In the best 10km form of her life after clocking a new personal best just last month, Emma Pallant-Browne is eager to test herself against the best athletes South and East Africa have to offer at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K on National Heritage Day, Thursday, 24 September 2026.
“It has been busy,” admitted Pallant-Browne, reflecting on a packed six weeks that included a new 10km lifetime best of 32:45 and a runner-up finish at the Totalsports Women’s Race in Durban on 2 August. “I wanted to run a little faster and test my form. I came second behind Neheng (Khatala). I’m happy,” said the three-time World Duathlon Champion.
Her strong 10km and half-marathon performances, including third place at the 2026 Totalsports TWO OCEANS HALF MARATHON and a 1:12:37 at the HOKA Paris Half Marathon, have vindicated her decision to focus solely on running since giving birth to her first child at the end of 2025.
“I’ve actually been really enjoying focusing on it again. I had a few injuries post-baby because I came back a bit too fast, but I’m finding my feet,” she said after winning the Waterfall City Half Marathon in Johannesburg on 12 September.
With her confidence growing and her 10km form stronger than ever, Pallant-Browne is now looking forward to testing herself against another world-class field when she lines up at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K on National Heritage Day, 24 September.
“The Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K is about a week and a half away and I just want to race as hard as I can against a stacked field. It always brings a lot of the top girls so I will just give my all and see where I can come,” said the British native who now lives and trains in South Africa.
For Pallant-Browne, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series is particularly appealing because each race presents a different challenge, giving athletes the opportunity to test themselves against strong fields across a variety of courses.
“It’s so exciting for a series to have such different race courses and the top ten can totally change and switch because some people are better at altitude, while some are better on a flat course and others on a hilly course. It just makes the racing so exciting and it really does raise the standard.”
With Pallant-Browne set to test her improving 10km form against a strong international field in Joburg, Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder, says: “Emma’s return to top-level 10km racing has been impressive, and setting a new personal best is a clear indication of just how strong her form is. She brings experience and competitiveness to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, and having her line up in Joburg against some of the best athletes from South and East Africa is exactly the kind of racing we want to see. With a world-class women’s field and the unique challenge of the Joburg course, we’re expecting Emma to add another exciting dimension to what promises to be a fantastic Heritage Day celebration.”
EVENT DATES: 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series
| Sunday 01 March 2026 | Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K Elite Men’s Winner: Adriaan Wildschutt (RSA) 27:47 Elite Women’s Winner: Brenda Jepchirchir (KEN) 30:15 |
| Sunday 10 May 2026 | Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K CANCELLED DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER FORECAST |
| Sunday 12 July 2026 | Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K Elite Men’s Winner: Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda) 27:19 Elite Women’s Winner: Doreen Cherop (Kenya) 30:43 |
| Sunday 23 August 2026 | Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K Elite Men’s Winner: Salem Kibet (Kenya) 28:45 Elite Women’s Winner: Doreen Cherop (Kenya) 31:35 |
| Thursday 24 September 2026 | Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K / SOLD OUT Start Time: 08:00 Start Line: Lilian Ngoyi Street Finish Venue: Rahima Moosa Street |
| Sunday 25 October 2026 | Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K Start Time: 07:00 Start Venue: Sir George Grey Street exit of Grey College Finish Venue: Kings Way (Bloemfontein) Entry Fee: R 255 (Licensed Runner) Temp License Fee: R70 Entries Close: Thursday 08 October 2026or once capacity has been reached |
Facebook: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k / @Mangaung 10K
Instagram: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k / @Mangaung 10K
Hashtag: #RunYourCity #AbsaRunYourCity
WhatsApp Line: 072 042 7613
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 now comprises six 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), the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K (launched in 2016) and the Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K (launched in 2026). 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/