The Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES, South Africa’s premier road running series, is raising the stakes for 2025 with a massive combined prize purse of R1 610 000.00 and groundbreaking incentives designed to inspire top performances from SA athletes.
Since launching in 2015, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES has transformed road running in South Africa, bringing five world-class 10km events to five vibrant cities. The 2025 season kicks off in Gqeberha in April, followed by Cape Town in May, Durban in July, Tshwane in August, and wraps up in Johannesburg in September.
Big Rewards for Big Efforts
“We believe that a strong prize purse not only rewards dedication but also motivates athletes to push their limits,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder. “We’re proud to announce a total prize purse of R1 610 000.00 for 2025, with each of the five events offering R322 000 in prize money.
From this, R252 000.00 is dedicated to the Open Category—R126 000.00 for the Top 10 Open Men and R126 000.00 for the Top 10 Open Women. The winners in each city will take home R30 000.00, with R25 000.00 for second place and R20 000.00 for third.
An additional R70 000.00 is allocated for Age Category prizes, rewarding the top three finishers in the Junior, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, and 70+ age groups.”
Game-Changing Athlete Incentives
On top of the prize purse, Stillwater Sports has introduced an exciting SA Athlete Prize Incentive Schedule for 2025, rewarding standout performances at all five races.
For men, bonuses kick in for finishing times under 28 minutes, with a massive R200 000.00 payout for breaking the 27-minute mark. Women can start earning bonuses for times under 32:08, with a R200 000.00 incentive for breaking 30:23.
To raise the stakes even higher, any South African athlete who breaks the national 10km record at the time of the race will earn an extra R50 000.00 bonus. The current SA records stand at 27:35 (Precious Mashele, 2023) and 31:12 (Glenrose Xaba, 2024), both set at Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES events. The R50 000.00 will go to the fastest time recorded.
“The standard of South African road running is reaching new heights at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES,” adds Meyer. “In 2024, we paid out R610 000.00 in SA Athlete Incentives, and we’re determined to keep raising the bar in 2025. Our goal is to reward outstanding performances and elevate the level of competition in South African middle-distance running.”
A Star-Studded 2025 Lineup
To keep the momentum going, Stillwater Sports has been actively recruiting top talent for the 2025 series. One of the biggest announcements so far? Global running sensation Adriaan Wildschutt will make his series debut at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on Sunday, 13 April 2025.
Wildschutt captured the world’s attention in August 2024 when he finished 10th in the Olympic 10 000m final, smashing his own SA record with a time of 26:50.64. With four national track records to his name, he’s now setting his sights on the SA 10km record at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K.
“We want to empower South Africa’s elite athletes to build successful careers without having to race overseas,” says Meyer. “These incentives will help attract top talent and inspire incredible performances throughout the 2025 series.”
SA 10km Champion Glenrose Xaba agrees, saying the series’ incentives push local athletes to perform at their best. “These rewards are linked to performance times, which is key for us. The better my time, the better my chances of competing internationally. Breaking my own record would be a dream come true—I’d be the happiest woman alive.”
Making his series debut, Wildschutt shares her enthusiasm: “These incentives are a great motivator. When I was starting out, financial support like this made all the difference. The Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES offers some of the best incentives in SA road running, which sets it apart.”
Mark Your Calendar: 2025 Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES
Sunday 13 April 2025 – Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K
Sunday 11 May 2025 – Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K
Sunday 13 July 2025 – Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K
Sunday 24 August 2025 – Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K
Wednesday 24 September 2025 – Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K
Running for a Cause
The Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES proudly supports CANSA (Cancer Association of South Africa) as the official charity partner. Since 1931, CANSA has been at the forefront of cancer research, education, and support. Runners can contribute to this important cause by donating when entering any of the events online.
Stay Connected
Facebook: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k
Instagram: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k
Hashtags: #RunYourCity #AbsaRunYourCity
WhatsApp Line: 072 042 7613
Website: www.runyourcityseries.com
