The March 19th edition of the San Francisco Chronicle Magazine featured Andy Jones-Wilkins in its weekly column Facetime. In the interview Jones-Wilkins comments on various aspects of running 100-mile ultramarathons. In the 2005 season, Andy finished second three times. This season, at the Rocky Raccoon 100-miler in Huntsville, Texas, Wilkins placed second again with a time of 14 hours and 57 minutes.
Running the ultramarathon, according to Jones-Wilkins, is about mental toughness and managing any obstacles the trail might throw at you. "The first 50 miles of a race are about using your strength and training. The second 50 miles are just managing the pain." At the Western States Endurance Run in June, runners must wade through a 40m stretch of the American River.
After graduating from Hamilton, Jones-Wilkins got into the sport after doing a couple of bike tours with his wife. Now he is addicted. Even if he takes a day off from his morning run, his kids or his wife Shelly tell him to "get out the door and get a run in" as soon as he gets home.
