Runner's Guide to Athletics South Africa Road Running All Ages 2026

Permanent licence (ASA Rule 26): you get two licence bibs and must wear one on the front and one on the back of your vest. Not wearing both leads to disqualification. A licence can never be used by another runner.

Temporary licence: one bib, worn on the front. If the organiser also gives you a single race number, the temporary licence goes on the back.

Organiser's race numbers (Rule 27.1):

• If only one race number is issued, wear it on the front.
• Pin it so the ASA licence sponsor and the province and year stay visible above it. It may cover the licence numerals, but organisers may never replace your licence with a race number.
• Race numbers are not transferable.

Special number bibs (Rule 27.2): only ASA-approved major events may issue special numbers that replace or fully cover your licence. You must still be able to show your licence if the referee or organiser asks before the race, after the race or before prize-giving; not producing it can lead to disqualification. If only one special number is issued, wear it on the front and a valid licence on the back.

ASA Rule 23.4 sets these minimum ages for road races. They are the same for boys and girls, and your age is taken on the day of the race. The distance is the race distance or, in a relay, the leg distance.

Fun runs (no more than 8km) are not covered by this table. For the ASA championship programme, juniors run 5km, 10km and 21.1km road races, and the marathon is for seniors only.

No. For safety reasons, ASA Rule 33.10.6 does not allow personal music players or any other device with headphones in road races. Anyone using one is not eligible for individual or team prizes and may be disqualified without a warning.

The same ban applies in trail races (ASA Rule 36.8.4).

It depends on your licence and whether you want a team prize (ASA Rules 25.9 and 25.10):

• New licensed club members running as individuals in club, provincial and mass-participation races don't have to wear club kit straight away. ASA encourages getting it within a year of joining. Until then your kit must still be neat, not see-through, and carry no commercial or corporate branding other than what the race organiser provides.
• To count for a club team prize you must wear full club colours. Your club may also withhold club incentives if you don't run in its colours.
• Temporary licence holders must run in neutral colours with no commercial or corporate branding other than the organiser's.
• Licensed and unlicensed runners may wear the colours of a registered NPO or NGO charity, as long as there's no commercial branding and the licence is clearly visible.
• At ASA championships, provincial kit is compulsory.

Elite athletes in major events on the national fixtures list must follow World Athletics advertising rules.

To win an age-category prize (anything other than Senior), ASA Rule 23.3 says you must wear two age category tags, one on the front and one on the back of your vest, above your licence or race number, visible for the whole race (not covered by a rain jacket or hydration pack).

• Tags are red lettering on white, at least 6cm high.
• The tag shows the youngest age of the group: J for Junior (19 or younger on 31 December), 40 for 40-49, 50 for 50-59 and so on in 10-year groups (or 35, 40, 45 in 5-year groups), and 100+ from 100.
• Seniors (20-34, or 20-39 if there's no 35-39 category) wear no tag.
• Masters age is your age on the day of the race. Masters may enter a younger category, down to Senior.
• You can win at most two individual prizes: one Open and one in the category you entered.

If you don't wear both tags, or wear tags that don't match the category you entered, you're considered for Open and Senior prizes only. Tags aren't needed in races limited to one age group, and major events may print the age category on personalised race numbers instead.

Who can count (ASA Rules 2.4, 23.2, 25.10):

• Every team member must hold a permanent licence from the same club and province.
• Runners wearing a temporary licence never count, even if they own a permanent licence but left it at home.
• You must wear full club colours.
• Only South African citizens and permanent residents are eligible for team prizes; foreign athletes only if they qualify under ASA's foreign athlete rule.

Team size: 3 runners count in each age and gender category, except Senior/Open men and women, where 4 count. The province or ASA must approve any other size, and men's and women's team sizes must be equal.

Scoring (Rule 33.11): add the times of the first finishers from the club who make up the team size. The lowest total wins. A tie goes to the team whose last scoring runner finished nearer first place.

If there's no team competition for your age group, you can count for a younger one (for example, over-50s counting in a 40+ team).

The organiser (or technical delegate) decides how much personal seconding is allowed and must state it in the race rules. Unless the race rules prohibit or restrict it, ASA Rule 33.8 says:

• Seconds may help you only at designated refreshment stations, inside the area the organiser marks out.
• If the area isn't marked, help must happen within 100m either side of the first or last table.
• Seconds may not enter the course, obstruct runners, or run beside you while you take a drink.
• No seconding from any vehicle, including bicycles and motorbikes, moving or stationary.
• If the organiser restricts personal seconding, it must provide refreshment stations at least every 3km, unless the province approves otherwise and it is clearly stated in the race information.

In ultra-marathons you're entitled to support from a handler (friends, family, coaches), subject to any restrictions the organiser sets.

Under ASA Rule 33.9, pacing means running with another competitor specifically to help them. It is not allowed between age or gender categories when either runner wants to be eligible for a prize. These count as pacing:

• consistently helping a contender (often of a different age or gender): fetching drinks, shielding them from the wind, running just ahead to set the pace, carrying their items or coaching them;
• a pacer who is not an entrant, including supporters or coaches running, cycling or travelling alongside;
• a runner about to be lapped who speeds up to run with the contender passing them;
• someone who did not start with the field, such as a runner in an earlier wave waiting for someone in a later wave;
• an organiser's pace-setter who changes the advertised pace to suit one contender.

In mass races where contenders are clearly identified, pacing rules apply only to contenders; otherwise they apply to everyone. The referee normally warns first (a yellow card is suggested) and asks the runners to open a gap of at least 100m. If it continues, the referee may disqualify both runners.

Gun time. Under ASA Rule 33.17, awards are decided on each runner's gun time: from the gun that starts the first wave until you cross the finish line. Your net (mat-to-mat) time may be given to you as well, but it is not used for individual or team placings.

When a race uses wave or staggered starts, all potential prize winners in a category must be seeded in the same wave so they share the same start. Runners who start in a later wave are not eligible for category awards. Organisers must state this in the event rules.

Under ASA Rule 33.10 and Rule 39:

• Animals: runners may not run with animals (dogs, birds, reptiles and so on).
• Prams and baby joggers: only if the organiser allows it and has permission from the traffic authority. You must start at the back and may be given a delayed start.
• Wheelchairs: where the organiser and traffic authority allow them, wheelchair athletes start in a staggered start before the able-bodied race. Racing (push-rim) wheelchair athletes must wear a helmet. Duo (pushed) wheelchair teams compete as a team, and the pusher must be a licensed, entered athlete.
• Guides: blind or disabled runners who need to be accompanied may only use guides who have officially entered the event.
• Able-bodied athletes may not take part in a wheelchair division.

ASA Rule 28 treats littering as disposing of any waste (sachets, cups, bottles, wrappers, gel packets) anywhere other than a bin, box or trough provided for it. Organisers must put receptacles at the start, the finish and every refreshment station.

• Unintentional littering (you aim for the bin and miss): no card.
• Intentional littering (you throw waste away with no receptacle nearby): a race referee may show you a yellow card.
• Two yellow cards: the chief referee may show a red card and disqualify you during or after the race.
• Blatant littering, for example in an environmentally sensitive area: a red card can be shown without a prior warning.

Provinces may also fine athletes who were carded. You can appeal a red card up to 30 minutes after it was shown or 30 minutes after you finish, whichever is later.

No. Under ASA Rule 33.12:

• A fun run may be no longer than 8km.
• Licensed and unlicensed runners can take part. No licence number has to be worn and no temporary licence has to be bought.
• Licensed athletes don't have to wear club colours or display their licence.
• Technical officials aren't required and individual timing is optional; a clock at the finish is normally enough.
• The only prizes allowed are lucky draws that give every participant an equal chance (based on entry or finishing). No money or money vouchers may be offered.
• Fun runs are sanctioned only when held under an affiliated club. Licensed athletes are still bound by ASA and provincial conduct rules while taking part.

Against a referee's decision (ASA Rule 27.1):

• Appeal to the Jury of Appeal within 30 minutes of the official announcement of the decision.
• It must be in writing, signed by you or a responsible official on your behalf.
• Pay a R500 deposit, which you lose if the appeal is not upheld.

Against prize category results (ASA Rule 27.2): if results in a prize category are not announced or made available at the prize-giving, they are posted on the event website and sent through club channels. Individuals and clubs then have 7 days to raise an appeal in writing to the organisers. After that the published results are final, even if errors are found later.

Red card for littering: you can appeal up to 30 minutes after the card was shown or 30 minutes after you finish, whichever is later.