David Ashworth, the chairman of Born 2 Run Athletics Club, is very proud of its Blairgowrie-based club members’ performance at the recent Comrades Marathon.
“There were 111 proudly purple Born 2 Run athletes lined up at the start of this year’s Comrades Marathon on 29 May. This marked a massive increase in the club’s participation in the event, from 22 members in 2014 and 56 members last year. Clearly their passion for this race is contagious,” said Ashworth.
Ashworth congratulated the Born 2 Run Athletics Club’s ladies who performed exceptionally well. “Huge congratulations go out to Yolande Maclean (fifth place, 06:43:00); Julanie Basson (ninth place, 06:58:00; and Salome Cooper (10th place, 07:01:00) who each achieved an enviable gold medal.
“These three ladies have consistently placed within the top three in all the races in which they have participated this year while simultaneously managing very busy personal and professional lives.
“The ‘Born 2 Run Comrades Bombshells’ won the ladies team prize for the second time in three years, and this year with a whopping five-hour lead. Well done also to Ann Ashworth, the fourth member of our ladies team who finished in 13th position in [a time of] 07:07:00.”
Ann Ashworth, also a member of Born 2 Run Athletics Club Johannesburg, said her fellow club members are an inspiration. “We are all full-time working professionals and thus do not have the luxury of flexihours or training during work hours – and four of the six ladies are also very busy parents. I think the fact that our ladies are able to train and compete as successfully as they do, is truly inspiring.”
“It really gives hope to ordinary working women that they can still achieve fantastic results and realise their dreams,” she said.
Ann added that the Born 2 Run Athletics Club is one big group of friends who love to train and run together. “The thing that makes us so special is that we are essentially a very big group of friends. No matter what your speed or ability or level of experience, there is a home for you at Born 2 Run. While we are very fortunate to have some very talented athletes, our focus has, and will always be, what we call ‘adult athlete development’. Essentially we want to encourage and assist all our members to strive to be the very best they can be.”
Not only does Born 2 Run have elite runners, but the running club also has a very active social running community. Join in on the fun at their Night Trail on 29 June at 7pm at St Stithians College in Randburg.
Details: jhb@born2runac.co.za; www.born2runac.co.za
