SportXAwards Running Edition™ to Recognise South Africa's Leading Road Races, Marathons, Sponsors and Host Cities
A new annual awards programme celebrating excellence in the business of road running will debut in October 2026 with the launch of the SportXAwards Running Edition™, an independent media index ranking leading road races, marathons, sponsors and host cities based on their online earned media performance during the June 2025 to July 2026 monitoring period.
Using a transparent, data-driven methodology, the Awards recognise organisations that generate the highest levels of editorial visibility, share of voice and media impact, celebrating excellence in promoting and growing the sport. At the inaugural announcement, the highest-ranked races, sponsors and host cities will receive The Baton, the official symbol of the SportXAwards Running Edition™, representing leadership, momentum and excellence in advancing road running through sustained media visibility.
The SportXAwards Running Edition™ is a year-round recognition programme aligned with South Africa's road running calendar. In April 2027, the new season will begin with the release of the first national interim rankings for the period July to December 2026. This will be followed by the World Marathon Majors Index in May, the African Marathons Index in June, the Running Sponsorship Index in October and the Marathon Host Cities Index in November.
The SportXAwards Sponsorship Index™ will also publish race-specific sponsor rankings throughout the season, recognising the media visibility of sponsors associated with individual marathons. Each rankings announcement will reveal the latest interim standings and shortlisted finalists, while the actual ranking positions will remain confidential until they are announced live, building anticipation among race organisers, sponsors, delegates and the media.
The season will culminate in the annual SportXAwards Running Edition™, where the final rankings and overall winners will be announced. The programme aims to become the definitive benchmarking platform for the road running industry by recognising sustained excellence in earned online media performance throughout the year.
Core Ranking Categories
The SportXAwards Running Edition™ will recognise excellence across the following categories:
- South African Marathons Index
- South African Road Races Index
- African Marathons Index
- World Marathon Majors Index
- Marathon Sponsors Index
- Marathon Host Cities Index
Each index will recognise outstanding performers through five levels of achievement: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Highly Recommended.
"By combining independent online media measurement with annual industry recognition, the SportXAwards Running Edition™ aims to elevate the profile of road running while recognising the races, sponsors, host cities and organisations making the greatest contribution to the growth of the sport through earned media," said Gerrit Davids, Managing Director of Gerom Media, the agency behind the awards.
Further details on the rankings methodology, eligibility criteria and submission process will be announced ahead of the inaugural rankings release.
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For enquiries, contact Gerrit Davids
MD, Gerom Media
Email: info@sportsbusiness.co.za
Mobile: +27 82 496 1657