Earlier this year, the Two Oceans Marathon (TOM) issued a media release, “New Chair and Vice Chair to head up TOM NPC as appointment of board is finalised”. Shortly afterwards I received a tip off from a credible source who prefers to remain anonymous that the announcement contained several inaccuracies on the qualifications and running pedigree of new Chairperson Toni Cavanagh.
After the embarrassing “Two Oceans caught out in their own digimag lie” revelation following the cutoff debacle at this year’s ultra marathon, I would have thought that the TOM Board would be ultra cautious about putting out media statements full of fabrications. Unfortunately, it appears that the TOM communications department seems to be continuing to take liberties with the truth.
READ MORE: Two Oceans caught out in their own digimag lie
Embellishing the Running CV?
Within the press release it is stated that, “Her [Toni Cavanagh’s] running resume includes nine marathons, over 50 half marathons and numerous long-distance and ultra long-distance trail events.” The source (who has had a long association with Ms Cavanagh) told me that, “There is no way she has completed this many races.”
Based on the investigation that I’ve done (which includes consulting with a data scientist friend of mine who has previously pulled a consolidated list of all South African race results together into a database), Cavanagh has completed three marathons (2015 Cape Town Marathon in 6h11, 2016 Cape Town Marathon in 5h48 and 2016 Peninsula Marathon in 5h56). I could find evidence of less than 20 half marathons completed (and I’ve been gracious and included all distances between 21.1 and 42.2km in this figure) and no ultra trail events (assuming that the TOM definition of an ‘ultra’ conforms to the industry standard of ‘distances greater than a 42.2km standard marathon’).
It is of course possible that I’ve missed some results but I doubt that the marathon count will triple or the half marathon count will more than double. I sent a polite email to Cavanagh asking for clarification on 16 November and a follow-up ten days later on 26 November but no response has been received. It should be noted that I did receive a reply to another email I sent offering statistical assistance with the 2025 in-race cutoff times (my offer was politely declined).
Whilst I am personally concerned that once again we have a Chair and Vice Chair on the TOM Board who have never run their own ultra marathon (which is a very different proposition, mindset and customer base than the half), I don’t think whether someone has run three marathons or nine marathons makes any material difference. So why lie about it?
However, one should remember that, as the Chair of the TOM Board, Cavanagh heads up a multi-million rand enterprise (the most recent financial statements I have list income at just under R25 million) and, should these prove to be lies, then that is a big issue as it once again brings the honesty, ethics and integrity of the Board (which was sadly lacking after the 2024 event) back into question again.
According to this 2017 Runner’s World article, Cavanagh suffers from “degenerative disc disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and presents with multiple sclerosis” and her Instagram profile highlights, “Loving and Vibing with Autoimmune Disease”.
Cavanagh recently completed the 23km ‘Explorer’ event at the UTCT with her predecessor in the TOM Chair, Ilse de Wet. They finished together within 30 seconds of the 6h30 cutoff. To be running half marathon distances and further with a serious autoimmune disease is admirable. Why the press release did not focus on overcoming her medical challenges rather than what appears to be grossly overexaggerated running accomplishments is inexplicable.
Embellishing the Professional CV?
The announcement also states, “Toni Cavanagh, appointed to the TOM NPC board in 2023, brings a wealth of expertise as a general manager and director with top corporate brands.” This is also in question as the source (who has known Ms Cavanagh for around a decade) told me that they are not aware of any successful businesses, directorships or top corporate brands being managed. I could find no evidence on the internet of anything other than involvement with brands as the TOM ExPo manager in 2024.
As with the missing race results, my questions to Cavanagh concerning her professional experience remain unanswered.
As with the missing race results, one should ask whether this seemingly gross overexaggeration makes any difference to Cavanagh’s ability to perform the Chairperson role. If the listed skills and experience were the basis of her being appointed, then that would certainly be material. In addition, if the leadership of a R25 million organisation cannot be trusted to tell the truth about their running and professional achievements then it does not bode well for the future of the event.
Time to Copy Comrades Again?
The members of the Comrades Marathon Association recently made a massive statement that they were fed up with lies, incompetence and corruption when an alliance called the Comrades Collective, who ran on an integrity ticket, won a clean sweep of the seven available Board positions. Two Oceans has a long history of copying Comrades, perhaps it’s time for the Blue Number Club members to take note and organise an integrity alliance of their own.
Follow Running Mann:
I would love to hear her explanation in due course
As a member of the Blue Number Club, I would be very interested in the TOM’s reaction to your statement. Yes, you are quite right, we as runners, or former runners are sick and tired of hearing gross fabrication of the truth, and due diligence. Must be applied to anyone applying for a responsible position on the ROM of a flagship event, which TOM is.
Ian Mann
18 TOM finishes.
This is seriously depressing! Here we go again!
I am a Blue Number TOM #770 – last race was in 2000. I am Joe 72 years old.
My twin daughters convinced me to do the 1/2 with them next year. On account of my Blue Number, I get an automatic entry.
I am now totally disincentivised to train and do the race. In fact, I think that I should demand a refund.
This is horrid!
So many dishonest creatures seeking a free lunch.
Horrible!
Perhaps Ms Cavanagh is taking a leaf out of Camille Herron’s book?
As a Blue Number holder of both the TOM Ultra and the Half Marathons and a TOM NPC member I am hugely disappointed in this revelation. Gives the race a very tainted reputation when the chair has a doubtful CV. Are the rest of the board members just going to sit back and do nothing?
Actually a disgrace!!! Thought so when her name popped up,the same person who challenged my character without knowing me ( about a deep personal matter)
The shenanigans in the last few years in the 2 biggest Ultras in the country leave a lot to be desired…
Just so sad that we have to shake our heads in disbelief 🤦♂️
Blue no.4888.
Clem Simpson.
This is clearly the type of “jogger” Rowyn was talking about. I don’t care about actual running times, lying about them is the issue.
I believe it’s an issue that’s getting bigger by the day, the world and life of people is on display (see: IG, FB, …) and that display shows a curated version of it – if not a completely fake one. But people believe it, so everyone started “living” the lie outside the digital IG frame. As they “lie” in their posts and are believed, so they do in “real life”. While I do not believe that number of races or times are an issue in terms of being able to manage the role, needing to fabricate lies about it is. The same goes for the work experience: it’s totally up to the “employer” to choose a worthy candidate; but to fabricate that worth, again, is wrong. I don’t know who made the stories up, TOM or Mrs Rowyn, in any case, it’s sad and ridiculous.