Steyn excited to make her Free State racing debut at the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K

The inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K on Sunday, 25 October 2026 promises to be a landmark occasion for road running in the Free State, with modern ultra-marathon athlete Gerda Steyn relishing the opportunity to test herself against world-class 10km specialists in what she describes as a ‘homecoming’.

“The Free State is where I grew up and also where I went to university. Being part of this first Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K feels like a homecoming – a full-circle moment because I’ve never actually raced in the Free State or the Northern Cape,” admits Steyn. “I’m sure I will recognise every corner and every turn. Racing a 10km also exposes me to a different side of the running community because I get to meet different people and new faces that I don’t get to meet at the marathons and the ultra-marathons. It’s very, very special indeed.”

Steyn’s knowledge of South Africa’s premier 10km mass participation event stems from a long history with the Series, which also saw her take part in the very first Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K in August 2023. Because of her lengthy association with the Series, which started in Cape Town in 2015 and attracted over 50 000 runners across the country last year, the darling of SA road running knows firsthand just why the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series continues to be so popular amongst runners and has grown to now include its sixth city.

“I think from the start the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series has had such a wonderful reputation for bringing mass participation and world-class elite-level performances to the heart of South Africa’s urban spaces. Every runner can attest to the fact that the experience, from entering the race to finishing the race, is always so pleasant, which is why we have seen its tremendous growth. So it comes as no surprise that the Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K brings another level of excitement to the Free State.”

Excited by the prospect of competing in her first race in South Africa’s heartland, the seven-time Totalsports TWO OCEANS ULTRA MARATHON champion and five-time Comrades Marathon winner believes that racing shorter distances is an important part of ultra-marathon success. The Smiling Assassin, who holds a 32:24 10km lifetime best set in 2020, is hopeful that her home crowd will carry her to a memorable Free State racing debut in the Series she loves so much.

“I always find that stepping down from the ultra-marathon and marathon distance to race a 10km is very beneficial,” continues Steyn. “After success at the Totalsports TWO OCEANS ULTRA MARATHON and Comrades Marathons this year, I’ve had time to recover and I’m back on the road again, working on my speed. The training and the racing for 10km is quite different to the long distances. There’s no room for mistakes. You have to be ready to go from the gun, which forces me to stay sharp and keep focusing on the speed side of my training. When it comes to the 25th of October, I’m hoping to do well at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K. I’m hoping to be encouraged by the crowds and also by the strong competition that will line up next to me. My aim is to get the most out of myself on race day, which is all I can ask of myself.”

CLICK HERE to watch a message from Gerda Steyn.

Gerda Steyn relishing the opportunity to test herself against world-class 10km specialists in what she describes as a ‘homecoming’. Image supplied by PR company.

According to Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder, Gerda’s participation gives the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K an extra layer of meaning.

“Gerda has such a strong connection to the Free State, so to have her return to race here for the first time makes this a particularly special moment,” says Meyer. “For us, bringing the Series to Mangaung is about creating opportunities for runners in the region to experience the excitement of mass participation road running and to see elite athletes competing at the highest level on their doorstep. Having someone of Gerda’s stature leading the way is incredibly inspiring, and we hope her presence will encourage young runners in Mangaung and the wider Free State to dream bigger and believe that they too can achieve great things in the sport.”

EVENT DATES**: 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K**

Date:

Sunday, 25 October 2026

Start Time:

07:00

Start Line:

Sir George Grey Street exit of Grey College

Finish Line:

Kings Way (Bloemfontein)

Entry Fee:

Entry Fee: R 255 (Licensed Runner)

Temp License Fee: R70

Entry Fee Includes:

· Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Event Performance T-shirt

· Absa Drawstring Bag

· Absa Peak Cap

· Absa Socks

· Race Number & Timing Chip

· Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Finisher’s Medal

· Major Sponsor Activations

· Route Entertainment Points

· 3 x Refreshment stations on route

· Tog Bag Drop and Collect Service

· Post Event Entertainment

Entries Open:

Saturday 01 August 2026

Entries Close:

Thursday 08 October 2026 or

once capacity has been reached

**Facebook: **@Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k / @Mangaung 10K

Instagram: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k / @Mangaung10k

**Hashtag: **#RunYourCity #AbsaRunYourCity

WhatsApp Line: 072 042 7613

Websites: www.runyourcityseries.com