More than 7,000 race entries, a growing weekly running community and R355,000 directed towards others mark a significant 2026 for uRun – with bigger ambitions already taking shape for 2027

PRETORIA — For uRun, 2026 has been about much more than kilometres, medals and finish lines. Through two major Pretoria running events, the growing athletics community has demonstrated something central to the vision behind uSport: sport can build healthier people, strong communities and memorable experiences, while ultimately creating the capacity to give back.

It reflects the wider philosophy behind uSport and uRun, initiatives of Unite180 Church:to build people,pursue excellence and use what has been built toempower others

Following the second uRun+ Maze Run at Menlyn Park Shopping Centre, uSport has donated R150,000 to Bramley Child and Youth Care Centre in Pretoria. Together with the R205,000 contributed through the uRun+ Skosana Legend Race earlier this year, the two events have enabled R355,000 to be directed towards community and youth initiatives during 2026.

6,200 runners take to Pretoria
The first major chapter of the year came with theuRun+ Skosana Legend Race, hosted in partnershipwith South African running legend Enoch Skosana.Starting beneath the massive billboards outsideMenlyn Park Shopping Centre, runners headedonto Atterbury Road across 5 km, 10 km and 21.1 kmdistances. According to uRun organiser Ruhan Thomas,6,200 runners participated, reaching the maximumcapacity allowed under the race limitations in place

The event combined uRun’s growing organisationalcapacity with Skosana’s longstanding commitment toathlete development. Its success ultimately enableda R205,000 contribution towards Skosana’s youth-development work.

For uSport and uRun, it demonstrated what a sportingevent could become: an excellent experience forthose taking part, while producing an impact thatextended beyond race day.

1,000 runners take on the Maze
That philosophy continued with the second uRun+ Maze Run, transforming the undercover parking areas of Menlyn Park Shopping Centre into an unconventional night-time running arena

Around 1,000 runners participated, with the event built around lighting, music, live timing, relay heats and finals.

The format combined competition with entertainment and accessibility, giving serious runners something to chase while creating an experience recreational runners could enjoy. Together, the two events drew more than 7,000 runners during 2026. But race day tells only part of the uRun story.

Building community every Saturday
Approximately 800 runners on average participate in uRun social runs every Saturday, according to Thomas, with numbers continually growing. uRun currently operates through 20 locations across South Africa and three internationally, giving runners at different stages of their journey a consistent place to participate and progress.

For some, that means chasing a personal best. For others, it means completing a first 5 km, becoming healthier or simply finding a community in which to belong.

Running clubs and social running can sometimes be viewed as little more than a lifestyle trend, but organised sport serves a far more distinct purpose. It creates consistency, accountability and belonging.

It also reflects a principle underlying both uSport and Unite180: worthwhile results usually require discipline, preparation and a commitment to excellence. Strong communities are built in much the same way.

The goal, however, is not discipline for discipline’s sake or community for community’s sake. A healthy culture should ultimately be visible in what it produces — healthier people, meaningful relationships, opportunities for athletes and communities increasingly capable of helping others.

R150,000 donated to Bramley Children’s Home
The latest expression of that principle saw uSport donate R150,000 to Bramley Child and Youth Care Centre, widely known as Bramley Children’s Home.

The Pretoria-based organisation has served vulnerable children for decades, providing residential care and support to children in need of care and protection.

That idea is integral to uSport’s philosophical outlook: every person carries God-given purpose, ability and influence that can be used for something beyond themselves. Individually, those contributions matter. But when people connect through vehicles such as sport, their individual contributions can be multiplied
into an impact few could achieve alone.

In a South Africa too often marked by division, sport continues to remind us of the strength found in moving together. Unity does not remove what makes each person unique; it makes our unique contributions more powerful.

2027: more races, more often
If 2026 has demonstrated what is possible, uRun’s ambitions for 2027 are greater still. he organisation plans to host more running events, more regularly, while continuing to expand its weekly social-running communities and develop distinctive events for both recreational and competitive runners.

Among its biggest ambitions is a significant next step: a full uRun marathon in 2027.

Come run with uRun
Runners do not need to wait for the next major event to become part of it.

uRun social communities gather every Saturday across 20 locations in South Africa and three internationally, welcoming both social and competitive runners.

Find your nearest community through uRun.co.za, follow uRun Athletics on social media, and watch for the announcement of the 2027 uRun event calendar.