Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersStellenbosch, South Africa
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series
- Legal name
- Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series
- Website
- https://runyourcityseries.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mass Participation Road Running Events
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320), Spectator Sports (71121), Other Spectator Sports (711219)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mass Participation Race Organizers (Runs, Triathlons, Cycling) (MPAKADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Road Running Events (Marathons, Half Marathons, 10K/5K) (MPAKAIAA)
Keywords
Where Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stellenbosch
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Event Entry Fees: Revenue generated from individual and group/company entries to the five annual 10km road running events across South African cities.
- Corporate Sponsorship: Title sponsorship from Absa along with multiple tier sponsors including PUMA, Chery South Africa, Avis, Gautrain, Heineken, and Powerade providing funding and in-kind support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Entry |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Heritage Double Entry |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Group/Company Entry |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series operates a portfolio of five mass participation 10km road running events held annually in South African cities (Gqeberha, Cape Town, Durban, Tshwane, and Johannesburg). Each event combines an inclusive mass participation race for runners of all fitness levels with a world-class elite athlete invitational programme, supported by online registration, timing chip systems, refreshment stations, route entertainment, finisher medals, and prize money. The series is operated by Stillwater Sports and monetised through participant entry fees and a multi-tier corporate sponsorship stack anchored by title sponsor Absa.
Product overview
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series is a mass participation road running series comprising five distinct 10km events across South African cities: Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K (launched 2023), Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K (launched 2015), Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K (launched 2017), Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K (launched 2023), and Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K (launched 2016). The series integrates mass participation running with elite athlete competitions, featuring prize purses totaling R1,686,000 combined in 2026. Additional offerings include the Heritage Double Entry package combining TSHWANE and JOBURG events with Gautrain transport benefits, and an Elite Athlete Programme with qualifying standards and incentive bonuses for South African record-breaking performances.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K: 10km road running event in Gqeberha (Nelson Mandela Bay), launched in 2023
- Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K
- Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K
- Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K
- Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K
- Absa Heritage Double Entry
Products and services
- Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Annual mass participation road running series comprising five distinct 10km events across iconic South African cities, integrating elite athletics with mass participation, route entertainment, refreshments, and sponsor activations. Targeted at individual runners, walkers, families, corporate groups, and elite athletes.
- Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K Coastal 10km road race in Gqeberha (Nelson Mandela Bay) starting from Kings Beach Precinct, featuring iconic beachfront landmarks, route entertainment, and refreshment stations. Open to mass participation runners of all levels with a separate elite invitational field.
- Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K Point-to-point 10km road race from Milnerton (Woodbridge Island) to Cape Town CBD along the coastline, featuring iconic Table Mountain views, route entertainment, and refreshment stations. Open to mass participation runners and walkers of all levels with an elite invitational field.
- Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K Coastal 10km road race in Durban (KwaZulu-Natal) starting from Masabalala Yengwa Avenue, known for its fast, flat course and ocean views, and dubbed 'Africa's Greatest 10K'. Open to mass participation runners and an elite invitational field.
- Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K 10km road race through Pretoria/Tshwane starting at the Union Buildings, timed for the Jacaranda blooming season, featuring capital-city landmarks and route entertainment. Open to mass participation runners and an elite invitational field; drew 10,000+ participants in 2025.
- Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K 10km road race through Johannesburg's iconic landmarks starting at Mary Fitzgerald Square, held annually on South Africa's National Heritage Day with cultural and performing arts entertainment. Open to mass participation runners and an elite invitational field.
- Heritage Double Entry Fast-Tracked by Gautrain Premium bundled entry covering both the TSHWANE 10K and JOBURG 10K events for R695.00, including complimentary Gautrain transport to and from both events, Absa-branded merchandise, fast-tracked race pack collection, complimentary boerie and beer, exclusive RYC gifts, and finisher medals at both races. Limited to first 1,000 entries. Targeted at dedicated runners seeking a premium heritage-themed experience.
- Elite Athlete Programme Competitive seeding and prize money programme for elite and contender athletes with qualifying time standards, offering R337,200 per-event prize purse (R1,686,000 combined in 2026) plus SA Athlete Incentives including R300,000 bonuses for sub-27-minute men's times and sub-30:20 women's times. Targets professional and competitive amateur runners seeking high-prize competitive racing.
Quantifiable outcome
- R1.9 million total payout in prize money and incentives in 2025
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
25 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- HEINEKEN BeveragesmajorHeadline Sponsor from 2026, providing alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage refreshments along routes and at event venues.
- GautrainmajorOfficial Transport Partner since 2025. Provides complimentary Gautrain cards and shuttle services to and from events. Partner for Heritage Double Entry initiative offering free transport to both TSHWANE and JOBURG events.
- Chery South AfricacoreOfficial Vehicle Partner since 2022. Has rewarded 18 participants with vehicles valued at approximately R269,900-R279,900. Partnership renewed for additional three years through 2026.
- AvismajorOfficial Mobility Partner providing vehicle rental services and support for event logistics and transportation.
- AbsacoreTitle sponsor of the entire series since 2015. Absa Group is one of Africa's largest diversified financial services groups, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, operating in fourteen countries across Africa.
- PUMAcoreTechnical sponsor providing performance footwear and apparel for event officials and elite athletes. Series has featured PUMA Hamper prizes up to R25,000.
- PowerademajorOfficial hydration beverage sponsor providing refreshments at water stations along race routes.
- GarminminorTechnology partner providing GPS and timing support for event tracking and athlete performance data.
- CANSA (Cancer Association of South Africa)majorOfficial charity partner of the entire series since inception. Non-profit leader in cancer research, education, and support since 1931. Runners can donate during online entry process.
- City of JohannesburgmajorMunicipal government partner hosting the JOBURG 10K on National Heritage Day at Mary Fitzgerald Square.
- City of Cape TownmajorMunicipal government partner hosting the CAPE TOWN 10K with route through iconic Table Mountain views.
- eThekwini MunicipalitymajorMunicipal government partner hosting DURBAN 10K along the scenic coastal route.
- City of Tshwane Metropolitan MunicipalitymajorMunicipal government partner hosting TSHWANE 10K at the Union Buildings.
- Nelson Mandela Bay MunicipalitymajorMunicipal government partner hosting GQEBERHA 10K on the scenic coastal route.
- Athletics South Africa (ASA)coreNational athletics governing body. Events run under ASA rules with temporary license options for participants.
- Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA)majorRegional athletics federation governing the JOBURG 10K event and rules compliance.
- Athletics Gauteng North (AGN)majorRegional athletics federation governing the TSHWANE 10K event and rules compliance.
- Western Province Athletics (WPA)majorRegional athletics federation governing the CAPE TOWN 10K event.
- KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA)majorRegional athletics federation governing the DURBAN 10K event.
- Stillwater SportscoreEvent organiser and Series Founder. Managing Director Michael Meyer founded and manages the series. Handles all event logistics, athlete management, and prize administration.
- Entry NinjamajorOnline event registration platform providing entry processing, payment handling through Ecentric Payment Systems and PayU, and participant management.
- South African Institute for Drug-Free SportmajorAnti-doping authority ensuring fair competition. Conducts drug testing in accordance with South African Drug-Free Sport Act.
- Heart FMminorRadio partner providing media coverage and promotion of Cape Town events.
- Netwerk24minorMedia partner providing news coverage and event promotion.
- Suncoast CasinominorEntertainment partner sponsoring Durban events with venue proximity and promotional support.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Comrades Marathon: South Africa's flagship ultra-distance mass participation road-running event. Highly comparable to RUN YOUR CITY as a nationally significant, corporate-sponsored road race series drawing elite and amateur athletes with substantial prize purses and municipal integration.
- Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon: A long-running South African mass participation marathon (and half-marathon) in Cape Town with deep financial-services sponsorship. Comparable as a heritage, multi-distance road-running event series targeting both elite and mass-participation runners.
Others
- World Athletics Road Running Tours / World Marathon Majors: International umbrella organisations and flagship road-race properties. Comparable at a category level as governing/curatorial bodies for elite road running events but does not directly compete.
Emerging players
- IRONMAN South Africa: Mass participation endurance event operator in South Africa running triathlon-format races. Comparable as a corporate-sponsored, mass-participation endurance sports event series drawing elite athletes with significant prize purses; differs in being triathlon rather than running.
- Cape Epic (MTB): South African stage-based mass-participation endurance sports event (mountain biking). Comparable as a high-profile South African endurance sports event series with strong sponsorships (Absa previously) and elite athlete programming.
Regional players
- Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon: A bank-titled mass-participation road-running event in a different geography. Comparable in sponsorship structure (financial-services title sponsor), elite prize purse format, and mass-participation positioning, though in a different region.
- Soweto Marathon: A flagship South African urban road marathon held in Soweto/Johannesburg that competes with RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG for runners, sponsors, and municipal partnership visibility in the Gauteng market.
- Sanlam Cape Town Marathon: A major South African mass participation road race organized in the same Cape Town market as the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K. Comparable as a sponsored, mass-participation road-running event competing for the same runner pool and sponsor brands.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series social profiles
Digital presenceAbsa RUN YOUR CITY Series financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series
What does Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series do?
The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series operates a portfolio of five mass participation 10km road running events held annually in South African cities (Gqeberha, Cape Town, Durban, Tshwane, and Johannesburg). Each event combines an inclusive mass participation race for runners of all fitness levels with a world-class elite athlete invitational programme, supported by online registration, timing chip systems, refreshment stations, route entertainment, finisher medals, and prize money. The series is operated by Stillwater Sports and monetised through participant entry fees and a multi-tier corporate sponsorship stack anchored by title sponsor Absa.
Is Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series a public or private company?
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series founded?
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series was founded in 2015.
Where is Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series based?
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series is headquartered in Stellenbosch, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Event Entry Fees are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorship.
Who are Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Comrades Marathon and Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon. World Athletics Road Running Tours / World Marathon Majors is listed as an others. Emerging players are IRONMAN South Africa and Cape Epic (MTB). Regional players are Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, Soweto Marathon and Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.
Does Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series have an API?
No public API is recorded for Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series.
What industry is Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series in?
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series's product category is Mass Participation Road Running Events. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKADAD, Mass Participation Race Organizers (Runs, Triathlons, Cycling), with a secondary code of MPAKAIAA, Road Running Events (Marathons, Half Marathons, 10K/5K). Its NAICS code is 711320 and its SIC code is 7900.