BLOEMFONTEIN – Big-name local runners will mark the debut of the Absa Run Your City Mangaung 10 km series, which is scheduled for 25 October. Established runners LJ van Zyl and Johan Nortje are set to swap the track for the road in the eagerly awaited race in Bloemfontein, which offers a whopping R337 200 in prize money, adding an extra layer of excitement to the city’s newest premier road running event.
The Mangaung edition brings to six the number of cities in the Run Your City series, catering for competitive and lifestyle runners, as well as the development of future competitive runners. 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.

Of the exciting prizes up for grab, R267 200 dedicated to the Open Category. This includes R133 600 for the top ten open men and the top ten open women categories, respectively. The top male and female winners is guaranteed a whooping R33 000 each, while second place will earn R24 000 and third place R21 000. In addition, R70 000 has been allocated to Age Categories, rewarding the top three finishers in the Junior, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69 and 70+ age groups.

Partners Stillwater Sports 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 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 bonuses starting for times faster than 32:08, and an outstanding R300 000 bonus for athletes who dip under 30:20. A new SA Record (the fastest runner) will secure an additional R50 000.
Since its launch in 2015, the Absa Run Your City series has grown in leaps and bounds, reshaping South Africa’s road running landscape and bringing mass participation events to iconic cities across the country. This year, the premier series celebrates its growth with six major cities. The other five host cities are Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), Cape Town, Durban, Tshwane and Johannesburg. For further information please visit https://runyourcityseries.com/