Andy Jones-Wilkins bids farewell to the “AJW’s Taproom” column by recalling its launch on iRunFar on 14 October 2011. He then lays out an editorial format published every other Friday and says he wants to share his thoughts on ultrarunning while nurturing discussion with readers.
The decision to close “AJW’s Taproom” after 15 years comes with a numerical recap: over time, the author says he published about 600 articles. He explains that this work has seemed especially fulfilling and soul-enriching, while also pointing to the difficulty of stopping—“how, when, and why”.
In his final message, Andy Jones-Wilkins describes the editorial role of Bryon Powell and Meghan Hicks in maintaining his “voice” on iRunFar. He says his team offered him complete editorial freedom, and that he and the column were able to keep an authenticity week after week, month after month, year after year.
The personal shift he lays out for what comes next in his life includes the imminent arrival of his grandchildren. He announces his granddaughter Kelly Jo, who will turn two in February, and the arrival of twins planned for March. He says he wants to be there, without missing “any of it”, and that becoming a grandparent “changes everything”.
Beyond this family transition, the author links the closure of the column to a work intention: sitting down to write his book. He adds that his mother, aged 83, Joan Anderson, is also a successful author, and that he hopes to write while she can still help him. He says he wants to focus on this project, particularly over the coming year.
