The heat is on!!
Photo credit: @velofilia_photographer
The Christchurch winter has always hit me pretty hard. Some solider on and the cold winter mornings have little effect. These must be the skiers, which I am not one. I miss the sunshine with every fibre in my body, but this year it’s ok, as this is the year! The year to finally miss a lovely chunk of the New Zealand winter.
We have always joked that when our all time favourite mountain runner cracked the big time we would one day be there to see it. Kristin and I have crewed for Daniel Jones at a good few local races in Canterbury and the West Coast, so it was about time we stepped it up to something with a little more glamour.
The famous 100 mile mountain route baked in Californian sunshine, the legendary Western States Endurance Race aka States or WSER sounds like it would tick that box nicely.
How did Western States get where it is today? To a place where 369 runners take on one of the toughest running routes in the world. A race that is harder to get into than it is to complete. Only the top 10 finishers get to return the following year. Everyone else has to chase a golden qualifying ticket or go into a ballot with thousands of other hopefuls desperate to make their mark on this historic course.
Let’s got back to day one. In 1955, the late Wendell T. Robie with five horsemen rode the Western States Trail from the post office in Tahoe City to Auburn, proving that horses could cover 100 miles in one day. Through the energy and vision of Robie, the Western States Trail Foundation was established, along with the Western States Trail Ride, also known as the Tevis Cup. So this race started out as a horse race, with only the toughest surviving.
As the years went by the Tevis Cup took on a life of its own. In 1972 20 men from the US Army decided to hike it. They started one day before the horses and riders competing. Only 7 of these soldiers finished and it took then 48 hours to do so. Other attempts were made throughout the rest of the 70’s and soon enough men had finished it to have the very first running race in 1979. 143 runners lined up to make history.
Since then the race has grown into something spectacular. It’s the most iconic miler in the US and just the most incredible event. Daniel got his golden ticket back in 2023. He won the Tarawera UTMB 100km which came with runnings most sort after prize. A WSER Golden Ticket! We were so excited for him. It’s always special watching someone work so hard and then achieve such a big goal. The chat began that one day we would come and watch him run in the US.
Photo credit: @velofilia_photographer
Fast forward to 2025 and here we are. Kristin, Len, Sam and myself find ourselves wandering around the beautiful Palisades in the days leading up to the race. It’s the most gorgeous spot. It’s hot as anything and the weather is perfection day after day. Not a cloud in the sky. There is a stream outside our room and big green trees everywhere. We wander round the race village with slightly stunned faces. We see Killian just hanging out and Rod is at our hotel. All the big names are here and we finally get to see them all up close in their natural habitat - the big mountains!
We have a support crew meeting with Dan and meet his Precision Fuel and Hydration sponsors. What a great bunch of guys. They welcome us with big smiles and immediately make us feel like part of the team. The race is so long and remote that the top runners need two support crew teams to ensure that each aid station is covered. Otherwise the complex logistics, race traffic and the distance between the aid stations would see a disaster. Our job is obvious - Cool & Fuel! We need to cool Dan down as much as possible. He needs cold towels which have been soaking in ice water placed over him ASAP. He needs his Adidas Terrex ice bandanna round his neck, as much ice water poured over him as possible, his Precision Gels in his fuel belt along with his ice cold Precision Hydration Flasks, kept on ice until the very last second. Sounds easy right? the transitions were easy, 90 seconds of madness and then the sweet relief it had all gone smoothly. The hard bit was finding the biggest cooler they had at Target in Lake Tahoe, buying 15 bags of ice, storing it, then taking it with us everywhere we go. Ice Ice Baby was the theme of day. It was a constant round the clock “how’s the ice looking?
The transitions were not road side and all had a reasonable hike or shuttle ride to get to, all just adding to the excitement of the day. The final aid station Sam and I are running as fast as we can (which was not very fast at all) for nearly 3kms in the 43 degrees heat, we were both so hot, my ankle is still stuffed and Sam had just run 25km as Dan’s first pacer but we just couldn’t miss seeing him come through the final check point and cheering him towards home. We already know the guy is at the top of the game but to see him in action is very special. The grace, skill, self belief and intelligence he races with is truly inspiring.
It was a huge day. Our alarm went off at 3am and we never took the foot off the gas. We loved every second of it. We were welcomed by every single person we meet. Dan’s Addias Terrex Team were so kind to us. Sharing the shade in the tent and helping us with anything we needed. I always love hanging out with Jo and Neil (Dan’s parents) and today was no exception. A big hug for Jo after Dan left Michigan Bluff. It is hard to see someone you love so dearly 80kms in to a 160km race after those three huge climbs in the canyons in heat I cannot describe. No chance of checking in with Neil though as he had already started running up the long steep hill back to the car to beat the shuttle bus we were waiting for and take off to the next transition to make sure someone is there just in case traffic is heavy. That leaves Jo to squeeze in with us. The best support crew money can buy!
The highlights were many, the iconic feeling of the whole event, the early morning start line vibe but most of all it was as the thousands and thousands of people that lined the course that got me the most. The Forest Hill transition was crazy. The amount of people there to cheer everyone on was truly spectacular. The chat was flowing with all the American supporters we met. When we mentioned we were from NZ they straight away they said are you here with Dan Jones. Yes we are!! It was so cool. Watching Sam Manson take off here to run and support Dan as his pace runner for the 25km from Forrest Hill to Rucky Chucky just added to electric air.
Arriving at the finish line at Placer High School a few hours later was a bit surreal. There it is. The famous track we have seen on YouTube. It’s such an exciting atmosphere. Again there are thousands and thousands of people here. The community spirt is like nothing I have seen before. Everyone so keen to cheer and support every single runner home. These fans will still be here in 15 hours time at Golden Hour - the final hour before the course is closed. The food is free, wait what? That’s our best day. A huge tent pumping out burgers, tacos, pancakes, hot chips, ice cold drinks and fresh fruit. I have never seen such a spread. It’s a welcomed sight after 15 hours out on the course. The best bit is we find out it runs all night and will still be here in the morning when we come back for Golden Hour. What a day. It’s been everything we imagined and so much more.
Congratulations Daniel Jones on another incredible result. 5th man home at Western States. We couldn’t be prouder.
Daniel Jones is an Adidas Terrex mountain running team member. He has won the Kepler Challenge an incredible 6 times. He has won the Tarawera UTMB 100km the last three years running and holds to record for the Coast to Coast mountain run. He still visits Topsport each summer for a few trips over Goat Pass sharing his experience and knowledge with our runners.
Photo credit: @velofilia_photographer
Finally we are homeward bound. I have been away for 5 weeks and visited Alaska, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, British Colombuia and The Yukon. There was breathtaking Alaskan Glaciers, swimming in Lake Tahoe, soaking up the sun in Santa Barbara, getting up to no good in Las Vegas, hiking in Zion National Park, biking over the Golden Gate Bridge and the breathtaking Grand Canyon. We have done it all. Here’s to living the dream and the great America Road trip. What an experience!
Written by Katie Cambie July 25