Step Up, Stand Out - Claim Your Share of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K Prize Purse

Mar 24
3 min read

This Mother’s Day, Sunday, 10 May 2026, hopeful contenders will be chasing their share of an unprecedented prize purse in the Mother City at the iconic Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K.

The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series combined prize purse stands at R1 686 000 in 2026, further enhanced by innovative incentives for South African athletes - designed to inspire standout performances and unforgettable moments.

“Offering a substantial prize purse remains a key priority for us, and we are proud to once again deliver this at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series in 2026,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports. “A strong prize purse not only rewards the commitment and loyalty of athletes to the series, but also fuels ambition and encourages competitors to push the boundaries of performance. We are therefore proud to continue growing our prize purse each year, with the 2026 series featuring a combined total of R1 686 000.”

Since launching in 2015, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series has transformed the local road running landscape, delivering five electrifying mass participation events across five iconic cities. The action-packed calendar got underway in Gqeberha in March, before moving on to Cape Town in May, Durban in July and Tshwane in August, and wraps up with a thrilling finale in Johannesburg in September.

Each of the five events will boast a total prize allocation of R337 200.00, with R267 200.00 dedicated to the Open Category. This includes R133 600.00 for the Top 10 Open Men and R133 600.00 for the Top 10 Open Women. The top male and female finishers in each city will take home R33 000.00, while second place will earn R24 000.00 and third place R21 000.00. 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.

Exciting 2026 SA Athlete Incentives:

Alongside the impressive combined prize purse, Stillwater Sports once again raises the bar with its acclaimed SA Athlete Prize Incentive Schedule. Applied across all five Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series races, the incentive programme 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 000.00 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 is equally rewarding, with bonuses starting for times faster than 32:08, and an outstanding R300 000.00 bonus for athletes who dip under 30:20. A new SA Record (the fastest runner) will secure an additional R50 000.