With her record-breaking victory in the 2024 Comrades Marathon, Gerda Steyn added yet another accolade to her already glittering running career, and further cemented her status in many people’s minds as the greatest female ultra-athlete produced by South Africa to date. We caught up with her for an in-depth chat about her big win, the upcoming Olympic Marathon in Paris, and other aspects of her running. – By Sean Falconer
It should have been a triumphant celebration of a job well done – but instead, Comrades Marathon Race & Operations Manager Ann Ashworth has left the organisation, alleging that a smear campaign was mounted against her. We chat to Ann, and get her story about what happened “behind closed doors.” Watch the full video below.
In a social media post, she wrote: “My time at the CMA has come to an end. The Board feels that I lack the necessary leadership and race management abilities to continue to serve as the Race & Operations Manager.” In the comments on the post, responding to a question about what went on behind closed doors, she added “… my job was promised to someone else months ago. That person will resume the position after actively sabotaging me in the office and in the media.”
The Comrades Association later issued a statement confirming that Ann would no longer be in the position: “The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) regrets to announce the departure of Ann Ashworth from her role as the Comrades Marathon Race & Operations Manager with immediate effect. We wish to thank her for her contribution to a highly successful race.”
The CMA also addressed what’s come to be known as “Vanillagate” (after a board member put out a public call for more people to register as members of the association so it was no longer “all vanilla”. In its statement, association chairperson Mqondisi Ngcobo was quoted as saying that the “so-called ‘Vanillagate’ saga has no bearing on (Ann’s) departure”.
Elsewhere in the statement the CMA quoted its Constitution, stating that the board is not able to remove a member. But legendary coach Norrie Williamson, in a social media post, contradicted this, saying the constitution allows any board member to be suspended and given a hearing to answer to charges, including those of bringing the CMA into disrepute or acting against its interests.
This is the latest in a series of pressure points for the Comrades. Last year’s cut-off debacle angered many. But, by all accounts from runners and the community at large, Ann did a good job and ushered in a lot of positive changes this year. Was it perfect? No – but no race is.
So where to from here? Our advice is to get as many runners as possible to join the CMA. This is the only possible way to have a say in the future of the race, including the selection of board members.
CMA Membership is open to individuals 18 years and older who are either active runners, active volunteers, or retired/longstanding runners/volunteers, who subscribe to the objectives of CMA and wish to participate in its activities in compliance with the CMA Constitution, vision and values.
To be eligible to vote at the 2024 AGM your membership application and membership fee of R100 must be received by no later than 30 June 2024.
From reunions in the loo queue, to hallucinating about forgetting to pull her pants back up after another loo stop at 65 kays, this is the entertaining story of René Kalmer’s successful Comrades Marathon debut. – By Sean Falconer
We chat with the 2024 Comrades Marathon winner Piet Wiersma. His journey to this years race, how he overcame coming second last year, and his future plans!
We chat to Gerda Steyn about her 2024 Up Run Record and win, her goals for this year’s Olympics and her journey to becoming a professional runner! Its a must-watch!
The Nedbank running club’s famous green Nike vests have dominated running events around the country, and even more so, the Comrades Marathon, dubbed the ultimate human race. 2024 is no different and at this years Comrades Marathon, the club has a record 48 athletes entered under elite status and will be looking for more than just a win.
“Without a doubt, this is the strongest and most competitive team we have ever had at the Comrades Marathon,” says Nick Bester, National team manager of the Nedbank running club and former race winner. “Besides having the defending champion of both the up run and down runs, we have multiple Comrades gold medallists that will take part this year as well as some very interesting novices who can perhaps spoil the party on the day.”
Leading the team will undoubtedly be the duo of Tete Dijana and Edward Mothibi. Coming into this year’s race, Mothibi is the defending up run champion with the race last going up to Pietermaritzburg in 2019, whilst Dijana has won the last two Comrades down runs back-to-back, which included last year’s record-breaking run. The two train together and are known as the happy bunch with gold medallist teammates Joseph Manyedi, Dan Matshailwe and Johannes Makgetla also returning this year.
Also returning will be Piet Wiersma. Referred to last year as the unknown dutchman, the youngster of the team finished 2nd on debut, only 3 seconds behind Dijana and this year has focussed solely on the Comrades Marathon, having prepared for the race in Kenya. “This year we have had athletes focussing on the race from all different corners of the globe,” said Bester. “Tete and the other guys had their base in Dullstroom for the high altitude and Piet chose to train in Kenya for the bulk of his Comrades prep.
Giving a serious attempt at Comrades this year will be Onalenna Khonkhobe who made a name for himself leading the 2022 Comrades Marathon all the way to Fields Hill. He has since grown in stature and this year was the runaway winner of the Two Oceans Marathon. Throw in Russian debutant Nikolay Volkov amongst many other Nedbank stars who will be in action, and the 2024 Comrades Marathon will be a treat for viewers watching at home on TV and for spectators along the route.
In the women’s race, South Africa’s Adele Broodryk leads the Nedbank running club challenge. Debuting in 2022, Broodryk finished 3rd and in last years race improved by one spot to not only finish 2nd, but run an amazing 5:56, to become the 3rd fastest female ever on the down run. Teammates Deanne Laubscher, Galaletsang Mekgoe and Slindile Chili will be looking to join Broodryk amongst the top 10 finishers on the day.
There is also an extraordinarily strong Nedbank running club international contingent coming down which will be led by Polish athlete Dominika Stelmach who is a multiple Comrades Marathon gold medallist. Ireland’s Caitriona Jennings finished on the podium at her debut Comrades up run in 2019 and will be looking for another repeat of that after a strong 7th place at this years Two Oceans Marathon. Running her first Comrades this year will be American Andrea Pomaranski who has been taking training advice from Bester. With a 2:31 marathon best and two sub 2:35 marathon finishers in 2024 already, Pomaranski looks to do something big on 9 June.
‘I worked intensively with Andrea and especially on her overall strength to make sure she can manage the uphill’s which will be complemented by her incredible speed as an Elite marathoner. What impressed me from her is that Andrea is listening and did do all the strength and cross training according to the program and reduced her total running mileage per week. I am expecting Andrea to be up there with the leaders on race day! ‘said Bester
“We have assembled the best possible team to date for this years Comrades and thanks to all of our sponsors, we have given all the athletes all they need in terms of preparations and camps, so all that is left now is the athletes to do their part and once again paint the streets green on 9 June,” said Bester.
Despite only starting to take his running more seriously two years ago, Thabang Mathebula is on top of the world as he keeps getting better thanks to the hard work he puts into training, accompanied by the brilliant job done by his coach. – By Tathe Msimango
It takes a special type of athlete to line up year after year for the Comrades Marathon and finish this ultra-marathon challenge 40 times or more, and that’s why just 18 runners have done so in the 102 years since the Comrades was first run. Leading that list is Barry Holland, who will be aiming to become the first athlete to achieve 50 Comrades medals in June this year, and a chat with this South African ultra-running legend is guaranteed to inspire. – By Sulette Ferreira with Sean Falconer
When I blew out the 20 candles for my birthday at the start of 2023, I didn’t know what lay ahead of me in the year I had signed up for on the road, but I knew I would be finding out a lot about myself, including how my legs would handle going further than they’d ever run before. I also knew I may have to convince a few doubters along the way that I can do it. – By Ela Meiring
They say that if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again until you do. Well, Eugene Lekay must have that advice imprinted on his psyche, because the man who has started the Comrades Marathon 21 times in the last 25 years finally earned his 10th medal in 2023 and claimed his Comrades race number 17696 in perpetuity. This is his story of a quarter of a century journey to a Green Number, with numerous challenges along the way, but also a testament to one runner’s determination to achieve his goal. – By Sean Falconer