Celebrating its Mangaung debut on Sunday, 25 October 2026, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K will put a record R337 200 prize purse on the line, adding an extra layer of excitement to the city’s newest premier road running event. The impressive prize purse is complemented by a series of innovative incentives designed to inspire South African athletes to raise the bar, deliver standout performances and seize the opportunity to create memorable moments on race day.
Since its launch in 2015, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series has reshaped South Africa’s road running landscape, bringing mass participation events to iconic cities across the country. In 2026, the Series expands to six cities, with events in Gqeberha, Cape Town, Durban, Tshwane, Johannesburg and, for the first time, Mangaung, where the season will culminate in October.
“Offering a substantial prize purse remains a key priority for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports. “It is about more than rewarding the commitment and loyalty of athletes who continue to support the Series; it is also about creating meaningful incentives that fuel ambition, encourage athletes to raise their performance levels and inspire them to push the boundaries of what is possible.”
The Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K will boast a total prize allocation of R337 200.00, with R267 200.00 dedicated to the Open Category. This includes R133 600.00 for the Top 10 Open Men and R133 600.00 for the Top 10 Open Women. The top male and female winners will take home R33 000.00, while second place will earn R24 000.00 and third place R21 000.00. In addition, R70 000.00 has been allocated to Age Categories, rewarding the top three finishers in the Junior, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69 and 70+ age groups.
Exciting 2026 SA Athlete Incentives:
Alongside the impressive combined prize purse, Stillwater Sports once again raises the bar with its acclaimed SA Athlete Prize Incentive Schedule that rewards exceptional performances and encourages athletes to chase new limits.
In the Elite Men’s race, bonuses kick in for times faster than 28 minutes, with a remarkable R300 000.00 incentive up for grabs for breaking the 27-minute barrier, while a new SA Record (the fastest runner) will secure an additional R50 000. The Elite Women’s race is equally rewarding, with bonuses starting for times faster than 32:08, and an outstanding R300 000.00 bonus for athletes who dip under 30:20. A new SA Record (the fastest runner) will secure an additional R50 000.
To view the 2026 Prize Purse Breakdown and SA Athlete Incentive Schedule, visit https://runyourcityseries.com/
In closing, Meyer adds: “As we make our debut in Mangaung, we are excited to provide athletes with another high-profile platform on which to compete, perform and showcase their talent. The depth of the prize purse, together with the additional incentives on offer, reflects our commitment to creating opportunities for South African athletes to compete at the highest level while contributing to the continued growth and development of road running in the country.”
EVENT DATES: 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K
| Date: | Sunday, 25 October 2026 |
| Start Time: | 07:00 |
| Start Line: | Sir George Grey Street exit of Grey College |
| Finish Line: | Kings Way (Bloemfontein) |
| Entry Fee: | Entry Fee: R 255 (Licensed Runner) Temp License Fee: R70 |
| Entry Fee Includes: | Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Event Performance T-shirt Absa Drawstring Bag Absa Peak Cap Absa Socks Race Number & Timing Chip Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Finisher’s Medal Major Sponsor Activations Route Entertainment Points 3 x Refreshment stations on route Tog Bag Drop and Collect Service Post Event Entertainment |
| Entries Open: | Saturday 01 August |
| Entries Close: | Thursday 08 October 2026 or once capacity has been reached |
Facebook: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k / @Mangaung 10K
Instagram: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k / @Mangaung10k
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/