Wednesday 27 November 2024

Absa renews sponsorship of the iconic Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES

Absa has renewed its commitment as Title Sponsor of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES, a partnership that began in 2021 during the challenging Covid-19 pandemic. At a time when many sponsors were stepping back, Absa took a bold step forward, partnering with the series to expand South Africa’s premier 10km road running events from three to five cities. This collaboration has attracted top-tier elite athletes and lifestyle runners alike, uniting communities across the country’s major metros.

"Absa’s signing as Title Sponsor of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES in 2021 marked the beginning of exciting innovations and transformative changes for the series," says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder. “We were immediately impressed by Absa’s energy and commitment. But we couldn’t have imagined just how impactful this partnership would be. The last few years have far exceeded our expectations. Absa’s goals align perfectly with ours: to focus on innovation, inspiration, and fun, making this the most accessible and enjoyable mass-participation road running event in Africa.”

Since 2021, the series has not only expanded from three to five events across five major cities, but this year (2024) the series attracted an impressive, combined total of 45 589 runners, with four out of five events selling out before race day. The series also boasts innovative offerings, such as giving away five Chery Tiggo 4 Pro LiT vehicles, valued at over R279,000 each (a combined value of more than R1.3 million). Notably, an impressive total of R182,340 was raised for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES charity partner, the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA).

In 2024, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K delivered its most outstanding performances to date, with Kenya’s Christine Nalimo Njoki marking her debut on South African soil by setting the fastest 10km time ever run by a woman on the African continent, in an impressive time of 30:37. Glenrose Xaba, finishing fourth overall and as the first South African, broke Elana Meyer’s long-standing South African 10km record (of 31:13 set in 2001) with her time of 31:12. Meanwhile, Lesotho’s Neheng Khatala set a new Lesotho 10km women’s record with a time of 32:01. View the full list of Durban highlights here: https://runyourcityseries.com/records-shattered-2024-absa-run-your-city-durban-10k-full-statistics-revealed/

At the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K, Xaba continued her dominance, setting a new course record of 31:51 in the women’s race. Xaba’s time also became the fastest 10km run at altitude in South Africa and ranked as the eighth-fastest ever by a South African woman on home soil.

Meyer concludes: “In addition to record-breaking participation and sell-out fields, the ongoing rise in elite performances—both local and international—within the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES highlights the consistent improvement in competition standards year after year. Our vision has always been to provide South African elites with the opportunity to compete against the world’s best athletes in world-class events on home soil. The results speak for themselves. We are thrilled that Absa has renewed their partnership, and we look forward to continuing this journey, establishing the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES as the most accessible and exciting mass-participation 10km road running series in Africa.”

“The Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES is a transformative movement revitalizing South Africa’s inner cities and celebrating the unique stories of every participant, from seasoned runners to casual joggers. This partnership reflects our commitment to uplifting communities and reigniting pride in our urban landscapes, while also making a tangible social impact through the R1 Campaign. In just two years, we've raised nearly R5 million to build vegetable gardens in schools, fostering sustainable food security and community empowerment. As we embark on the next chapter, we are excited to elevate the race experience and continue amplifying the voices of South Africans, celebrating unity, endurance, and purpose for another four years,” says Sydney Mbhele, Group Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer at Absa.

EVENT DATES: 2025 Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES

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.
Facebook: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k
Instagram: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k
Hashtag:  #RunYourCity #AbsaRunYourCity
WhatsApp Line: 072 042 7613
Websites:  www.runyourcityseries.com

A Collective Effort Secures a Historic Milestone for Africa

Stage 2 Evaluation Set for October 2025

Nine Star Medal on the Horizon

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon proudly announces its successful completion of Stage 1 in the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) candidacy process, marking a significant milestone in its journey to becoming Africa’s first Major marathon.

This achievement reflects the unwavering support of the Cape Town residents, South Africa’s entire marathon running community and the race’s collective efforts to elevate its global standing. The #YouDoCount campaign, which brought together 20,000 marathon runners, played a pivotal role, as did the outstanding cooperation and sacrifice from Cape Town residents in ensuring clear roads with no parked cars on the marathon route on race day. The 2024 event also celebrated a world-class elite field, featuring 10 Gold Label status athletes, and witnessed historic performances, including course records in both the men’s and women’s races and the setting of a new South African marathon record by Glenrose Xaba in 2:22:22.

Glenrose Xaba takes the course & SA record at the 2024 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in a time of 2:22:22

Shadi Chauke, Group Executive: Market Development and Sustainability at Sanlam – the event’s title sponsor – highlighted the significance of this milestone: “This milestone is a testament to Africa’s immense potential and collective strength. We are deeply committed to inspiring Africans to live with confidence, and this race embodies that spirit. Together with all the partners, we’ve created more than just a marathon; we’ve built a platform to drive economic growth, uplift communities, and showcase the unmatched talent and potential of Africa and her people.”

Building Towards Stage 2

The road to becoming a Marathon Major continues, with the Stage 2 evaluation set for October 2025. Meeting the 104-point criteria requires excellence across every aspect of the marathon, from operational standards to participant experience. A key focus for 2025 will be elevating the elite field to include 4 Platinum Label athletes and 6 Gold Label athletes and managing all aspects of crowd flow as the participant numbers continue to grow. The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will continue to rely on its sponsors, partners, and the City of Cape Town to assist in reaching this next milestone.

Clark Gardner, CEO of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, stated, “Our success in Stage 1 showcases the power of collaboration. From sponsors, service providers, participants to residents, our city demonstrated what can be achieved when we come together with a shared vision. Now, we set our sights on Stage 2, with the goal of not just meeting but exceeding all expectations.”

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis shared his pride in Cape Town’s achievement: “We are delighted at the news that our Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has successfully cleared the first hurdle towards becoming a World Marathon Major. Thanks to a huge effort from the race organisers in last month’s marathon, as well as the wonderful cooperation from Capetonians to help ensure that roads remained clear, we were able to show the world what a great marathon we can present here. I have no doubt that we will repeat this feat at the next stage of adjudication during the 2025 race.”

The Elite Women’s field heading past the Rondebosch Common around the half way mark.

Cape Town on the World Stage

The announcement of the TCS Sydney Marathon as the seventh Major in 2024 has further energized Cape Town’s pursuit of joining the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors. With a successful Stage 2 evaluation in 2025, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon aims to become a Major by 2026, standing alongside other global icons, including the TCS Sydney Marathon, Tokyo Marathon, the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, the TCS London Marathon, the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and the TCS New York City Marathon.

As the marathon continues to shine on the world stage, Kate Woods, Senior Brand Director of adidas South Africa, reflected on their contribution: “As the technical sponsor of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, adidas is proud to support an exceptional elite field, which is one of the main criteria to Major status. Abdisa Tola’s record-breaking performance this year showcased incredible talent and determination as well as the latest innovation in adidas running footwear. We are not stopping at the elites, we are on a mission to encourage everyone to come and ‘Run for Africa’ and provide access to the latest footwear technology. We are honoured to play a pivotal role in supporting all athletes and cementing Cape Town’s status as a Global running destination.”

The introduction of the Nine Star Medal, celebrating all future AbbottWMM races, is on the horizon. Cape Town is poised to be a cornerstone of this new era, potentially sharing the spotlight with the Shanghai Marathon, which begins its candidacy later this year. Together, Cape Town and Shanghai could complete the journey to the Nine Star era as early as 2027.

The 2024 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has a record-breaking 20,000 marathon entries.

A Celebration of Collective Effort

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon’s achievements in 2024 are a testament to the event’s dedication to excellence and understanding the magnitude of their responsibility in bringing Africa her first Major of any kind. From seamless race operations to the vibrant atmosphere created by participants and supporters, the marathon has proven its readiness to take its place among the world’s best.

With Stage 1 complete, the journey continues—a journey not just for Cape Town but for the entire African continent. The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon invites everyone to join in celebrating this achievement and supporting the next steps toward making history in 2026.

Cape Town is ready. Africa is ready. Let’s make history together as we strive to become Africa’s 1st Major.