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Ann Ashworth is one of South Africa’s most respected ultra-marathon athletes and one of the country’s leading voices in women’s running development. Known for winning the Comrades Marathon, serving as Race Director and Race & Operations Manager, and championing female participation in endurance sports, Ann brings world-class insight and passion to her coaching.
“Running has always been a major part of my life. I ran at school, at university and throughout my adult life. While initially it was something I did to stay fit in the off-season for my other sports, I came to love the solitude of running long distances, ultimately running my first ultramarathon while I was still studying.
Having the opportunity to develop and contribute to the sport (and people’s lives) through coaching gives me purpose. I love watching athletes grow and succeed, gaining confidence and retaining their zest for life!”
From First Ultramarathon to Ultra-Distance Champion
Ann’s transition from recreational runner to elite ultra-marathoner is rooted in grit, consistency and deep love for long-distance running. What began as a way to stay fit soon turned into a commitment — culminating in her first ultramarathon while still studying.
Her defining moment came in 2018, when she won the women’s title at the Comrades Marathon, “The Ultimate Human Race”, in a time of 6:10:04, securing a South African 1-2 finish with compatriot Gerda Steyn behind her. With that win, she joined the elite ranks of Comrades champions. Read more about her win HERE.
But that was only one highlight among many. Over nine finishes at Comrades, she amassed two gold medals, two silver medals and an Isavel Roche-Kelly Medal — demonstrating not only peak performance, but remarkable consistency and endurance.
Beyond Comrades, her range extended across road and trail ultra-distances:
- She earned three gold medals at the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon (with notable performances in 2018, 2022 and 2023).
- On the trails she secured first-lady and course-record honours at the Karkloof 50 Miler (2021), and at the Ultra-Trail Drakensberg 100km (2021).
- She also placed 4th (and 1st South African) at the 2021 Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100km.
- Internationally, she completed marathons in cities such as Valencia (2018, 2:35), Seville (2023, 2:39), as well as appearances in Paris, London, Amsterdam and Brussels — a testament to her versatility across road- and trail-running, as well as short and ultra-distances.
Her track record is not just long — it is varied, international and trail-blazing.
Building Communities: From Clubs to Female-Led Teams
For Ann, running was never meant to be a solitary endeavour. Long before her Comrades victory, she set out to build platforms that empower other runners, especially women. In 2013, together with her husband, she founded the Born2Run Athletics Club — a stepping-stone club aimed at bridging the gap between social-level and elite-level running.
But she didn’t stop there. In October 2017 she launched a ladies-only elite and sub-elite development team under sponsorship from Massmart Holdings, called Team Massmart. The vision was bold: to build a core of female ultra-distance athletes capable of national and international competition. Under her leadership, Team Massmart athletes secured multiple podium finishes — including the ladies team prize at Comrades.
Her efforts weren’t just about winning races. As she once said, she believed running could be a force for social change — a way to give disadvantaged and under-represented women opportunity, structure, mentorship, and a path towards realising their athletic potential.
After her Comrades win, she declined a spot on the national 100 km World Championships team — not because she lacked ability, but because she chose to remain focused on domestic development and her broader mission to uplift local athletes. More about these accomplishments HERE.
More Than an Athlete: Advocate, Coach & Race Administrator
Ann’s passion for running extends beyond her own performances. She brings to the table a rare combination: world-class competitive experience, academic rigour (with a Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science), and a burning drive to transform the running community.
Her coaching style draws from her years training under elite-level coaches, her own personal trials and triumphs, and her unwavering commitment to stay current with modern training methods. She balances the art of coaching with science: learning strength, nutrition and psychological strategies, and currently pursuing an online certification in Sports Psychology to deepen her ability to support runners holistically.
Within A-Team Coaching, she has channelled her experience and values into coaching athletes of all levels — from first-time marathoners to ultra-distance aspirants. The strength-based training programs she has helped design emphasise longevity, injury prevention and sustainable performance — giving runners a realistic, life-friendly path to their goals.
Giving Back & Leading, Even Off the Road
In November 2023, Ann stepped into a new role: she was appointed by the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) as Race & Operations Manager — bringing her unique perspective to one of the world’s most iconic ultramarathon events.
Her vision: to make the race more runner-friendly, improve elite-athlete support, and use her real-world experience to address issues often overlooked by administrators detached from the pain, sweat and logistics of ultra-running.
During her tenure, she helped secure increased prize money and bonuses for elite athletes, revamped cut-off times, and aimed to improve the finish-area experience for runners and spectators alike.
However, after the 2024 edition of the race, she parted ways with the CMA — just seven months into the role. In her farewell she voiced frustration at the internal politics, the undercurrent of sabotage, and the personal cost of what had been an emotionally and professionally taxing time.
Even after that difficult episode, Ann returned to the Comrades route in 2025 — not as a race official, but as a supporter, volunteer and passionate advocate, determined to help foster integrity, fairness and respect in the sport she loves.
Ann Ashworth – Running Achievements
Why Train With Ann?
Ann offers athletes a rare combination of:
- Elite racing experience
- Women-centred development expertise
- Modern, science-aligned training methods
- Deep understanding of endurance psychology
- Passion for helping runners grow and thrive