Celebrating its 9th anniversary on Sunday, 12 July 2026, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K features an impressive prize purse and SA athlete incentives designed to motivate runners to deliver their best performances on a course that is known to be fast.
The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series’ 2026 combined prize purse stands at R1 686 000, further enhanced by innovative incentives for South African athletes – designed to inspire standout performances and unforgettable moments.
“An impressive prize purse is a key pillar of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, as it not only plays a vital role in attracting a competitive elite field and motivating everyday runners to push beyond their limits and deliver personal best performances, but also serves as a welcomed and deserved reward for athletes who put in the hard work and commitment to excel,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder. “With Durban’s fast, flat course, this is the one event where quick times, personal bests, and record-breaking performances are always on the cards. Durban never disappoints. We look forward to witnessing world-class racing at its best on South African soil.”
2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Prize Purse Breakdown:
In 2026 the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series features a total combined prize pruse of R1 686 000. Each of the five events (Gqeberha, Cape Town, Durban, Tshwane and Joburg) 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 finishers in each city 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 per event 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 has raised the bar with an impressive SA Athlete Prize Incentive Schedule in 2026. Applied across all five Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series races, the incentive programme rewards exceptional performances and encourages South African 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 exceptional R300 000.00 bonus for athletes who dip under 30:20. A new SA Record (the fastest runner) will secure an additional R50 000.
Added Bonuses: To further turn up the heat, additional bonuses will be awarded for consistent excellence across the series:
Elite Men
• R20 000 bonus for breaking 28 minutes twice during the 2026 series.
• R30 000 bonus for breaking 28 minutes three times in 2026.
Elite Women
• R20 000 bonus for breaking 32:08 twice during the 2026 series.
• R30 000 bonus for breaking 32:08 three times in 2026.
To view the 2026 Prize Purse Breakdown and SA Athlete Incentive Schedule, visit https://runyourcityseries.com/
EVENT DATES: 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series
1. 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
2. Sunday 10 May 2026 / Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K
CANCELLED DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER FORECAST
3. Sunday 12 July 2026 / Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K
Start Line: Masabalala Yengwa Avenue (MY)
Finish Venue: Sunkist Lawns, Durban Promenade
Entry Fee:
Licensed Runner: R255.00
Temporary License: R60.00
Entries Open: Thursday 19 March 2026
Entries Close: Monday 29 June 2026 or once capacity has been reached
4. Sunday 23 August 2026 / Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K
5. Thursday 24 September 2026 / Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K
Facebook: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k
Instagram: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k
Hashtag: #RunYourCity #AbsaRunYourCity
WhatsApp Line: 072 042 7613
Websites: www.runyourcityseries.com
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Author: Jacky McClean from NEWSPORT MEDIA on behalf of Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series.
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