Seen Here: Gerda Steyn in action.Photo Credit: Action Photo
BLOEMFONTEIN, 21 September 2026 — Seven-time Totalsports TWO OCEANS Ultra Marathon champion and five-time Comrades Marathon winner Gerda Steyn is preparing for a special homecoming when she lines up at the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K on Sunday, 25 October.
For one of South Africa’s most accomplished distance runners, the race represents more than another competitive outing. The Free State is where Steyn grew up and attended university, yet she has never previously raced competitively in either the Free State or Northern Cape.
Her debut in Mangaung therefore carries a distinctly personal significance.
“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,” said 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.”
From ultra-distance dominance to 10km speed
Steyn arrives in Mangaung with an impressive ultra-distance pedigree, but the 10km presents an entirely different challenge.
The South African star holds a 32:24 personal best over 10km, recorded in 2020, and believes shorter-distance racing plays an important role in maintaining the speed and sharpness required for success over longer distances.
After triumphs at the Totalsports TWO OCEANS Ultra Marathon and Comrades Marathon earlier this year, Steyn has used her recovery period to return to structured speed training.
“I always find that stepping down from the ultra-marathon and marathon distance to race a 10km is very beneficial,” she said.
“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.”
Steyn acknowledges that the shorter race leaves little room for error.
“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.”
A new chapter for Mangaung road running
The inaugural Mangaung event will become the sixth city on the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series calendar, extending a mass-participation road-running concept that began in Cape Town in 2015.
The series has since expanded to Gqeberha, Durban, Tshwane and Johannesburg, attracting tens of thousands of runners and combining elite competition with mass participation.
Steyn, who has been associated with the series for several years and competed in the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K in 2023, believes its appeal lies in bringing elite and recreational running together in the heart of South African cities.
“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,” she said.
“For the Free State, the arrival of the series represents an opportunity for local runners to experience that atmosphere on their doorstep.”
Inspiration for the next generation
Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and founder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, said Steyn’s participation adds significance to the inaugural Mangaung race.
“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,” said Meyer.
He said the event was designed not only to showcase elite athletes, but also to create opportunities for runners in the region and inspire young athletes.
“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,” Meyer added.
Mangaung ready for race day
The Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K will start at 07:00 on Sunday, 25 October, from the Sir George Grey Street exit of Grey College, with the finish at Kings Way in Bloemfontein.
The R255 entry fee for licensed runners includes an event performance T-shirt, drawstring bag, peak cap, socks, race number and timing chip, as well as a finisher’s medal.
Participants will also have access to refreshment stations, a tog-bag service, entertainment points along the route, sponsor activations and post-race entertainment.
Entries opened on 1 August and are scheduled to close on 8 October 2026, or earlier if capacity is reached.
For Steyn, however, the significance of the day will extend beyond the clock.
“My aim is to get the most out of myself on race day, which is all I can ask of myself.”
And when the starting gun fires in Mangaung, one of South Africa’s most celebrated distance runners will finally get the opportunity to race competitively on the roads of the province she once called home — bringing an accomplished career full circle while helping launch a new chapter in Free State road running.
