TAKING CHARGE

OUTSPOKEN AND AMBITIOUS, NEW COMRADES RACE MANAGER (AND FORMER WINNER) ANN ASHWORTH IS LOOKING TO TAKE THE RACE INTO THE FUTURE.

- MIKE FINCH

When Ann Ashworth strode onto the field at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban to cross the line as the winner of the 2018 Comrades Marathon, few would have picked her to be in that position. Her best previous result had been ninth place, the year before; and although she’d hovered around the top 20 since 2008, a gold medal had looked to be as much as she could hope for.

But win she did, in a fast 6:10.04 – beating a strong field, including current record holder Gerda Steyn and 2019 champion Alexandra Morozova of Russia.

“I was convinced it was going to be a Tommy Malone moment [in 1967 Malone fell just a metre from the line, and was beaten by Manie Kuhn], and that Gerda was going to catch me. It was just crazy – and to be honest, I didn’t think it was something I could have achieved.”

WE NEED TO FIND THE BALANCE BETWEEN MODERNISING THE RACE AND KEEPING THAT HERITAGE.

Now, six years later, Ashworth is leading Comrades once more; this time as the Race and Operations Manager, following the resignation of the embattled Rowyn James.

On paper, 40-year-old Ashworth has no experience to speak of in race organisation. But her presentation to the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) – after being invited to apply by former CMA board member Cheryl Winn – impressed the selection committee, and she was given a contract to take the reins.

“At first I told Cheryl that I wasn’t qualified, but she just said, ‘But you’re a runner who understands runners.’ My husband also encouraged me to go 

for it, and so I started to see it as a great opportunity to contribute to such an iconic event in South Africa.