Breaking news form Johannesburg is that the women’s winner of the 2017 Hemmingways Buffs Marathon, Ann Ashworth has entered the 68km Legends Ultra Marathon.
Ashworth who, along with her husband David, is the founder of Born 2 Run in Johannesburg and other cities around South Africa, is highly rated in women’s distance running.
She won or placed in a number of marathons during the past year and came down to Buffs in the knowledge that it is a fast coastal route.
Over and above sharing this view with her local contacts she also had feedback from the master of ceremonies at her wedding, Bruce Fordyce, who ran his all time best marathon at Buffs.
The Ashworths chose to join forces with a new coach this year, and teamed up with John Hamlett, who has produced a number of ultra marathon winners and gold medallists in recent years. He is also a past winner of the Buffs Marathon and thus fully supportive of the trip to East London.
Ashworth arrived at Buffs understating her intent, which on the day was to win and win well. She led from the start to the finish, setting a personal best in the process, when she entered the grounds of the Buffalo Club in a great time of 2:48:13.
The win was dramatic, but the fact that she beat the race record of Suzette Botha by 22 seconds added to the elation that she and her supporters felt.
It should be borne in mind that prior to Botha the race record belonged to Frith van der Merwe, who although past her best when she ran Buffs, was nonetheless a previous SA Marathon record holder and top Comrades runner, who once finished 15th overall in that epic race.
Co-incidentally Ashworth was fifteenth overall at Buffs.
Sadly her year turned a little pear shaped as her goal race, the Comrades Marathon arrived.
No sooner had Ashworth started the Comrades when she succumbed to a debilitating injury, which not only took her out of the race, but from running until fairly recently.
True champions bounce back and that is what she is in the process of doing. With the marathon and ultra marathon distances being the focus it seemed certain that the Legends would attract the attention of both coach and athlete alike.
Speaking from Johannesburg Ashworth said: “Legends is pretty much a training exercise to see where I am. The Nedbank International girls are all likely to be in the field so my expectations are realistic.”
Is she back in some kind of form? She won the Arthro Choice Midrand Half Marathon on Sunday, beating off talented runners in the process.
Naturally racing 68km one can take little out of a half marathon, other the fact that Ashworth is indeed on her way back and the competitive spirit is alive and well.
Husband David has entered to run the 60:11 Half, while regular training partner Trad Cruickshank is also in the 68km field. He finished seventh at Buffs in a pb 2:42:19.
Meanwhile the Eastern Cape’s premier ultra marathon, which has been dramatically revamped, is attracting many of South Africa’s other top ultra runners, as well as runners from various African destinations.
Meta Scott, the project manager for the race, revealed yesterday that entries have picked up dramatically over the past two weeks for both the 68km and the newly added Legends 60:11 Half Marathon.
Added to that are 10 and 5km races to draw the masses who will celebrate a day of road running across the spectrum.
Ashworth to show class at Legends
Ashworth who, along with her husband David, is the founder of Born 2 Run in Johannesburg and other cities around South Africa, is highly rated in women’s distance running.
She won or placed in a number of marathons during the past year and came down to Buffs in the knowledge that it is a fast coastal route.
Over and above sharing this view with her local contacts she also had feedback from the master of ceremonies at her wedding, Bruce Fordyce, who ran his all time best marathon at Buffs.
The Ashworths chose to join forces with a new coach this year, and teamed up with John Hamlett, who has produced a number of ultra marathon winners and gold medallists in recent years. He is also a past winner of the Buffs Marathon and thus fully supportive of the trip to East London.
Ashworth arrived at Buffs understating her intent, which on the day was to win and win well. She led from the start to the finish, setting a personal best in the process, when she entered the grounds of the Buffalo Club in a great time of 2:48:13.
The win was dramatic, but the fact that she beat the race record of Suzette Botha by 22 seconds added to the elation that she and her supporters felt.
It should be borne in mind that prior to Botha the race record belonged to Frith van der Merwe, who although past her best when she ran Buffs, was nonetheless a previous SA Marathon record holder and top Comrades runner, who once finished 15th overall in that epic race.
Co-incidentally Ashworth was fifteenth overall at Buffs.
Sadly her year turned a little pear shaped as her goal race, the Comrades Marathon arrived.
No sooner had Ashworth started the Comrades when she succumbed to a debilitating injury, which not only took her out of the race, but from running until fairly recently.
True champions bounce back and that is what she is in the process of doing. With the marathon and ultra marathon distances being the focus it seemed certain that the Legends would attract the attention of both coach and athlete alike.
Speaking from Johannesburg Ashworth said: “Legends is pretty much a training exercise to see where I am. The Nedbank International girls are all likely to be in the field so my expectations are realistic.”
Is she back in some kind of form? She won the Arthro Choice Midrand Half Marathon on Sunday, beating off talented runners in the process.
Naturally racing 68km one can take little out of a half marathon, other the fact that Ashworth is indeed on her way back and the competitive spirit is alive and well.
Husband David has entered to run the 60:11 Half, while regular training partner Trad Cruickshank is also in the 68km field. He finished seventh at Buffs in a pb 2:42:19.
Meanwhile the Eastern Cape’s premier ultra marathon, which has been dramatically revamped, is attracting many of South Africa’s other top ultra runners, as well as runners from various African destinations.
Meta Scott, the project manager for the race, revealed yesterday that entries have picked up dramatically over the past two weeks for both the 68km and the newly added Legends 60:11 Half Marathon.
Added to that are 10 and 5km races to draw the masses who will celebrate a day of road running across the spectrum.
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