FOREWORD
Messages ofWelcome
eThekwini , it ’ s your turn ! Welcome to the seventh Annual Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K for 2024 !
From the Host City …
From the Title Sponsor …
Under the vibrant banner of “ Running is my Story ,” we extend a warm invitation to all South Africans to lace up their shoes and join us for a journey of sweat , determination , and camaraderie . At Absa , we believe that every individual has a unique story to tell , and what better way to share it than through the rhythm of your own footsteps pounding the pavement ?
Our brand and business positioning , “ Your Story Matters ,” resonates deeply with the ethos of this event . Whether you ’ re a seasoned marathoner ,
a casual jogger , or an enthusiastic spectator cheering from the sidelines , your story is an integral part of the tapestry of our community , and we want to hear it loud and clear .
As we embark on this exhilarating adventure , we remain steadfast in our mission to drive positive change and uplift communities across South Africa . Our R1 campaign exemplifies our commitment to making a tangible difference . For every kilometre run or walked by a Team Absa member on Strava , we pledge to donate R1 , reinforcing our dedication to creating lasting impact in the areas that need it most .
Get ready to join us at the starting line in Durban on the 7th of July . Whether you ’ re striving for a personal best , soaking in the atmosphere , or simply enjoying the thrill of the run , there ’ s a place for you in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series . So , lace up your shoes , embrace the challenge , and let ’ s make this Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K the one to remember , one stride at a time !
Sydney Nhlanhla Mbhele
Absa ’ s Group Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer
We are delighted as a city to host another round of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K . On behalf of the people of eThekwini Municipality , we would like to extend a warm Durban welcome to everyone , and we trust that you will enjoy your stay . Such events not only promote a healthy lifestyle , but they are crucial in positioning Durban as a destination of choice for sporting events . We continue to explore various avenues to help grow sport tourism in the city .
Boasting world-class sporting infrastructure and being a home to sports-crazy citizens , Durban is rightfully called Africa ’ s Playground . It is our aim to use sport as a catalyst for economic and social development . Therefore , it is vital to work with the private sector to develop programmes that bring people together through mass participation events , and we want to commend Absa for the vision to get people involved in this family-friendly physical activity while enjoying the city .
Finally , we want to wish all the participants an enjoyable race , and to the organisers , we are confident that this event will grow and draw more athletes as it becomes a permanent feature . As we roll out the red carpet to welcome everyone , we want to assure you that we have put all measures in place to ensure that this is a safe and incident-free event .
City of eThekwini
6 Run Your City Series President of KwaZulu-Natal Athletics
On behalf of KwaZulu-Natal Athletics , I hereby extend an exceptionally warm welcome to all participants in the 2024 Durban leg of the prestigious Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES .
Durban is ‘ The Warmest Place to Be ,’ and it will certainly be the place to be for runners of every persuasion , whether elite , recreational , seasoned or novice , on Sunday 7th July , with a fast , flat , scenic course that is conducive to
FROM THE HOST record-breaking performance
FEDERATION … and personal bests . Thus , we look forward to intense competition and blistering times from a field seasoned with not only South Africa ’ s , but also the Rest of Africa ’ s elites .
I thank title sponsor Absa and Stillwater Sports as well as supporting sponsors PUMA , Chery and AVIS , for bringing this exciting event to Durban . KZNA looks forward to hosting a world class event , and I wish everyone associated with the race a beautiful , exciting and safe race .
Steve Mkasi
From the Race Founder …
The Absa RUN YOUR CITY team is very , very excited to welcome all runners to the 2024 race week in Durban ! What a privilege it is to be in Durban and line up with 10,000 of our fellow runners and walkers , to run the streets of Durban ! A huge thank you to the City of Durban , for hosting this event . Let ’ s celebrate the city , the weather , the vibe , and the opportunity and privilege to live a healthy active life .
We again thank our amazing headline sponsors : Absa , Puma , Chery , Avis , City of Durban , Coca-Cola , Castle Lite , Avalanche and all our other sponsors and partners . This event experience is made possible by your amazing support , and we appeal to all runners to support these brands , who support what you love to do .
A special word of welcome to all the professional athletes who are coming to Durban to show off their world class talents . We look forward to seeing many of the world ’ s greatest athletes in action on Sunday . This is an amazing sport – we line up with our heroes – and get to experience the same challenge as the champions and World Record-holders , in the same race .
Finally , to each and every runner , thank you for your support , enthusiasm and positivity . You make this event what it is . As an organising team , we will always endeavour to repay your support with an experience that will be thoroughly enjoyed by all , and will be second to none . So , good luck , and may you run like the wind on Sunday !
Michael Meyer
Managing Director of Stillwater Sports Founder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series