Miles to Go
In 2022 alone there have been over 300 anti LGBTQ+ bills proposed in various states across the country. Refusing to sit idly by, trans trail runner Perry Cohen formed a team of fellow runners, who identify as trans men, with an aim to compete in trail races in states proposing and passing hateful legislation. Miles to Go follows their journey into the world of trail running and the freedom to be themselves on the trail.
Sitting in restaurant in Nevada City, CA in January of 2020, Perry Cohen chatted with our team at Spruce Tone Films about a desire to someday start an all-transgender trail running team. Fast forward several years later and finally his dream has become a reality. With the help of Black Diamond, Perry formed a team of trans-masculine identifying trail runners and began to train in Vermont and Massachusetts. The team, made up of five runners, were from all over the country. Throughout their training in the beginning of 2022, more and more anti-LGBTQ+ bills were being passed in states across the country. It was then that the team decided they should be visible, proud, and compete in races in states passing hateful legislation. Together with our team at Spruce Tone Films, we joined forces with these incredible humans to tell their story of training, finding joy in running, and being visible in states that actively reject their identity and rights.
Over the course of several weeks, we filmed with the team in Vermont as they trained for a race in Texas and then joined them for the few days of the race. This act of vulnerability on camera and in running this race is not to be taken for granted. We are incredibly thankful for the opportunity to take part in this story and share it on film.
