In the vast, pulsating marathon of South African road running, Kabelo Mulaudzi has become the metronome of consistency — the smooth-striding, sharp-eyed tactician who always finds himself flirting with greatness just as the finish line looms into view.
Now, as the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K prepares to unfold its ocean-hugging, PB-friendly route on Sunday, July 13, “Mr Podium” returns to his favoured hunting ground with a streak as bold as a front-runner at the gun.
Five consecutive podium finishes. Two blistering sub-28-minute victories. A 27:49 personal best. And now, a tantalising whisper of a South African 10km record in the coastal air.
Durban has long been a theatre for Mulaudzi’s finest acts, and on Sunday, the 27-year-old looks to add a sixth consecutive top-three finish to his resume — perhaps even rewrite the record books with a run that could rattle the 27:28 national benchmark etched by Stephen Mokoka in 2015.
But Mulaudzi, ever the composed racer, isn’t one to be drawn into pre-race fireworks.
I don't like to put myself under pressure with predictions about times and records. My training has gone well and I am in good shape. I always run well in Durban, so I am aiming first and foremost for a personal best time.
He knows full well that Sunday’s start line is no leisurely jog in the park. It’s a cauldron bubbling with speed: Kenya’s Vincent Kipkorir brings searing 27:08 firepower, Elroy Gelant returns to defend last year’s 27:47 title, and Mokoka, the seasoned master, has set his sights on a sub-27:48 record of his own — this time for the Masters World Record books.
In such an elite pack, Mulaudzi’s approach has been tactical and patient — not unlike a distance runner metering out his effort over a grueling hill.
I had a freak injury last year caused by racing on an extremely hilly course at the SA 10km Champs. Since then I’ve focused on mainly training at a moderate pace but at reasonably high volumes, doing lots of strength work and selecting my races carefully, focusing on the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES to avoid injury.
This recalibrated training plan has borne fruit like a well-timed kick — notably when he stunned everyone, including his own coach, with a breakthrough win at the 2023 Durban 10K.
My coach and I thought I would run 28:15 but I think the fact that I had a cold took pressure off me and I felt good. My coach did not even watch the race and he had a happy surprise when Rhyn Swanepoel of my club Boxer called him to say I had won and broken 28 minutes — it was a 35-second PB for me!
The Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES has become more than just a proving ground for Mulaudzi — it has been his stage, his track of transformation, and perhaps now, his platform for history. Each city on the circuit has played host to his masterclasses, and Durban remains the spiritual heartbeat of his resurgence.
Kabelo Mulaudzi has been one of the most consistent and exciting performers in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES, with five consecutive podium finishes — an incredible achievement at this level of competition.
He’s shown remarkable form and we’ll all be watching with great anticipation to see if he can make it six in a row in Durban. With the depth of talent on the start line and the energy this race brings, anything is possible — even a new South African record.
Indeed, records are not just within reach — they come with real rewards. This year’s event boasts an unprecedented “SA Athlete Prize Incentive Schedule” that turns the road into a golden track.
A sub-28-minute run unlocks bonus prizes, while any South African brave enough to slice under the SA 10km record will pocket an additional R50 000. The jackpot? A staggering R200 000 awaits the athlete who breaks the elusive 27-minute barrier — a milestone that would elevate any local runner into international lore.
But for Mulaudzi, the money and medals are secondary to the mission.
I welcome the competition of the Kenyans and I respect them. I hope that I and my fellow South Africans can show the East African runners that we can also run fast 10km times and that the winner can be a South African. I promise that whatever happens in Durban, I will give it my best.
As the runners toe the line on Masabalala Yengwa Avenue, staring down a ribbon of tarmac that snakes toward the Golden Mile, all eyes will be on Mr Podium. Will he strike gold again, surge into a new personal best, or script the next great chapter in South African distance running?
Only the rhythm of his footsteps and the coastal breeze will know — until he crosses the finish line.
Race Details: Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K
Date: Sunday, 13 July 2025
Start Time: 08:00
Start Venue: Masabalala Yengwa Avenue
Finish Venue: Durban Beachfront (Golden Mile)
Licensed Runner: R255
Temporary License: R50
Inclusions:
Performance T-shirt, Peak Cap, Versus Socks, Race Number & Chip
Live Route Entertainment
2 Refreshment Stations
Finisher’s Medal
Prize Purse Highlights:
Total Series Prize Purse: R1.61 million
Each Race: R322 000
R252 000 for Open Category
R70 000 for Age Categories
SA Athlete Bonuses:
Sub-28:00 = Bonus Prizes
SA Record (27:28) = R50 000
Sub-27:00 = R200 000
Charity Partner:
CANSA (Cancer Association of South Africa) — Join the race and the fight against cancer.
www.runyourcityseries.com
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WhatsApp Line: 072 042 7613
