"I just want to race as hard as I can" - Pallant-Browne eager to test her strong 10km form against the bets at Absa JOBURG 10K
In the best 10km form of her life after clocking a new personal best just last month, Emma Pallant-Browne is eager to test herself against the best athletes South and East Africa have to offer at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K on National Heritage Day, Thursday, 24 September 2026.
"It has been busy," admitted Pallant-Browne, reflecting on a packed six weeks that included a new 10km lifetime best of 32:45 and a runner-up finish at the Totalsports Women’s Race in Durban on 2 August. "I wanted to run a little faster and test my form. I came second behind Neheng (Khatala). I'm happy," said the three-time World Duathlon Champion.
Her strong 10km and half-marathon performances, including third place at the 2026 Totalsports TWO OCEANS HALF MARATHON and a 1:12:37 at the HOKA Paris Half Marathon, have vindicated her decision to focus solely on running since giving birth to her first child at the end of 2025.
"I've actually been really enjoying focusing on it again. I had a few injuries post-baby because I came back a bit too fast, but I'm finding my feet," she said after winning the Waterfall City Half Marathon in Johannesburg on 12 September.
With her confidence growing and her 10km form stronger than ever, Pallant-Browne is now looking forward to testing herself against another world-class field when she lines up at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K on National Heritage Day, 24 September.
"The Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K is about a week and a half away and I just want to race as hard as I can against a stacked field. It always brings a lot of the top girls so I will just give my all and see where I can come," said the British native who now lives and trains in South Africa.
For Pallant-Browne, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series is particularly appealing because each race presents a different challenge, giving athletes the opportunity to test themselves against strong fields across a variety of courses.
"It's so exciting for a series to have such different race courses and the top ten can totally change and switch because some people are better at altitude, while some are better on a flat course and others on a hilly course. It just makes the racing so exciting and it really does raise the standard."
With Pallant-Browne set to test her improving 10km form against a strong international field in Joburg, Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder, says: "Emma's return to top-level 10km racing has been impressive, and setting a new personal best is a clear indication of just how strong her form is. She brings experience and competitiveness to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, and having her line up in Joburg against some of the best athletes from South and East Africa is exactly the kind of racing we want to see. With a world-class women’s field and the unique challenge of the Joburg course, we're expecting Emma to add another exciting dimension to what promises to be a
fantastic Heritage Day celebration."
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