Daniel Jones
Lighting the way: Fenix teams up with Daniel Jones
At Fenix, we believe that true inspiration comes from those out there doing the hard work. When darkness falls on the trails, elite ultrarunner Daniel Jones is often still out there. His journey from a burnt-out university runner to one of the top ultra-distance athletes in the world is a story of resilience, reinvention, and relentless ambition. And it’s also the perfect reflection of what Fenix stands for: lighting for extremes.
Now, Dan has joined forces with Fenix to take on the toughest terrain with lighting gear he can trust. For a runner who lives on the edge of daylight and endurance, this partnership is about more than just performance - it’s about pushing boundaries with the right tools by your side.
A story of grit and growth
Daniel’s connection to running began in the coastal town of Whakatāne, New Zealand, where family weekends meant racing with the local Harrier Club and building a fierce competitive spirit. That same drive carried him through high school, into multisport events inspired by his father, who is a Coast-to-Coast champion, and across the world to the US, where he ran for Eastern Kentucky University. But by the time he graduated, Daniel was burnt out.
The joy of running had faded....
Katie Wright
I grew up in flat terrain in the South-East of England running around muddy cross-country fields not getting anywhere particularly fast.
Skip forward a few years I re-found trail running on the Welsh coastline and then in the Mountains of New Zealand. Discovering that running doesn’t have to be limited by defined paths and trails is now one of my greatest joys: both the leg burning climbs that mountain running brings and the deep satisfaction of looking up at a skyline and knowing my feet have felt those ridgelines.
Staying true to my upbring I’ve managed to combine mountains with continuing to run around in muddy circles not getting anywhere particularly quickly at backyard ‘last man standing’ races; we can’t escape our beginnings!
Proudest achievements so far:
2018: Fastpacking the coast line of Wales figuring out what this whole trail running
thing was about.
2019: First woman to outright win a backyard ultra at Riverhead Relaps.
2020: Part of a Duo with Eleanor Arnst to become the first people to traverse the Ruahine mountains in a single push from Comet to Limestone.
2021: First place at Tarawera 100 miler breaking my self imposed limits that 'I'm not fast enough to run a quick 100 miles'
2022: Getting lost and found again on a loop of the Barkley Marathons
Nancy Jiang
Growing up in West Auckland, I spent a lot of my childhood exploring the Waitakere Ranges. My passion for running and the outdoors stemmed from those happy childhood memories.
I ran track and cross country from primary school through to high school, and had a few goes at road marathons in my early 20's. Then in 2017 while living it large in the French Alps, I discovered this incredible mountain running sport and stumbled across a little race called Ultra Trail Mont Blanc (UTMB) while mountain biking the Haute trail. And oh boy, how my life has changed since then.
Every year my partner and I would spend 3 months in Europe during their summer, and I get to train and compete like a full-time runner. A career highlight of my first competition season was running the OCC race at the 2018 UTMB. It was my first major race on the world stage and I was stoked with a 5th place finish. I was also privileged enough to represent New Zealand at the World Mountain Running Championship that year and placed 15th.
Running has taught me a lot about myself and taken me to some pretty incredible places. I remember running part of the 100km relay event at Tarawera Ultramarathon back in 2015 and was astounded at a friend who was running the 50km race and even more mindblown at the people who ran 100km. I could not understand how anyone could run so far and thought that I would never run a 100km race. But i guess never say never, because I ran my first 100km race at CCC by UTMB last year. This year, I am running the 100km at Tarawera Ultramathon, then hopefully represent NZ again at the World Trail running championships in Austria and finishing the racing season with another go at CCC by UTMB.
When not running around in the hills, i dabble in a bit of mountain biking and I work full time in NZ as a structural engineer.
If you see a short asian girl running around the mountains with long black hair and black short shorts, make sure to stop by and say hi. I love hearing about other people's stories.
See you on the trails!
Naomi Brand
I am a 34 year old professional ultra trail runner and addict to ALL things outside and adventurous... Oh, and peanut butter!
My official job title is "veterinarian", but I have a small art business on the side and love to get involved in conservation of wild animals - and spaces where I can as well.
I was born and raised on a farm in South Africa, but currently live and work in Cromwell, NZ. I have raced as an ultra trail elite all over the globe; and am currently working on a ranking in the UTMB Ultra Trail World Series.
I have big dreams to compete in other iconic races in the US and Europe in the coming years and set up a few FKTs. But - most importantly- hope to get involved in the local running community both to help grow the trail running scene in NZ, but especially (hopefully) to inspire younger female athletes to discover the magic of the outdoors
and trails.
Polly Taylor
Hi! My name is Polly Taylor and I am 62 years old. I live in Sunny Marlborough at the top of the South Island! I am a Mother, Grandmother and soon to be wife to my number one support crew member; Steve.
After 26 years in the fashion industry with my own clothing label, I decided it was time for a change and started to pursue my passion for the hills, fitness and health as a career and so; Polly Taylor Coaching was born. I help to motivate people to reach their health and fitness goals and am also a Holistic Movement Coach, an Adventure Guide and an Ultra Runner.
Being born and bred in the high country on Ben Mcleod Station means the mountains have always been in my blood. All the practice over the years mustering with a nibby set me in good stead for when we started mountain running with poles.
After selling the clothing label, it was time to travel. My fiance and I headed to France where we followed the Tour de France on bike and climbed the French Alps. I had been competing in events for a few years and my dream was to gain enough points to qualify for UTMB 100 Miler.
Then in 2009 while training for Ironman I had an accident where the bunch I was riding in went down on an icy steel bridge with me at the bottom. I broke my pelvis in four places and cracked my hip socket. It was a long recovery but I had an amazing medical team around me who helped get my body back to health. After lots of rehabilitation, in 2012 I entered Coast 2 Coast and placed first in my age bracket.
Fast forward nine years, with a couple more Coast 2 Coast’s and other events under my belt, I decided to enter the Northburn 100 Miler. I was shocked crossing the finish line and realising I had placed first overall! Five weeks later I went over and ran UTA 100 and came in top 15 in age. Then I got an entry to UTMB 100 miler and I couldn’t believe my luck. I was back off to France and their beautiful mountains. In 2019 life threw me another curveball and while crossing the pedestrian I was hit by a 4x4.
This left me with eight broken ribs in multiple places, a collapsed lung and two holes in the lungs, a neck injury and a brain injury. My body was left mangled. The physical recovery from both this accident and my last was nothing compared to trying to recover from a brain injury. It's taken three years, but with the support of my family, friends and medical support team I am back and
feeling great!
I guess through all of this I have learnt to never give up hope. Life is 90% mental and although it will always have its ups and downs; with hope, a little bit of luck and a growth mindset you are well on your way to achieving anything you want to.
This year I feel like I’ve been running pretty well and love the challenge of the harder races. I won the Northburn 50 in my age, Mt Difficulty in age, and received third place in my bracket and twelfth woman overall in the Tekapo Ultra.
I have been absolutely humbled to be asked to become an ambassador for La SportivaNZ. It is a complete honor and I am incredibly excited to represent this high quality brand that I have loved for many years throughout my running career.
2023 has some great events coming up. These include Mission Mt Somers, Aotearoa Ultra 100k, another C2C. The Northburn 100 Mile, Mt Oxford, hopefully the La Sportiva Laveredo and the Tekapo Ultra.
It's going to be a busy start to the year, but I am excited to see what 2023 has in store for me!
Taye Pugh
Hi all - my name is Taye, I am 45 years young and live in Rolleston Christchurch, a place you can run for 30kms and get almost 30m’s in vert!!
I am married to my long suffering wife Lisa who is an amazing adventure racer.
I have two teenage daughters who make life, let’s say, interesting and never dull.
I have always considered myself an average runner, never the fastest, these little legs are not built for speed, but the simplistic nature of putting on your shoes and heading into the hills is for me my opportunity to grab some quiet time.
Growing up on the West Coast of the South Island I enjoyed getting out on the trails. It’s funny looking back on your life, the West Coast is one of the most beautiful places in the world but growing up I never really saw it, it was only until I moved away that I realised how spectacular it is, sometimes it takes some distance to gain some perspective.
Now it’s the place I go when I need to relax and recharge.
“I am proud to say that I have spent the last 17 years in the NZ Police doing a variety of roles. I can honestly say it is the greatest job in the world. I have learnt and am still learning so much. I have worked alongside some incredible people and
hopefully made a difference in people's lives.
Running throughout my time in the Police, especially in the last 10 years, has been a chance for me to clear my head. I find that I can sometimes overthink or get caught up in negative aspects of life, running has always been my way of being able to
categorise and put life into perspective! It is always nice to finish a run in the hills and go home to my family with a clear head.
The people of have met along this running journey have incredibly inspiring and inspirational.
I first started doing events in 2013, running the Arrowsmith Marathon. I went down with 2 mates and camped the night, before getting up and running a beautiful course.
With a big climb at the start you then run down a valley - as far as the eye can see. After 10km I thought this running lark isn’t for me, but shortly after finishing I was already thinking about my next event and it’s been up and down hills ever since. The great thing about running is that anyone can get into it. You don’t need lots of fancy gear, there’s no uniform requirements, just chuck on a pair of shoes and see where you get to.
2023 is the year of adventure racing. I am signed up to do the Godzone adventure race and to say that I am terrified would be an understatement, but I am nervously looking forward to the challenge. I know that regardless of the result, the feeling of doing something outside of my usual comfort zone will be a chance for great personal growth.
The remainder of the year and the start of 2023 will be solely focussed on training towards that goal with weekend, and multi day missions on the cards.
My favourite event is Mt Oxford Odyssey, a brutal course with over 3500m of climbing over the marathon distance.
It requires patience and concentration throughout. But it has also got so much heart and care in the organisation… it is athlete focussed and the support on course is amazing. It is like a huge family reunion each year and even if it is your first time running the event you are made to feel so welcome. This will be one of the first events I sign up for in 2023.
I have already signed up for race Tekapo in 2023, but other than those 2 races I am keeping my options open, I’ll keep training because I love being out there doing it, and will just take the opportunities to participate in any events that fuel the fire when they come along.
Even just being considered as an ambassador for La Sportiva was unreal for this middle of the pack runner, but to actually BE a La Sportiva ambassador is something else. I am so humbled to be part of such an incredible team.
I am excited about what the next few years will bring, there are so many great events and the sport continues to grow not just here in New Zealand but all over the world.
I am looking at doing the Northburn 100miler in 2024, and long term would like to travel overseas and take on something big…the older I get the more appealing the longer events become…….Western States, Hard Rock, UTMB?
The possibilities are endless.
Matt Ogden
Kia ora, my name is Matt Ogden, an avid orienteer and mountain runner.
For me, moving through nature is a quintessential component of the human experience. Based in the beautiful Nelson/Tasman I work as an engineer and am President of the Nelson Orienteering Club.
I look forward to working with Mountain Adventure and La Sportiva in 2023 to pursue my dream of becoming a World Orienteering Champion. It will be an action-packed year and I hope to share the adventure along the way.
"When you feel tired, you should accelerate. That's when you start winning."
- James Dyson
Alastair McDowell
Alastair is a versatile all-round mountain athlete, with a varied background in classical mountaineering, alpinism, rock climbing, trail/mountain/alpine running, and ski mountaineering.
In the mountaineering realm he has 14 years’ experience; he has climbed through NZ and internationally with expeditions to Alaska, Patagonia, Peru (Cordillera Blanca), European Alps and Himalaya. His preferred style is fast & light, but he has also explored big-wall and expedition style.
Mountaineering highlights include:
- Taulliraju (5850m), West Ridge, Ridge - First Ascent, Piolet D’Or nomination
(5-day expedition style ascent). - Summit of Punta Herron, Patagonia (rock, ice & mixed climbing).
- Summitted 24x 3000m peaks in NZ Alps in 31 days.
- Alpine climbing in European Alps including winter ascent of the North Face of Grandes Jorasses (Colton-Macintyre) and Les Drus North Face (Allain-Ledinger).
- Speed climb of Mont Blanc & Matterhorn
(each in 8.5 hours round trip from village) - Ice climbing throughout Canadian Rockies (2 winter seasons), France, Italy,
with many ascents of routes at WI6 level. Mixed climbing up to M8 level. Rock climbing up to 7b. - Attempt on Makalu in Himalaya in post-monsoon without O2 or sherpa support, reaching 7200m.
- Big wall climbing expedition to Ruth Gorge in Alaska.
- 7x big wall ascents of El Capitan, including 4x one-day ascents (Nose-in-a-Day in 9 hours).
- 3-week winter ski traverse of NZ Southern Alps between Arthur's Pass and Aoraki/Mt Cook.
Alastair has always been interested in running as part of his training & adventures, and
has participated in many races, though he prefers to set his own challenges, often involving
alpine terrain.
Some of his NZ running highlights which are all fastest known times (FKT)
all completed in the past 6 months:
- Aoraki/Mt Cook Grand Traverse in 24 hours round-trip (involving 55km,4500m+, mountaineering up to D-).
- Mt Aspiring return trip in 9 hours (mountain bike + run approach to a 3000m peak)
- Arthur's Pass 9-peaks circuit (40km/4500m+) in 14 hours.
- Craigieburn Round (105km/7800m+) mountain running circuit in 24 hours.
Alastair is currently training for the SkyRunning world championships in
September in Spain.
Alastair is also interested in growing the sport of Skimo in New Zealand.