The Spirit of Trail Running: Mike's Story

Mike roams mountain trails with two essentials: a camera and running shoes. The Utah photographer lives between coffee stops and summit shots, chasing those perfect moments when morning light hits altitude-flushed faces. His lens finds the soul of trail running - not just the effort, but the pure joy of moving through mountains.

He catches what most people miss - mud-splattered shoes, wild grins at mile twenty, high fives at hidden alpine lakes. No staged summit shots here - just pure stoke and earned miles. His photos strip away pretense, each frame tells stories of dawn patrols, showing what trail running really means - freedom in wild places, testing limits, finding peace in the burn. 

These trails taught Mike to see differently. Through his lens, running becomes more than a sport - it's art, meditation, community all rolled into one dusty, beautiful package. His shots grab that electric feeling of pushing hard through big spaces, not for finish lines or medals, but for that electric feeling of moving fast through big, beautiful spaces, legs burning and heart soaring.

Follow Mike’s trail running adventures and incredible photograph on Instagram @shitinthewoods