All eyes on Durban as Elite Runners prepare to chase Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES Prize Purse and SA Bonuses

Image: Action Photo

The third event in the iconic five-part series, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K, will take place on Sunday, 13 July 2025. Elite runners — both local and international — are set to compete for their share of the impressive 2025 combined prize purse of R1 610 000, while South Africa’s top athletes will also be chasing the groundbreaking SA athlete prize incentives.

“The first two events of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES in 2025 delivered truly world-class and nail-biting performances,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder. “Adriaan Wildschutt was phenomenal in Gqeberha, clocking an extraordinary 27:28 to win the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K and set a new South African 10km road record. In doing so, Adriaan walked away with an impressive R200 000 - R30 000 was for crossing the finish line first, R120 000 for breaking 27:30 as part of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES SA Athlete Prize Incentive Programme and a further R50 000 bonus for setting a new South African record.”

“In Cape Town, Kabelo Mulaudzi dominated a strong field to win in a sensational personal best of 27:49,” continues Meyer. “For being the first man across the line (R30 000) and breaking the 28-minute barrier (R40 000),  Mulaudzi took home a total of R70 000. Glenrose Xaba was equally impressive in the women’s race, powering to victory in 32:00. Xaba matched Mulaudzi’s earnings, pocketing R70 000 for winning the women’s race and finishing under the 32:08 incentive mark.”

Xaba also made history by ending an eight-year drought for South African women at the RUN YOUR CITY SERIES event in The Mother City.

In closing, Meyer adds, “It’s fantastic to see South African athletes continuously raising the bar. We’re witnessing times being broken that many once thought were out of reach, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see these breakthroughs happening at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES. We’re excited to carry this momentum into Durban — a course known for being fast and flat, and ideally suited for record-breaking performances.”

Image: Anthony Grote

South African Athlete Prize Incentives: The Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES boasts an unprecedented “SA Athlete Prize Incentive Programme” for 2025. Applying to all five races, the incentive schedule offers bonuses for exceptional performances. In the men’s category, bonuses will start for times faster than 28 minutes, with a substantial R200 000.00 bonus for breaking the 27-minute barrier. For women, bonuses begin for times faster than 32:08 minutes, with an impressive R200 000.00 incentive for breaking the 30:23 mark.

To further raise the stakes, a bonus of R50 000.00 will be awarded to the South African athlete who breaks the SA 10km record (at the time of the race). It is important to note that the R50 000.00 will be awarded to the fastest time.

To date, an impressive total of R330 000 in SA Athlete Incentive Prize Money has been paid out to athletes following the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K and Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K in 2025.

According to reigning SA 10km Women’s Champion Glenrose Xaba, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES’ SA Athlete Incentives provide strong motivation for local athletes to push harder. “The incentives are very important to me because they’re directly linked to performance times. The better my time, the better my chances of competing internationally. These incentives motivate me to stay at the top because the rewards are tangible. Breaking my own record would be a dream come true—I’d be the happiest woman alive,” says Xaba.

To view the 2025 Prize Purse Breakdown and SA Athlete Incentive Schedule, visit https://runyourcityseries.com/

CHARITY SUPPORT: The Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES proudly supports the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) as the official charity of the entire series of events. A non-profit leader in the fight against cancer since 1931, CANSA enables research, educates the public and advocates for and supports all people affected by cancer, while leading SA towards a cancer-free society. When entering an Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES event online, runners can show their support by donating towards CANSA.

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