Glenrose Xaba (pictured) and Tayla Kavanagh’s intense rivalry in South African road running will have to wait for another day at the Cape Town 10k, after the weather took it's turn.
Image: Action Photo
CAPE TOWN — THE MOTHER CITY weather – with its resemblance to the strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde – has yet again wreaked havoc with yet another big road running event.
With the sun shining brightly on Friday afternoon, the forecast of an impending adverse weather for the weekend would have stunned the uninitiated. But this is Cape Town, a city renowned to experience all four seasons in one day.
And so the announcement that the popular Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K scheduled for Sunday morning has been cancelled was not out of place.
“Due to severe adverse weather conditions forecast for Cape Town and the Western Cape this weekend, the organisers of the 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K, after consulting with the City of Cape Town authorities, local authorities, and the appointed safety officials, have made the difficult decision to cancel the event,” a media release from the organisers said.
Disappointing as it would be for the runners, the decision has been taken to protect them from the cold front expected to make landfall over the Western Cape on Sunday morning.
The forecast, the statement read, includes disruptive rainfall, strong interior and gale force coastal winds, as well as cold to very cold, wet and windy conditions across the region. Expected impacts include flooding of roads and settlements (formal and informal), as well as dangerous and difficult driving conditions.
Last year, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon was cancelled due to severe weather conditions, albeit only on the morning of the race unlike this one which saw the organisers being proactive instead of waiting things out.
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Race Director Dezroy Poole explained their decision thus: “Our Operations Team has been closely monitoring the weather predictions and engaging daily with the City of Cape Town authorities, local authorities, and the appointed safety officials, in the lead-up to race weekend.
This decision was not taken lightly, especially considering the anticipation surrounding the event and the commitment shown by our runners, sponsors and partners. However, under the expected conditions, we could not guarantee a safe and enjoyable race experience for all involved.
We extend our sincere appreciation to every stakeholder for their understanding and ongoing support.”
The City of Cape Town supported the decision, stating that safety at events hosted in their city is always a priority:
“With the severe weather warnings issued for Cape Town this weekend posing a serious safety risk to participants, as well as impacting public infrastructure, mobility, essential services, and most importantly the safety of all stakeholders, responsible decision-making becomes critical,” said Leonora DeSouza-Zilwa, Director Events; Film, City of Cape Town.
To mitigate the cancellation, Absa offers registered participants a choice between a full refund or free entry to next year’s Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K. Runners can still collect their official race packs and merchandise.
“While we share in the disappointment of thousands of runners who were looking forward to this event, safety had to come first.
The decision to cancel was not an easy one, but we are delighted to offer our participants a choice between a full refund or free entry to the 2027 Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K race,” said Absa Group Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer Sydney Mbhele.