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Fit For Miles

Fit For Miles

A reluctant runner's ramblings on travel and fitness

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March 10, 2026 Brandon Chase

Winter Roundup: Gear and Fuel I Reached for This Season

Winter in Maine is a pretty good filter for gear. Between icy trail runs, snowy walks, cold errands, and long

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February 25, 2026 Brandon Chase

Quick Gear Review: AeroPress Go Plus

I’m pretty non-negotiable about coffee. Whether I’m at home, guiding, traveling, or waking up in a random hotel room somewhere,

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February 3, 2026 Brandon Chase

My Winter Path Projects Kit: The Layers I Actually Trust When It’s Cold and Wet

Winter is where good gear gets exposed. Anyone can make something that feels great on a crisp October morning. Winter—real

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February 2, 2026 Brandon Chase

The End of an Era: Saying Goodbye to GORE

There are gear brands you try, brands you rotate through, and then there are brands that quietly become part of

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November 7, 2025 Brandon Chase

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55 Pack Review

This article first appeared on TheTrek The pack that practically defined modern ultralight backpacking just got a major upgrade. The

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September 3, 2025 Brandon Chase

Gear Roundup: Summer Field Notes

Every summer I put a mix of new gear to the test — sometimes on long trail runs, sometimes on

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July 8, 2025 Brandon Chase

Astral Nosobo Hiking Shoe Review

Astral Designs is a go-to brand for paddlers, guides, and outdoor lovers thanks to its focus on performance, sustainability, and

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July 1, 2025 Brandon Chase

Topo Athletic Traverse Hiking Shoe Review

This article fist appeared on TheTrek. As someone who’s worn through more than a dozen pairs of Topo Athletic shoes,

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June 5, 2025 Brandon Chase

Lightweight Gear That Earned a Spot in My Pack This Spring

As someone who spends a lot of time outside—hiking, running, guiding, or just trying to stay ahead of Maine’s blackflies—I’m

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May 21, 2025 Brandon Chase

First Look: Teva’s New Hiking Sandals and Boots Are Built for More Than Just the River

Teva has long been a go-to for river guides, travelers, and just about anyone who wants a comfortable, dependable sandal

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fitformiles

The Nordic Trail Festival is back! 🙌 After losing The Nordic Trail Festival is back! 🙌

After losing the facility for two years, seeing it purchased by the community and brought back to life makes this event feel a little extra special. The 6-hour trail race is exactly what I love about trail running: grassroots, low-key, a little gritty, and a ton of fun.

I managed to keep moving for 9 laps and 27 miles, which was enough to take the win in the men’s Solo division. 🥇

Pretty great way to spend six hours in the woods. Even better to see this place, and this race, back where it belongs. 🌲 🤘🏻

📸: @elements_by_watson @nordicheritagecenter
Seventeen days of guiding in the High Sierra for @ Seventeen days of guiding in the High Sierra for @andrewskurka with @katiegerber, @christyrosander, and @whereisjessica 🤘🏻

Long days, big off-trail miles, granite passes, alpine lakes, wildflowers, wildlife, and some incredible camps along the way. Tired legs, good people, and a lot of time in a place that never gets old. 

A great stretch of summer in the mountains!

#dreamjob
Last week I completed the Great Circle Trail, a re Last week I completed the Great Circle Trail, a remote and rugged loop in the North Maine Woods. I’ve been eyeing this one for a couple of years and finally had the chance to go for it.

The route stitches together faint footpaths, old tote roads, and a section of the Appalachian Trail, winding past ponds, waterfalls, and rocky overlooks. Innumerable blowdowns and sloppy conditions after a night of rain made for some slow going, but the views deserved a proper look-see -- and if the bugs hadn’t been eating me alive, I definitely would’ve spent even more time exploring the great swimming spots along the way.

A wicked fine day completing one of Maine’s wildest and most overlooked long-distance loops. 

And now, off to the High Sierra to guide for @andrewskurka for a couple weeks! ✌🏻🫡
A wicked fun week of peak summer featuring camping A wicked fun week of peak summer featuring camping, boat days, beaches, lobsters, trails, fireworks, and good friends.

Summer in Maine doesn't last long, so we're making the most of every chance we get!
Yesterday I wrapped up the second project of the s Yesterday I wrapped up the second project of the season: a triple summit of Katahdin, Maine’s highest peak.

At 5,267 feet, Katahdin is not huge on paper, but it packs a serious punch. No matter which way you go, it’s more scramble than hike. 

The route:

⬆️ Abol
➡️ Knife Edge
⬇️ Helon Taylor
➡️ Chimney Pond
⬆️ Dudley
➡️ Knife Edge
⬇️ Saddle
⬆️ Cathedral
⬇️ Hunt

On my first summit, I watched the Maine Army National Guard helicopter-extract two rock climbers who had spent the night on the mountain after the weather shifted and stranded them. By the time help arrived, they were hypothermic and in critical condition, though I heard later from Search and Rescue that they were stable once they reached the hospital. A sobering reminder of the mountain’s power, and how quickly conditions can change up there.

The next two summits were thankfully less eventful, but still plenty challenging. Katahdin makes you work for every mile, and by the end there had been more scrambling, climbing, descending, and re-climbing than I could fully process in the moment. It was slow, but the vibes stayed good. Thunderstorms threatened all day, but somehow I never saw a drop.

As usual, I stayed comfortable in @pathprojects gear (the new Wadi 2.0 shirt is incredible!) and fueled almost entirely with @tailwindnutrition Endurance and High Carb Fuel, which went down easy and kept my stomach from going sideways.

A big, fun day in the mountains!
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