Celebrating 13 Years of AJW’s Taproom
AJW reflects on another year of AJW’s Taproom.
Katie Schide and Ludovic Pommeret won the Hardrock 100! Read our 2025 Hardrock results article and watch Katie’s and Ludo’s interviews for more of the race story.
Andy Jones-Wilkins
Title: AJW’s Taproom Columnist
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Social Media Links
Expertise
- Topics of Expertise: Trail running, ultrarunning, run coaching
- Amount of Expertise: 22 years trail running, 30 years ultrarunning, and 12 years coaching running, along with more than 500 articles published in the AJW’s Taproom column.
Education & Certifications
- Education: Bachelor of Arts, American Studies, Hamilton College; Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, Villanova University
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Years of Professional Experience Relevant to iRunFar: 11 years writing AJW’s Taproom
- Club Memberships: Aravaipa Running, Virginia Happy Trails Running Club, Charlottesville Area Trail Runners Club
- Other Relevant Positions, Current or Past: Senior-level coach with CTS, frequent contributor to Trail Runner Nation Podcast, Koopcast, and the Adventure Jogger podcast.
A Word from Andy Jones-Wilkins
I aim to inspire and motivate others about and through trail running and ultrarunning by providing thoughtful and provocative columns. My personal interests include trail running, ultrarunning, gravel cycling, and pizza making.
Under the Radar Races: Stone Cat Trail Races
A profile of the Stone Cat Trail Races in Ipswich, Massachusetts.
Javelina 100 Mile Training Camp: An Experiment of One
AJW recaps on his recent three-day training camp in preparation for the upcoming Javelina 100 Mile.
Running and Falling: A Cautionary Tale
AJW writes about a recent fall he suffered during a trail race.
Under the Radar Races: Laugavegur Ultramarathon
A profile of the Laugavegur Ultramarathon in the Icelandic highlands.
Running and Aging: Setting a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal)
AJW writes about the intrinsic value of setting a big, potentially hard-to-reach goal.
An Extraordinary 14 Months for North American 100 Mile Races
AJW shares his top three men’s and women’s 100-mile performances of all time, three of which have been run in the last 14 months.
Under the Radar Races: Sörmlands 100 Trail Festival
AJW profiles the the Sörmlands 100 Trail Festival, a unique event in the southeast of Sweden.
Surviving the Dog Days of Summer
AJW offers tips to stay motivated and on track with your training during the hot summer months.
Running and Aging: The Art of Walking
AJW considers the benefits of adding walking into regular training for running longevity and ultrarunning efficiency.
Under the Radar Races: Resurrection Pass Ultra Races
AJW takes a look at the Resurrection Pass Ultra Races in Alaska, an event filled with the low-key vibe of old-school ultras.
Hardrock 100, Which Direction is Harder?
AJW chimes in on the debate about which direction of Hardrock is harder and why.
The Western States 100 and Hardrock 100: A Metaphorical Comparison
AJW compares and contrasts two of North America’s iconic 100-mile races.
AJW’s Top Five Memories of the Past Decade at the Western States 100
AJW recounts his five favorite memories from the past decade of the Western States 100.
Running and Aging: The Virtues of Fixed Time Events
For those tired of chasing cutoffs during normal ultras, there are fixed-time events to consider.
Under the Radar Races: West Highland Way Race
AJW examines the West Highland Way Race, and iconic, long-lasting ultramarathon in Scotland.
Intriguing Storylines and Predictions for the 2024 Western States 100
AJW gives us his top picks for things to watch for at this years race, plus his predictions for the men’s and women’s race.
An Obsessive’s Description of the Western States 100 Course
AJW’s obsessive, stream-of-consciousness Western States 100 course description, updated in 2024.
Running and Aging: Picking Your Spots
AJW ruminates on how being flexible with our workouts becomes increasingly important as we get older.
Under the Radar Races: Riverlands 100 Mile and Relay
AJW looks at the old-school simplicity that makes the Riverlands 100 Mile and Relay such a unique event.
Old School Vibes at Organized Training Runs
In a world of increasingly commercialized racing, old-school and low-key organized training runs provide the homegrown feeling of yesteryear.
Under the Radar Races: Crazy Mountain 100 Mile
AJW takes a look at the Crazy Mountain 100 Mile in Montana as part of a series celebrating under the radar races.
Running and Aging: Building Consistency
An essay about how consistency is a key to successful running as an aging athlete.
Running and a Sense of Place
When searching for a sense of place, sometimes it’s worth going back to where it all started.
Arizona’s Crown King Scramble, 25 Years Later
Twenty-five years after completing his first 50-mile race, the Crown King Scramble, AJW returns to the classic springtime race in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert.
Under the Radar Races: Trail du Loup
AJW profiles the Trail du Loup in the Central Ardennes region of Belgium as part of a series celebrating under the radar races.
Spring Training Has Begun
AJW ponders the yearly cycle of the running — and baseball! — season and how “hope springs eternal” as the days get longer.
Running For Different Goals
AJW shares his thoughts on different approaches to racing, after his recent experience at the 2024 Black Canyon 60k.
