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Stories / June 2023
Following Dakota Jones at the Western States
The story of Dakota Jones’s 683 mile (1,100 km) cycle journey to the race.
Yesterday, June 25, 2023, Dakota Jones crossed the finishing line of the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run, the oldest 100 mile (160.9 km) race in the world. And best of all: he got to the starting line after spending a week cycling the 683 miles (1,100 km) from his home to Olympic Valley.
Taking part in a historic and iconic race like the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run with a time of 17:00:38 doesn't happen every day. Yesterday, June 25, 2023, NNormal ambassador Dakota Jones crossed the finishing line of one of the top trail running events internationally.
But that is not the only achievement we admire Dakota so much for. The Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run starts each year in Olympic Valley, California. To get there, Dakota Jones spent a week cycling the 683 miles (1,100 km) from his home in Salt Lake City, Utah, to the Western States starting line. His aim was to raise funds for the Footprints Running Foundation for climate action.
“Cycling to the Western States is a luxury I could enjoy because I have so many privileges in my life. Running 100 miles (160.9 km) is also a luxury: it is proof that my basic needs are met to the extent that I can invest great amounts of energy in something materially unnecessary. This journey was empowering and very meaningful to me, but it was never intended to represent a literal solution to climate change. Climate action is not about white men doing physically difficult things. It's more about actions for our collective benefit, a succession of tasks that serve to protect people and resources in the long term,” Dakota Jones said after arriving in Olympic Valley.
Dakota Jones took several roads on his journey to the starting line of the WS 100-Mile Endurance Run, but the one he spent most of his time on was Route 50 in Nevada: “It was a challenging experience and more beautiful than I could ever have imagined - 683 miles!”.
“It was a challenging experience and more beautiful than I could ever have imagined - 683 miles!”
Dakota Jones
The story of a race with half a century of history
The Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run is the oldest 100-mile (160.9 km) trail running race in the world. It starts in Olympic Valley, California, near the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, and ends 100.2 miles (161.2 km) later in Auburn, California.
Since 1974, when the first Western States race was held, it has become one of the most internationally-renowned endurance events. With 49 years of history, this race has hosted some of the most exciting and legendary competitions in the history of trail running.
The race started on June 24, 2023 in Olympic Valley (California) and finished 100.2 miles later in Auburn, California. Dakota Jones crossed the international lands of Niesmann, Washoe, and other neighbouring Indian towns, reaching more than 5,480 m+ and 7,010 m- before crossing the finishing line at the Placer Institute in Auburn. All this, in a time of 17:00:38.
Kjerag, the shoe chosen for the Western States
After a week of cycling to get to the Western States starting line, Dakota Jones had another week to rest and regain his strength in Olympic Valley before the race day arrived.
To travel there as lightly as possible, Dakota had to choose his equipment carefully. This had to include the shoes he chose for the WS Endurance Run 100-Mile, the same Kjerag shoes that helped him win Transvulcania 2023, in La Palma, Canary Islands, just 7 weeks ago.
The Kjerag shoe is a top-performance model created from a combination of NNormal's commitment to durability and extensive research. Designed for maximum performance in training and racing, it is a responsive, high-speed shoe that is comfortable and has extreme grip for runners like Dakota Jones. Energy return and grip were key features in a demanding race such as the Western States.
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Dakota’s outfit for the Western States
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