Growing up in West Auckland, Nancy spent her childhood exploring the Waitākere Ranges, where her love for running and the outdoors began. She ran track and cross country through school and dabbled in road marathons, but it wasn’t until a season in the French Alps that she discovered mountain running...

From the flat, muddy cross-country fields of South-East England to the rugged peaks of New Zealand, what began as childhood runs through the countryside evolved into a relentless pursuit of adventure. Her journey started along the windswept Welsh coastline, where she fast-packed the entire route in 2018, leading her to the mountains and igniting her passion for the trails.

Naomi’s journey from a farm in South Africa to the rugged trails of New Zealand embodies her passion for adventure and the outdoors. As a professional ultra trail runner, her zest for life extends beyond the trails, blending her love for running with her roles as a veterinarian and an advocate for wildlife conservation.

Growing up on the West Coast of the South Island, Taye enjoyed exploring the trails of his daily surroundings, those he now calls one of the most beautiful places in the world. Currently based in Rolleston, Christchurch, he finds solace in long, meditative runs, drawn by the purity and tranquillity of trail running.

Lighting the Way: Fenix team 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.

And it’s also the perfect reflection
of what Fenix stands for:
Lighting for Extremes.

Matt Ogden is a passionate orienteer and mountain runner based in the beautiful Nelson Tasman region. Originally from West Auckland, he discovered the outdoors early in life through orienteering and weekend adventures in Woodhill Forest and the Waitakere Ranges. Trail running followed soon after, and the natural world
quickly became his training ground and source of inspiration.

Hadani’s journey into running began in the most unexpected way. Once a self proclaimed “couch potato,” Hadani never imagined she would one day thrive on the challenge of ultra-endurance events. But a simple jog around a lake in 2020, encouraged by her sister, sparked a transformation that
would change her life....

Raised on Ben Mcleod Station in the high
country, Polly Taylor is a dynamic athlete and coach based in sunny Marlborough, at the top of New Zealand's South Island. After 26 years in the fashion industry with her own clothing label, she combined her love for the outdoors with her enthusiasm for adventure, embarking on travels that included following the Tour de France by bike and climbing in the French Alps....

Alastair McDowell is a versatile all-round mountain athlete with an impressive background in classical mountaineering, alpinism, rock climbing, trail running, and ski mountaineering. With 16 years of experience, Alastair has explored both New Zealand’s stunning landscapes and international destinations, undertaking expeditions in Alaska, Patagonia, Peru, the European Alps,
and the Himalayas.

From the forests of Canada to the peaks of Aotearoa, a love of the outdoors has always been part of Jess’s story. Raised camping, hiking, and playing every team sport she could, she initially saw running as just a way to stay fit during a life of travel. But everything changed in 2011 when she decided to spend a summer in New Zealand. Jess fell in love with the place and stayed. The mountains, trails, and wild spaces of her adopted home have since become the backdrop to her running journey.

David is an emergency medicine doctor, runner, triathlete and endurance coach. There are not many trail races in New Zealand where he hasn't been on the podium or set a course record. Originally from a small island in the north of Scotland, David came to New Zealand back in 2016. After walking many of the trails, he found the joy of running them instead and it wasn’t long before he started signing up for trail running events.

Born and raised in Christchurch, Charlotte first found her competitive edge on the road and track cycling circuit before swapping the bike for running shoes while studying in Dunedin. What began as a quick escape into the hills between university lectures soon grew into something much bigger: a love for the trails that has taken her across the globe and now onto the world stage.