Motivation: Some Tricks of the Trade
Five tips to keep you running through early winter and the holiday season.
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.
My Return to Racing
AJW writes of running the 2012 Mountain Masochist Trail Run after a long, injury-induced break from the sport.
Further Ruminations on Grit (And an Unscientific Study Proposal)
AJW looks deeper into grit and ultrarunners.
AJW’s Taproom – One Year Later
A look back at the first year of AJW’s Taproom as well as a look forward to the next year.
Unitasking – The Simple Beauty of the Solo Long Run
AJW talks about the joy of uni-tasking while running in a multi-tasking crazed world.
Is Fast Always Best?
AJW reflects on whether one’s fastest running is necessarily his or her best running.
Running and Time: How Important Are The Numbers to Runners?
A look at how important the numbers are to runners.
Matt Carpenter: Will His Records Stand Forever?
A look at the legacy of Matt Carpenter’s course records at the Leadville 100 and Pikes Peak Marathon.
Saving Waldo
A look into Craig Thornley’s successful attempt to direct the Waldo 100k when a wildfire threatened the race.
The Oregon Summer – Dave Terry Would Be Proud!
AJW pays tribute to Dave Terry in this, the Oregon Summer.
Nature, Community, and Freedom – Our Shared Values
AJW talks of ultrarunning’s shared values – nature, community, and freedom.
Sunny Brain or Rainy Brain?
AJW discusses how we can retrain our brains to deal with ultramarathon adversity.
New Hardrock 100 Lottery Procedures
AJW takes a look at the changes to the Hardrock 100’s lottery procedure.
A Letter to the 2012 Western States 100 Runners
AJW gives advice to runners about to embark upon the Western States 100.
Who Will Be This Year’s Surprise Top-10er At Western States?
The biggest Top 10 surprised from the Western States 100 between 2004 and 2011.
I Knew This Day Would Come: Spectating at the Western States 100
AJW comes to grips with having to skip running the Western States 100 due to a knee injury.
Stories from the Pack
AJW looks at events that may have been overshadowed by last weekend’s Transvulcania.
Walking the Labyrinth
AJW explores what the journey through a labyrinth can teach us about running and our lives.
