Seen Here: Nicola Jansen in action at the AGN XC Championships on 15 August 2026 at Curro Hazeldean High School, Pretoria. Jansen won the Senior Women’s 10km race on the day. Photo Credit: Cecilia van Bers
Durban – Boxer Athletics Club athletes Zenzile Pheko and Nicola Jansen are set to bring speed, ambition and competitive fire to the Boxer Super Run Durban on Sunday, 18 October 2026, as they line up for the fast-paced 5km road race on the Durban beachfront.
With the event already sold out, thousands of runners are expected to descend on Snell Parade for a morning that will combine elite competition with the energetic, community-driven atmosphere that has become synonymous with the Boxer Super Run.
For Pheko, who hails from Bramley in Johannesburg, the Durban course presents an opportunity to test his speed against some of South Africa’s leading road-running talent.
“It’s a well-organised event with beautiful scenery along the beachfront,” says Pheko. “I’m attracted by the opportunity to improve my time in a 5km road race, while competing against some of the best runners in South Africa.”
The relatively uncomplicated course is another attraction for the Johannesburg athlete, who believes the route’s limited number of turns will allow him to maintain his rhythm and attack the distance.
“The route will allow me to run hard, and the fact that there aren’t many turns suits me well,” Pheko explains. “Lining up alongside some of the country’s top athletes will give me a good indication of where I am and what I need to work on.”
For Pheko, the race is about more than simply chasing a result. It forms part of his broader development as he continues to build his professional running career.
“As I continue to grow in my professional career, my primary focus is on performing well and running faster times,” he says. “There aren’t many races that offer this kind of opportunity at sea level. The prize money is definitely a cherry on top.”
Seen Here: Zenzile Pheko in action during the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K on 23 August 2026 where he placed 2nd in the elite’s men’s race. Photo Credit: Tobias Ginsberg
Jansen returns home with PB ambitions
For Nicola Jansen, the Boxer Super Run Durban carries an added significance. After spending the past five years in the United States, the athlete is relishing the opportunity to return home and make her Boxer Super Run debut in front of a South African crowd.
Jansen sees the Durban race as the ideal platform to test her speed over 5km and target a significant personal best.
“I think this is a very exciting event because it gives us, as athletes, the wonderful opportunity to run a fast 5km on the road at sea level,” says Jansen.
Her target is clear: to push herself towards a new PB while gaining valuable experience racing alongside some of the country’s leading women.
“My goal is to chase a big PB, as I have never run a fast 5km on the road at sea level before, so I’m really excited to see what I can do,” she says.
Jansen also recognises that success over 5km demands a different tactical approach from the longer 10km distance. Her preparation has therefore focused heavily on speed endurance, helping her become more comfortable sustaining a significantly faster pace.
“With a 5km, I focus a lot more on speed endurance with my coach so that the faster pace feels more comfortable,” she says.
She knows, however, that finding the right balance from the gun will be crucial.
“You have to be prepared for the fact that you won’t feel as comfortable as you would at the start of a 10km, but you also need to be careful not to go out too fast. There’s a fine line.”
Her race-day philosophy is succinct: “Feel comfortably uncomfortable.”
Homecoming adds another dimension
Beyond the pursuit of a fast time, Jansen is particularly excited about racing on home soil again.
“I just love being back in South Africa and racing against elite athletes in my own country,” she says. “There is just something about the camaraderie and atmosphere that you don’t get anywhere else. Being surrounded by your people makes you want to put it all out there!”
That combination of elite competition and mass participation is central to the Boxer Super Run concept, with the Durban event offering runners of different abilities the chance to experience the same 5km course.
Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports, welcomed the two athletes to the 2026 line-up.
“Both athletes bring exciting talent and ambition to the start line. The Boxer Super Run provides athletes with an opportunity to test themselves over a fast 5km while racing alongside some of the country’s leading performers.”
Lee-Ann Pillay, Head of Marketing at Boxer Superstores, said the presence of athletes such as Pheko and Jansen adds to the anticipation surrounding race day.
“There is something incredibly exciting about watching athletes step onto the Boxer Super Run start line, especially when they have the opportunity to race in front of thousands of passionate runners and supporters.”
Durban ready for a 5km showdown
The 2026 Boxer Super Run Durban will get underway at Snell Parade near Blue Lagoon Park, with the finish at Blue Lagoon Park.
The event caters for everyone from competitive athletes and club runners to social runners, schools, charities and corporate groups. The day’s programme begins with the Open Wave at 07:00, followed by Super Social Waves from 08:00 to 09:30.
The elite programme will take centre stage later in the morning, with the Elite Women starting at 09:45, followed by the Elite Men at 10:00.
With entries already sold out, Durban is set for a major celebration of road running, with the elite races providing a high-speed showcase of South African talent.
Pheko and Jansen will arrive with different motivations but a shared objective: to make the most of a fast seaside course, test themselves against quality opposition and leave their mark on the Boxer Super Run Durban.
For Jansen, it will be a homecoming. For Pheko, it will be another opportunity to measure his progress.
For both, the Durban beachfront promises five kilometres of intense racing.
