The fifth edition of the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km race was successfully launched at a press briefing that took place on Tuesday, 08 July at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban.
Known as the richest 10k race in the country, the event will carry an unchanged allocation of R37 500 for the winners in both men’s and women’s categories. The second and third place finishers will pocket R30 000 and R27 500 respectively and the race will pay up to the tenth-placed finishers who will walk away with R6 000. The news was announced in a press attended by Hollywood Athletics Club Manager Brett Goodwin, multiple Comrades and Two Oceans Marathon Champion Gerda Steyn, Hollywood Athletics Club Co-Ordinator Lala Cele, as well as Hollywood Elite Athletes Makhosi Mhlongo and Loveness Madziva.
While the prize money for the race hasn’t changed, a total prize purse of R357,700 is on offer. There are several key changes to the race in 2025, which is scheduled for 31 August. The race will have a new start and will finish at a new venue, Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, moving away from Hollywoodbets King’s Park Stadium. The change coming about as the original venue, Hollywoodbets King’s Park Stadium, is booked for a rugby game on that weekend. After having over 7 000 finishers last year, we are anticipating a field of 10 000 runners. Speaking after the launch, Goodwin expressed excitement with the interest runners have shown in the event.
“I’m very happy with the support we have received from the runners up until now. At the moment, we have captured over 5 000 entries which is over 50 percent of the field we are expecting,” said an elated Goodwin.
“On the day we were closing the early bird entries, over 1 500 registered for the race. With people expecting to be paid once more at month end, I believe the numbers will pick up. Imagine, these sort of numbers without us having unveiled what awaits the runners’ inside the goodie bags. I’m certain the target will be reached soon before the entries close.”
Meanwhile, Hollywood Athletics Club Elite Manager Manfred Seidler emphasised that you can expect fast times and is not bothered with the slight change to the route.
“It is still a fast course. We are running on the exact same route as in 2024 with the exception that the start and finish will change. So, it is still fast, flat and has the same turns and elevation. Last year’s winner, Tebello Ramakongoane clocked 28:06, despite a slow first half due to strong head winds. So I am confident that we will once again witness fast times. This is a record course. I’m still in conversation to bring fast, top-class athletes here, and these will be announced once confirmed. In all, I’m expecting a good day of running in Durban,” he said.
Interested in running? You can still enter the race via Webtickets. If you want to participate in the 10km, it’ll cost total of R220 if you are running under a club. For a temporary licence, you pay the extra R50. Then a fee of R180 will give you an entry to the 5km fun run.
