About the Coach
Miles and Mountains Coaching is an independently-owned and operated business. While I have occasional help from a few people (usually M&M athletes) doing things like searching for race photos, scheduling social media posts, proofreading articles or giving feedback on graphics, ALL coaching, training and communication is handled by me alone.
Coaching Background
My name is Josh Fields and I'm a professional running and skiing coach, athlete and adventurer.
I started coaching in 2017, and in 2020 left my career as a music educator to devote myself to it full-time — helping athletes meet their goals and change their lives.
Since then it's been my greatest privilege to help hundreds of road, trail and ultra runners from total beginners or those stepping into a new world of trail running, to those qualifying for Boston, setting state age-group records, jumping up to 100 milers, accomplishing massive thru-hikes or standing on world championship podiums.
My coaching is fully customized and adaptive — built and adapted week to week, with unlimited communication and a focus on multi-year development rather than single training cycles.
I try to bring a spirit of embracing the unexpected to my coaching — born out of unplanned pacing experiences at Leadville and adventures across many of running's amazing places.
Across all of it, the goal is the same: meet the athlete where they are, build the training around their actual life and physiology, and play the long game to reach some seriously big dreams.
Nearly 40% of my current athletes have been with me for three or more years, which I take as the strongest signal that the approach is working. I was coached by David Roche of SWAP for six years, and credit him with much of the philosophy that shapes how I coach today.
My philosophy of coaching is simple: unconditional support to achieve fulfillment in running and life - whatever that means to you. Got big goals? Great - I'll help you reach your wildest dreams and hopefully beyond! Just want some support in building the habit and staying consistent? No worries - I'll help you find your 'why' and learn to love the process and purity of running.
Running Background
I've been running since 2013 – when I started, it was just to lose weight. After my first 4 mile run, I decided I should do a marathon at least once in my life. I ran my first marathon just six months later, after losing over 60lbs.
What followed was a meteoric leap into the running community, including running several marathons and discovering mountain running in 2014. Also in 2014, I starting working with a coach, David Roche, to whom I owe... everything. 2015 -2016 were my busiest racing years, with over 30 races and six wins in 2015 alone, followed by my first ultra in 2016 running 3:50 at the Pineland 50k. Many podium finishes, course records, and, more importantly, adventures, were had along the way.
Over the past 13 years, I've had the privilege to run in many amazing places, and with many world-class athletes.
In 2017, I toured the country, running in many National Parks, setting several PR's and podium finishes at races, running my first sub–3:00 marathon, and even pacing Mike Wardian, impromptu, for 50mi at the Leadville Trail 100 on his historic Leadville-Pikes Peak double record.
At Leadville in 2018, I stationed myself at mile 76 as an "angel pacer," waiting for someone in need to come along. Fate would have it that I would end up pacing Adrian Stanciu, the third and final person ever to complete the historic Leadville–Pikes Peak double. That strange twist of fate is still hard to wrap my head around.
In 2019, I paced Gediminas Grinus on the Leadville Leg of his Grand Slam, in which he ran the second-fastest time ever. The movie is here.
In 2023, I repeated a similar road trip, which included pacing and crewing through Death Valley at the Badwater 135, as well as a great deal of photography.
Over the past 13 years, running has also brought me a love for other methods of adventure, including gravel biking, kayaking, backcountry skiing and hiking. If it's outdoors and self-powered, I'm in. If I can easily bring my camera - even better!
Throughout my career, I've been blessed to run with and be supported by Altra Running, Honey Stinger, SWAP Team and acidotic RACING, as well as countless other individuals.
