BLOEMFONTEIN: After the phenomenal success of the 2025 Mimosa Mall Marathon, Bloemfontein’s biggest running celebration returns on Saturday 28 February. This event will be bigger, faster, and more unforgettable than ever before. The 2025 instalment, hosted in March, saw record-breaking participation, with double the number of entries compared to that of its debut year, 2023.
Thousands of runners took part − from elite athletes chasing qualifying times to families lacing up for the 5km fun run. They filled the streets with energy, colour and community spirit, turning Bloemfontein into a festival of fitness and pride.
The event continues its proud partnership with the Louzanne Coetzee Foundation, raising funds to empower differently-abled athletes and promote inclusion through sport, a cause that lies at the very heart of this event.
With preparations well underway, the 2026 Mimosa Mall Marathon, hosted in association with Bloemfontein Striders, is set to deliver an even more elevated experience.
The marathon will once again be an official Comrades qualifier race and offer runners the chance to test their endurance on a fast, scenic and well-supported route through the city.
Runners and supporters can look forward to refreshed race-day experiences, lively activations, and a true celebration of Bloemfontein’s community spirit, all centred around the heartbeat of the city, Mimosa Mall.
“The response to this year’s marathon was beyond anything we imagined,” says Neelofar Issa, general manager of Mimosa Mall.
“Seeing the streets come alive with runners, families and supporters reminded us how powerful sport can be in uniting a community. The Mimosa Mall Marathon has truly become more than a race − it’s a shared moment of pride for our city, culture and community, and we can’t wait to make 2026 even more extraordinary.”
Jeannine van Zyl, general manager of Novus Media Community News in the Free State and Northern Cape, has also expressed excitement about the 2026 event.
“It is a privilege to be the media sponsor of the Mimosa Mall Marathon for the second consecutive year. There was such a wonderful atmosphere on race day this year, and we are sure there will be more runners that want to be part of the 2026 event.
“We look forward to seeing how the race grows, getting more and more of our readers involved and active. When we come together as a community in this way, we’re not only building health and fitness − we’re also building overall wellbeing and a healthy mind. An event like this strengthens what connects our people: perseverance, togetherness, and having fun.”
■ Get more information in BloemExpress in the following weeks.
