Johannesburg is no stranger to hustle and bustle, but come Wednesday, 24 September, its inner streets will transform into a racetrack where heritage, grit, and speed collide at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K
The Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K is the last chapter in the five-race series. It’s a final whistle, a curtain call, and a grand finale rolled into one. From Lilian Ngoyi Street to the finish at Rahima Moosa Street, the city will echo with the sound of pounding feet and the chase for glory.
The men: A clash of pure speed
At the sharp end of the men’s field, the stopwatch will hardly have time to blink. Precious Mashele, with his searing 27:35 best, stands as the man to beat. Mashele, who thrives in high-pressure races, knows this is his chance to end the series on a high.
“Joburg is never easy , the air is thin, the climbs are tough. But those are the races that bring out my best,” he said, eyes firmly on the prize.
Hot on his heels will be fellow South African Kabelo Mulaudzi (27:41) and Thabang Mosiako (27:45), both in the form to make the city streets their playground. After Adriaan Wildschutt set a manificent new South African record of 27:28 in Gqeberha, Mulaudzi won the last three races in the series in Cape Town, Durban and Tshwane. He is now looking to make it four in a row at the Joburg 1oK.
However, Mosiako who won the Hollywood Joburg 10k last week over a tough hilly route, says he has done the necessary preparation and is currently in great shape.
“I think I have done enough hill and speed work and I am confident I can tackle any obstacle that presents itself,” Mosiako says confidently.
Thabang Mosiako Photo: Adnaan Mohamed
“This (the Absa RYC Joburg 10K) is all part of my preparation for my marathon debut at the (Sanlam Cape Town Marathon) next month. I am feeling good and everything is on course,” adds Mosiako
The East Africans are far from background actors though. Ethiopia’s Aklilu Asfaw (28:03) and Lesotho’s Namakoe Nkhasi (27:52) carry the pedigree to upset the locals. With so much sub-28 firepower in the pack, the race promises to be run at a pace that will sting like the thin Joburg air itself.
The women: A mountain queen with challengers
On the women’s side, Lesotho’s Neheng Khatala towers above the field with her 31:53 personal best. Known for her rhythm and resilience, Khatala embraces Jozi’s unforgiving hills.
“I love hard courses,” she said
“They test not just the body, but the spirit.”
Her biggest threats come from closer to home.
South Africa’s Cacisile Sosibo (32:54) and Zimbabwe’s Rutendo Nyahora (32:55) are seasoned campaigners who know how to dig deep in the final stretch.
Add Kenya’s Naomy Jerono (33:28) to the mix, and the women’s race is set for a showdown that could hinge on the last gasp along Rahima Moosa Street.
Comrades Maestro’s Dijana and Mothibi in the mix
While the 10km specialists will grab most of the limelight, the presence of Comrades Marathon titans brings a fascinating twist. Reigning champion Tete Dijana and former winner Edward “Slender” Mothibi have traded their ultra-distance armour for lighter, sharper weapons.
Reigning Comrades Marathon Champion Tete Dijana Photo: Adnaan Mohamed
For Mothibi, who has twice finished in the top 10 in Joburg, these shorter races are stepping stones in his training cycle. The same applies to Dijana who is running the 10K to sharpen his speed.
“The body is recovering well after Comrades,” he explained.
“I use these 10km races to sharpen the legs and test my speed. And who knows? Maybe the hills of Rustenburg where I train give me a little advantage here in Jozi.”
Race founder Michael Meyer believes their presence underscores the race’s significance:
“When you see Comrades champions lining up against 10km specialists, it speaks to the depth of our sport. It’s about showing endurance athletes can also mix it up with the speed merchants.”
A day for runners and the nation
With Heritage Day as its backdrop, the race is a celebration of unity and pride. While the elites chase records, thousands of recreational runners will thread through the same city streets, each stride telling its own story.
As the sun rises over Jozi’s skyline, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K will once again remind South Africans that running is both a test and a festival: a race against the clock, a dance with the city, and on Heritage Day, a stride into history.
