Danny Jones —Western States, Round 3
"Heads you win Western States, tails you DNF. Do you take the flip?"
Last year I put out a Q&A with Dan Jones just before Western States, and it proved to be wildy popular go down alright.
So, back by popular demand, because Dan’s too polite to say no …
Danny Jones —Western States, Round 3
Danny Jones is heading back to Western States, and the expectations have never been higher.
It feels like just yesterday he was lining up for his first crack, and half of us were still wondering if he could even run that far.
Now? He’s a full-time adidas TERREX athlete, back for his third crack at the world’s most iconic 100-miler, and nobody’s underestimating him this time.
The fans know his name.
The frontrunners know what he’s capable of.
And after finishing 5th in 2023 and 4th last year (with one of the fastest times ever on the course), he’s returning with one goal in mind:
Win. Western. States.
He’s no longer the dark horse or the friendly Kiwi on the start line.
He’s one to beat.
He’s had another full year of pro training, a crew that knows him inside out, and a race calendar built around this one day.
The pressure’s real.
From sponsors, from supporters, and himself.
But DJ’s not here for a “Most Improved Player” certificate and a happy meal voucher.
He’s here to take names, take souls, and put Whakatāne Hardcore on the map.
And when the margins are measured in seconds, one dodgy gel, one missed bottle, or one little wobble in the canyons could be the difference between hoisting the Cougar or flying home with another chocolate fish.
But that’s the game. And Danny’s ready to play it.
I can’t wait to see how this all plays out in 10 days’ time.
I was lucky enough to bag some of Danny’s precious time to fire a few questions at him.
Enjoy.
In the past two years, you’ve gone from “Daniel Jones from New Zealand” to “Danny Jones of Adidas Terrex.” What’s that transition been like — moving from semi-pro to full-time athlete?
“To be fair, the name Danny Jones was given to me around my first Western States — just shy of a year before I signed with adidas TERREX — so before I was technically a professional athlete. I think Tommy Evans may have given me a shoutout in an interview and it stuck for a while, and for some, a wee while longer, which is all good. Can call me whatever.”
“In terms of becoming a professional. It took a huge shift to get to that point, and the change itself has been massive. Going from squeezing training around part-time work to having the support and backing to fully invest in racing has made all the difference. It’s not just more time to run — it’s better recovery, the ability to travel, and all the little 1% things I couldn’t prioritise before.”
“There’s also a real sense of accountability now — representing a team like adidas TERREX means I’m not just doing this for myself anymore. That adds pressure, but we’re given the space to settle into our work with multi-year contracts. Still, I want to perform — there's no point mucking around.”
Between the air miles and the leg miles, you’ve been moving a lot this last 12 months. Have you found your groove with international travel and racing?
“I think I’m getting better at it. You learn what works — what foods I can rely on, how to time long-haul flights around recovery, when to push and when to back off.”
“It’s not always smooth — there are times the body feels tired and lethargic — but I’ve got a much better understanding now of how to land in a new place, absorb it quickly, and still show up to race day feeling ready.”
You’ve trained in some of the most iconic trail hubs around the world — how does little old Windy Wellington stack up?
“Wellington still hits well above its weight. Sure, it doesn't have the extreme heat of the States or the vert of the Alps, but the wind keeps you humble, the climbs are punchy, and you can link together technical and runnable trails all the way from the Hutt to the South Coast.”
“The coffee’s good too — and with Michelle, Belmont up on the hill is where we call home (even though I’ll always be from Whakatāne).”
Last year, you prepped for States with a few tune-up races in the U.S. — this time, you threw down at UTA 50 instead. What was the thinking behind that change?
“It’s just how the early season worked out. An early training camp at adidas TERREX HQ in Germany and then Fuerteventura meant I was able to sneak in the Lake Sonoma Trail Marathon on the way home. Ultra-Trail Australia lined up nicely as a race to lock into my States build.”
“Being a UTMB major, I knew it would bring strong competition — and as it turned out, a good payday too.”
“Another reason is just keeping things mentally fresh. I haven’t won States yet, so I want to change the stimulus and give myself the best shot at doing so.”
Is it true that ADIDAS actually stands for All Day I Dream About States?
“Haha, that’s fairly accurate for me. I’ve thought about the race more than enough on my long runs.”
“That said, it’s probably also true that more than half my teammates couldn’t care less about States.”
Looking back at last year’s race, you ran one of the fastest times ever on that course. When you see the three guys who finished ahead of you, do you feel it was simply their day — everything clicked for them? Or do you think they were in better physical shape going in? Maybe they executed better race tactics? How do you make sense of it?
“All of the above, probably. Those three ran outstanding races.”
“I know my fitness was there — I was ready to compete — but they nailed their execution, especially in the second half. That’s the game at Western States. You can be in top shape, but if your pacing, nutrition, or execution is off, even slightly, it can cost you the podium.”
“In the end, it was only minutes. I was proud that I put myself in a position to win — now I just need to get to Michigan Bluff ready to roll on the second part of the course. Easier said than done in a 100-miler, but with experience, I think I’m getting closer to figuring it out.”
Obviously, the big news is that Jim Walmsley is out. Does that change anything for you tactically?
From a couch general’s perspective, it seems like without Jim in the field, you might be more comfortable letting others build a gap early — whereas with Jim, once he’s gone, he’s gone.
Does his absence shift how you might approach the race?
“Jim’s a one-of-a-kind racer — his presence alone changes the energy of a field. Without him, things might play out a bit more conservatively early on, but I’m not banking on that.”
“Last year, Jim did get away fairly early, but Hayden and I worked together from Robinson Flat and ended up catching him by Last Chance and into the Canyons. There’s plenty of time to race in a 100-miler. I’m going to run my race — and if I’m feeling good, I’ll be right up there.”
This will be your third year in a row at Western States — what are a couple of things about the course or the event that don’t get talked about enough?
“The downhill running beats you up way more than people expect. It’s not just about climbing fitness — if you can’t descend efficiently, you’ll arrive at the river absolutely cooked.”
“The other part is the community. Every aid station feels like a hometown crowd — especially now that I’ve been around for two races and a couple of training camps. I can’t wait to experience that atmosphere again.”
What’s your support crew looking like this year? Do you have the freedom to choose who helps you, or does Adidas handle all the logistics?
“I’ve got a great mix this year. adidas TERREX has been super supportive, but I’ve also brought in some personal crew who know me really well.”
“My parents, of course. And this year, some mates from Topsport Kayaking back home in New Zealand. I’ve also got support from Precision Fuel & Hydration, who’ll be helping double-check my nutrition is on point.”
“It’s the perfect blend — the professionalism of my performance partners alongside the familiarity of people who’ve been in my corner from the beginning.”
“Unfortunately I'll be missing my number 1 supporter. Michelle will be far enough along with pregnancy that she's unable to come up. But that will be something to look forward to when I return to NZ after the race.”
If you could choose any conditions for race day, what are you dialling in?
“Dry trails, clear skies — and whatever temperature the day throws at us.”
“It sounds like I’ve had it easy (comparatively) the last two years, so maybe we’re due for a scorcher this time.”
You’re 55 miles into the race at Michigan Bluff when a genie pops out of your soft flask and offers you a deal: flip a coin — heads you win Western States, tails you DNF. Do you take the flip?
“Ah, tough one. Nah — I’ve put too much into training to leave it to chance. I’m ready to race and I back myself to get this thing done.”
All the best for race day, DJ. You’ve got the full support of the NZ trail running community behind you.
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All the best brother.! :) Hay is in the barn and you can win this race for sure, just keep believing especially during your lows as it is never easy to trust ourselves when it smacks us in the face while running ultras but you have got this.