The inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K will get off to an explosive start as South Africa’s 10km Queen, Glenrose Xaba and Lesotho’s three-time National Record Holder, Neheng Khatala confirm their entries for Sunday 27 August 2023!
Xaba and Khatala have met three times at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series in 2023 and the score is 2-1 to the Lesotho athlete.
Xaba finished 4th in Gqeberha, just ahead of Khatala (5th). In Cape Town, Khatala finished on the podium in 3rd with Xaba crossing the line 6th. In their last meeting at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K, Khatala finished 6th and Xaba 9th. So, while the head-to-head score line favors Khatala, it is Xaba who boasts the faster time of the pair with her 31:55 to the 32:06 of Khatala. All of which builds up to a great showdown between the rivals who are also good friends.
Xaba has broken her 10km PB three times already this year, in the process breaking the magical 32-minute barrier for the first time. The Boxer Athletics Club and PUMA South Africa athlete went 32:25 at the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on 2 April, taking 20 seconds off her previous best time of 32:45. Six weeks later she took another 13 seconds off that time before shattering that time when she ran 31:55 on 25 June. To say that Xaba is in the shape of her life is an understatement.
“It is always good racing against Neheng, you know you will need to work hard when she is in the race. She is a tough fighter,” says Xaba. “But firstly, I must focus on my race, on how I feel and then I will think about the opposition. But it will be a tough race.”
Khatala opened her season with a 33:55 in March in Durban. Two weeks later she clocked 32:45 at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBEHRA 10K, and in a windy Mother City missed her PB of 32:06 by a mere 7 seconds on 14 May when she placed 3rd at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K.
“It will be a hard run in Tshwane, “says Khatala. “We know the course will be tougher than those of Gqeberha, Cape Town and Durban so the times will not be as fast. But it means we will have to race differently. So, I am expecting a tough race.”
“The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series is known to ignite PBs while delivering exciting racing,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Founder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series. ” We are proud to empower improvement for every entrant, encouraging runners to push boundaries and achieve their best. Glenrose and Neheng often lead the excitement, setting the bar high for all participants. We can’t wait to watch these impressive athletes put it all on the line once again, this time at the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K.”
EVENT INFORMATION: 2023 Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K
Date: | Sunday 27 August 2023 |
Start Time: | 08:00 |
Start & Finish Venue: | Union Buildings (Government Ave, Pretoria) |
Entry Fee: | · Licenced Runners R240.00 · Non Licenced Runner R240.00 plus Temp Licence R50.00 Standard Entry Includes: · Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Event Performance T-shirt · Absa Peak Cap · Absa Drawstring Bag · Absa Socks · Absa Shoelaces · DHL Water Bottle · Race Number with Timing Chip · Sponsor Route Entertainment Points · Route Entertainment Points · 2 x Refreshment Stations on Route · Tog Bag Drop and Collect Service · Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Finisher’s Medal |
CHARITY SUPPORT: Celebrating its Tshwane debut in 2023, when entering the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K online, runners and walkers can support three local charities: Reach for A Dream, Cotlands and the Tshwane SPCA.
PRIZE PURSE: The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series boasts an impressive, combined Prize Purse of R 1 560 000.00 in 2023. Each of the five events will be assigned R312 000.00 in prize money of which R252 000.00 will be allocated towards the Open Category (R126 000.00 going to Top 10 Open Men’s and R126 000.00 to Top 10 Open Women’s), and R60 000 towards Age Categories (Junior, 40 – 49, 50 – 59, 60 – 69 and 70+ Age Categories). To view the prize purse breakdown please visit https://runyourcityseries.com/
WIN A CHERY TIGGO 4 PRO URBAN VEHICLE: One lucky entrant will go home with a stylish Chery Tiggo 4 Pro Urban Vehicle valued at over R308 900.00 compliments of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series and event partners Chery South Africa and Absa Vehicle and Asset Finance. To be in the running to win this fantastic prize the following three boxes need to be ticked: you need to enter the event (and pay the entry fee), collect your race number (during the stipulated race pack collection times) and be on the start line on event day.
Facebook: @Tshwane10K
Instagram: @Tshwane10k
Hashtag: #RunYourCity #AbsaRunYourCity
Websites: www.runyourcityseries.com
About Absa
Absa Group is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups.
Absa Group offers an integrated set of products and services across personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management and insurance.
Absa operates in fourteen countries. The Group owns majority stakes in banks in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania (Absa Bank Tanzania and National Bank of Commerce), Uganda and Zambia and has insurance operations in Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zambia. Absa also has representative offices in Namibia and Nigeria, and securities entities in the United Kingdom and the United States. For further information about Absa Group Limited, please visit www.absa.africa
About the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series
A proudly South African mass participation road running series, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series has been revolutionizing the sport since 2015. A road running celebration like no other, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series comprises five unique events namely the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K (launched in 2023), Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K (launched in 2015), the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K (launched in 2017), Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K (launched in 2023) and the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K (launched in 2016).
A diverse road running series, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series integrates businesses, families, investment in community, world class achievement and fun for all participants. For further information please visit https://runyourcityseries.com/