Comrades' first global ambassador
19 April 2005
The Comrades Marathon Association has launched an international ambassador's programme, appointing Mark Bloomfield as the Comrades' first ambassador to the United States.
"Mark's enthusiasm for Comrades, his ideas for greater international recognition and participation, and his running experience, made him the obvious choice to be our first ambassador", said the association's acting CEO, Cheryl Winn.
Eight ambassadors
The Comrades will appoint about eight international ambassadors from different countries and geographical areas this year. The remaining appointments will be announced at a ceremony immediately prior to the 2005 Comrades Marathon on 16 June.
The ambassadors will help the association on a pro bona basis to promote the Comrades Marathon legend abroad and to assist runners from their respective communities and regions to become take part in South Africa's famous ultra-marathon.
The
ambassadors will be Comrades veterans who have demonstrated an exceptional enthusiasm for the event, and are well known in their running communities.
'Mighty Mark'
On learning of Bloomfield's appointment, Comrades legend Bruce Fordyce observed: "I successfully advised Mark on how to finish his first Comrades with dignity, and am proud that he successfully finished first the down run in 2003 and then the up run last year. He has earned his ambassadorship."
Bloomfield, known in running circles as "Mighty Mark", is "mightier" in enthusiasm than in race time, which fits in with Comrades' goal of enticing novices, both international and local, to participate.
Bloomfield's running column, "Dispatches from Abroad", which is inspired by the Comrades story, is posted on The Runnersguide.
Bloomfield will kick off the eightieth Comrades with a reception in honour of visiting Comrades
Marathon veterans Tom and Kay Cottrell (Tom is publisher of the Nedbank Runners' Guide to road races in South Africa) at his home in Washington, DC on Sunday, 24 April.
Leaders of the Washington, DC running community, the media and community will be invited and exposed to the Comrades Marathon story.
Bloomfield has eight ultra marathons and twenty marathons under his belt around the world. His ultras include the Old Mutual Two Oceans 56km and the JFK 50 Miler - "America's Ultra Marathon".
His marathons include the "original marathon" in Athens, as well as most of the big city marathons - Boston, New York, Chicago, Paris, London and Prague. Bloomfield is president and CEO of an influential business organisation and economic policy think tank in the United States.
Source: Comrades Marathon
| 
