The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series is once again setting the pace in South African road running, unveiling a whopping R1.686 million prize purse and a sharpened suite of SA athlete incentives that promises an exciting 2026.
Since its 2015 debut, the series has evolved into the country’s premier 10km circuit. The series is a five-city relay of speed spectacle that threads through Gqeberha (March), Cape Town (May), Durban (July), Tshwane (August) and culminates in a high-octane Johannesburg finale in September.
Glenrose Xaba at Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K 2025 by Tyrone Winfield
“Offering an impressive prize purse is extremely important to us and we are proud to once again be able to do so at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series in 2026,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports.
“We believe that a strong prize purse does more than reward dedication and loyalty towards the series – it fuels ambition and inspires athletes to chase extraordinary performances.
“That is why we are proud to continue growing our prize purse each year with 2026 featuring a combined prize purse of R1 686 000.00.”
Each of the five races carries a R337 200 prize allocation. Of that, R267 200 is reserved for the Open Category, split evenly between men and women. Victory in each city is worth R33 000, with R24 000 for second and R21 000 for third.
Depth is also recognised.
“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 – ensuring excellence is celebrated across generations.”
Incentives that ignite speed
Added Bonus – 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series
Beyond podium payouts, the series’ SA Athlete Prize Incentive Schedule is where the stopwatch truly starts shouting.
Elite men trigger bonuses for times under 28 minutes, with a towering R300 000 reward for breaking 27:00, plus R50 000 for a new SA record. Elite women unlock incentives from 32:08, with the same R300 000 carrot for dipping under 30:20, and an additional R50 000 for a national record.
Prize Purse Breakdown – 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series
Consistency is king
Elite men earn R20 000 for breaking 28 minutes twice, and R30 000 for doing so three times. Elite women pocket the same bonuses for repeated sub-32:08 performances.
“In 2025, we paid out an impressive total of R1.9 million in Prize Money and SA Athlete Incentives – an achievement we’re incredibly proud of,” Meyer adds.
“Our focus for 2026 is to reward exceptional performances even further and elevate the level of competition in South African middle-distance running. By empowering our elite athletes to build successful careers at home, we’re confident these incentives will attract the country’s top talent and deliver spectacular racing across all five events.”
Wildschutt targets history
Adriaan Wildschutt at Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K 2025 by Anthony Grote
Olympian Adriaan Wildschutt, fresh from a 2025 season that saw him rewrite four national records, will open his campaign at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on 1 March, eyeing an audacious first: a sub-27-minute 10km on African soil.
“The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series has been a huge help in providing opportunities for us to run fast and compete against high-quality athletes,” says Wildschutt.
“The incentives they provide also motivate us to prepare well for these races, which further enhances the competition.”
A game-changer for 10km specialists
For Kabelo Mulaudzi, three-time SA cross-country champion and six-time RUN YOUR CITY winner, the series remains a vital lifeline for sub-marathon specialists.
“As an athlete who specialises in shorter distances, the Series allows me to focus purely on 10km racing without having to step up to half marathons or marathons just to earn decent prize money,” he explains.
“For a long time in South Africa, there were very few opportunities for sub-marathon athletes to make a sustainable income, so the prize money on offer in this Series is a game-changer.”He adds:
“The time-based incentive structure really encourages fast and consistent performances… I strongly believe athletes should be rewarded for fast performances rather than appearance money, and I’m excited to test myself against some of the best athletes from Southern and East Africa.”
In 2026, the message is clear: run fast, run often, and the rewards will follow … stride for stride, second by second.
Elite Men at Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K 2025 by Mark Sampson
2026 Event Dates – Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series
- 01 March – Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K
- 10 May – Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K
- 12 July – Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K
- 23 August – Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K
- 24 September – Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K
www.runyourcityseries.com
WhatsApp: 072 042 7613
#RunYourCity #AbsaRunYourCity
