British triathlete and former track and cross-country runner Emma Pallant-Browne is excited to make her Totalsports Women’s Race debut in Durban on Sunday, 02 August 2026, followed by the Totalsports Women’s Race Joburg on Sunday, 16 August 2026, twelve months after the birth of her son.
“Coming back after having my son, I’m starting to get injury-free and run a bit faster, so I was looking to race a fast 10km at sea level, and the Totalsports Women’s Race came highly recommended to me,” says Pallant-Browne. “My goal is to take part in two Totalsports Women’s Race events this year, so I will also be lining up in Joburg on 16 August. Women in sport is my absolute passion, especially now as a mother. I used to see a lot of women at races with their kids supporting ‘Daddy’, and it’s so great to now see dads on the sidelines with the kids supporting ‘Mummy’ and giving her the opportunity to have her time to shine. I think there are still barriers in women’s sport that see many women dropping out during their teenage years or when life gets busy and they start a family, but events like this really elevate women’s running and give women their time to shine.”
Pallant-Browne admits that her body, mindset, and approach to training have changed since becoming a mother.
“There are a million reasons now not to get my session in, and I think it just makes you want it a bit more,” she says. “Knowing that we are bringing my son into a life where we show him that if you want to be good at something, you have to work hard for it, is what I keep thinking when times get tough. What example am I setting for him? My body has definitely had more injuries, but it’s made me more patient, better at problem-solving and time management, and more resilient when facing setbacks.”
“My advice to mothers who may be nervous about returning to exercise after pregnancy would be to be patient and start steadily,” she continues. “Take baby steps, start with a jog/walk, build up gradually, and enjoy the process. It’s so rewarding to see the progress you make and to track your improvements each week, so keep reminding yourself how far you’ve come. Most importantly, don’t neglect strength training.”
Pallant-Browne’s goal on race day in Durban is to break the 34-minute mark.
“Running faster than 34 minutes would be a good start for me,” she says. “It will be my first fast 10km postpartum, so I want to see what my body can do at the moment and then build from there. It would mean so much to me to start winning races again, but most of all I want to know that I gave it my all in Durban and Joburg, and pushed as hard as I could.”
Nikki Crous, Head of Marketing at Totalsports, is excited to welcome Pallant-Browne to the Totalsports Women’s Race family.
“Emma’s return to competition after becoming a mother is both inspiring and a powerful reminder that women can continue to pursue their goals at every stage of life,” says Crous. “Her passion for empowering women through sport perfectly reflects what the Totalsports Women’s Race stands for. We look forward to seeing her take on both the Durban and Joburg events and wish her every success as she embarks on this exciting new chapter.”
EVENT INFORMATION: 2026 Totalsports Women’s Race
| DATE: | CITY: |
| 1. Sunday, 02 August 2026 | Totalsports Women’s Race Durban
Start Venue: Suncoast Casino, Snell Parade Finish Venue: Suncoast Casino, Snell Parade |
| 2. Sunday, 9 August 2026 | Totalsports Women’s Race Cape Town
Start Venue: · 10km Start: Darling Street, Cape Town · 5km Start: Castle Street Finish Venue: Grand Parade, Cape Town
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| 3. Sunday, 16 August 2026 | Totalsports Women’s Race Joburg
Start Venue: Orange Road and Buffalo Road Junction, Marks Park Finish Venue: Orange Road and Buffalo Road Junction, Marks Park
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| ENTRIES CLOSE: | Durban: ENTRIES HAVE SOLD OUT
Cape Town: ENTRIES HAVE SOLD OUT Joburg: ENTRIES HAVE SOLD OUT |
LIVE PERFORMANCE: Renowned for her electrifying performances and chart-topping hits spanning Kwaito, House, Gqom, Amapiano and Afropop, South African music powerhouse Busiswa will perform live at the Totalsports Women’s Race in Durban on Sunday, 02 August, Cape Town on Sunday, 09 August, and Johannesburg on Sunday, 16 August 2026, ensuring participants and supporters enjoy an unforgettable race-day experience both on and off the route.
CHARITY SUPPORT: The Totalsports Women’s Race proudly supports PinkDrive, a non-profit company (NPC) dedicated to increasing breast cancer awareness, providing education, and offering free services to medically uninsured individuals across South Africa.
Like our Facebook page: Women’s Race / The PinkDrive
Follow us on Instagram: Women’s Race / PinkDrive
Hashtag: #Totalsports #TotalsportsWomensRace #LoveTheRun #PinkDrive
WhatsApp Line: 064 815 4116
For more information on PinkDrive visit www.pinkdrive.org For further information on the Totalsports Women’s Race visit www.totalsportswomensrace.co.za
