of.
I did Mt Massive first, taking the 14-mile (roundtrip) East Slopes Trail to the peak starting just after 4am with the goal of getting above tree line before sunrise - which was spectacular! After 3 hours and 24 minutes I reached the summit as the first person for the day, enjoying it in solitude for 10-15 minutes before a couple joined me. In total, the hike took 6:32 roundtrip including 40-45 minutes at the summit.
The parking lots for the Mt Massive and Mt Elbert trailheads are only 2 minutes apart, so I drove from one to the other, charged my watch, put bandaids on my toes, donned a fresh pair of socks, refilled my hydration pack, and started up the Mt Elbert Northeast Ridge trail.
I reached the summit of Mt Elbert around 2pm, after a grueling 5-miles of consistent elevation gain. Having already done Mt Massive, my feet and legs were exhausted, but I made it to the top and the views with clouds rolling over the mountain ranges and valleys was breathtaking. I finished the day at 4:30pm.
Mt Massive
Mt Elbert
My trek up Quandary Peak (14,265’) - my sixth 14er in Colorado - on April 7, 2023 with over 3,500 feet of elevation gain (That’s more than 1,100 feet/mile) was both challenging and serene. The hike is just over 7 miles roundtrip, and it took me 2 hours 44 minutes to reach the peak which I enjoyed solo for 20 minutes before another adventurer came into view. Let me tell you, sipping chai with these vast 360-degree views was incredible and awe-inspiring. I started before sunrise when it was 6 degrees with 10-15 mph winds so I didn’t end up using snow shoes or microspikes because of how firm the ground was.
Loved seeing the contrast of my Chain & Wood Wearable Photos silk print dancing above Quandary’s peak. Watch the video on TikTok.
Pikes Peak (14,115’) on September 11, 2022 via Devil's Playground and Crags Trail - the moonset was beautiful and temps were great! Trek was 16-miles roundtrip.
Grays Peak (14,270’) hike in White River National Forest on December 3, 2021. 8-mile trek took 3:50 roundtrip, including 25 minutes spent on summit and multiple stops along the trail to take photos.
Mt Bierstadt (14,065’) and Mt Evans (14,265’) including Sawtooth Mountain - November 6, 2021. Thankful for the number of cairns (human-made trail markers featuring stacks of stones) that were along the route — the trail from the top of Mt Bierstadt along Sawtooth to Mt Evans is quite difficult so would recommend doing it during the summer. Began hiking with another person along Sawtooth who starting experiencing blurry vision at 14k altitude with it getting very hazy and difficult for him to see clearly (I believe it was high altitude retinopathy), so the trek back took much longer than expected, but we made it safely back by sunset.
Torreys Peak (14,267’) by way of Loveland Pass along the Continental Divide, a trek that includes Cupid (13,117’) and Grizzly (13,334’) before reaching Torreys. Two hikes in October 2021, the first to acclimate to altitude with Cupid and Grizzly and to determine what equipment would be needed for winter hikes, the second to Torreys.
hikeJMhike 2021
Loveland Pass - Continental Divide treks in October 2021 including Cupid (13er), Grizzly (13er), and Torreys Peak (14er). Photos by Josh Miller
Colorado 2021 - runJMrun + bikeJMbike
Photos by Josh Miller taken when running, hiking and cycling in Colorado - from Lookout Mountain to North Table and beyond!
runJMrun 2021
Colorado 2020 x runJMrun
runJMrun explorations in Denver, Golden, and Aspen, Colorado
bikeJMbike 2020
bikeJMbike 2021
Puerto Vallarta 2019 x runJMrun
Aarhus 2018 x runJMrun
runJMrun explorations in Aarhus, Denmark 2018 — photos taken with Light Co. L16 and iPhone.
Running Lights x runJMrun
Ongoing series of runJMrun long-exposure photographs taken with the Light Co. L16 camera. #CapturedbyLight
AspenExecSem x runJMrun
runJMrun long-exposure photos taken throughout the Aspen Institute Executive Seminar along Wye River in October 2018 using the Light Co. L16 camera. #CapturedbyLight
Paris 2018 x runJMrun
Landing in Paris on August 7, 2018, I couldn't wait to don my running shoes and explore all that Paris had to offer. From the Jardin des Tuileries near the Louvre to the Jardin du Luxembourg, the Eiffel Tower, the stairs up to the Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre, and participating in the 2018 Gay Games marathon in the Bois de Boulogne park near the Arc de Triomphe -- it was a feast for the eyes and soul.
Josh Miller participating in Gay Games marathon 2018. Photos by Theo Edmonds.
#runJMrun photos from Paris & Gay Games 2018 by Josh Miller.
Global Running Day 2018 x runJMrun
As part of Global Running Day, Brooks Running challenged people to #RunItForward by dedicating miles run to Community, Love, or Environment.
During my 10 mile run this morning, from Smoketown to Southern Indiana, and back across the Big Four Bridge, I thought about the various communities I'm fortunate to be a part of. Reflecting on our work through IDEAS xLab with partners, artists and community members in Smoketown and beyond, thinking about Pride month and how many new people from across the LGBTQ+ spectrum I've had the honor to meet while working on a piece for the Leo Weekly pride issue, and about the growing national network of artists and cultural innovators that I'm a part of who are passionate about using creative approaches to cultivate more just, creative and healthy communities.
Photos were taken between 5:10am-6:47am on June 6, 2018. #runJMrun
Culture of Health Prize Communities x runJMrun
For years, combining photography + running has been foundational in contributing to my Culture of Health. It’s moving meditation. It’s my time to reflect, to dream, and plan. It’s how I find hidden paths, experience cities as they begin to wake up, climb mountains and exchange passing nods of support with those I pass. It physical, mental, and emotional.
In 2016, my hometown of Louisville, KY was awarded the Culture of Health Prize by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. As an artist, entrepreneur, and runner, I am proud to have participated in the application process, and have exponentially benefited both from the deep-dive into my own community, and from the network of communities we have been introduced to through RWJF.
Since then, through our work at IDEAS xLab with Project HEAL, and two learning exchanges as part of the Culture of Health Prize Alumni Network, I explored 6 Culture of Health Prize communities combining running + photography via #runJMrun. This exploration included: Louisville, KY; Santa Monica, CA; New Orleans, LA; Asheville, NC; 24:1 Missouri; Miami-Dade Co, FL.
You can read more about our learning exchange with Santa Monica -> County Health Rankings & Roadmaps.
Buncombe Co, NC (Asheville)
All photographs by Josh Miller.
Captured by Light 2017 x runJMrun
runJMrun 2017: Captured by light
runJMrun 2017: Captured by Light photos are taken with the Light Co L16 Camera.
The City of Wellbeing (Santa Monica, CA) x runJMrun
Aspen Ideas and Denver Days 2017 x runJMrun
In Aspen, CO - while we were there for Aspen Ideas Spotlight Health - I explored the Ajax Trail, Little Cloud and Hunter Creek Trail.
In Denver, CO - I explored downtown, Green Mountain, and North Table Mountain.
