FNB Run Your City Series continues to revolutionise the South African road-running platform
This year promises to be even bigger and better as the series continually strives to improve.
South Africa’s road-running platform received a positive boost in 2015, with the launch of the first FNB Run Your City Series event, the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN.
The FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN provides all the fun and entertainment that the bulk of the field desires, but at the front end, it also provides racing of the highest calibre ever seen in races that are shorter than the traditional marathon and ultra-marathons that are so prevalent in South Africa.
“We wanted to create an event that highlighted the splendour of its host city, while giving runners of all fitness levels the opportunity to partake in a road-running experience like no other,” said Michael Meyer, Managing Director at Stillwater Sports. “Entrants can look forward to spectacular routes that highlight important landmarks, feature magnificent views and boast exciting en route entertainment. We are, however, very aware of the fact that South Africa has incredible depth and potential at the front end. We need to give them a chance to race the best in the world, but on home soil.”
Year 1 was a resounding success, with thousands of runners standing on the start line in Milnerton, and in 2016 the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN was added to the portfolio, once again attracting the masses and the elite athletes to the tough route designed. In 2017, Morris Gachaga smashed the world best time for the unusual 12km distance at the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN, clocking 33:27 and taking four seconds off the previous best.
The series moved to Johannesburg for the second running of the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN which again attracted an impressive field. The Joburg run saw the emergence of South Africans, Thabang Mosiako and Glenrose Xaba. Adding to the excitement in 2017 was the birth of the FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN.
It was announced earlier this year that the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN had been awarded the IAAF Bronze Label Status, meaning greater exposure for the race on the global stage, stronger international competition and more incentives for local athletes.
