Legend Johan Cronje cannot wait for inaugural Mangaung 10km race

The sold-out race has attracted 5,000 runners and will start at 7am on Sir George Grey Street, near the exit of Grey College, before finishing at Kings Way in Mangaung.

The Mangaung leg was launched six weeks ago, and Cronje cannot believe how quickly time has flown as the popular series prepares for its final race of the year.

"It came much quicker than expected and I thought to myself that I have all this time to prepare and before you know it here we are and the time has come. I can't wait to see the streets full of runners, I think it will be an amazing experience."

The 44-year-old retired athlete has described the Absa Run Your City series as a major event and believes Mangaung is in for a special experience this weekend.

Cronje hopes the race will attract strong support from the local community and inspire more people to take up running.

Cronje, who works in the financial sector, hopes an event of this size will open doors for young runners and create more opportunities for them to develop their talent.

He believes bringing a major road race to Mangaung will give aspiring athletes the chance to compete at a high-level right on their doorstep.

The 2013 World Championships 1500m bronze medallist will also be among the 5,000 runners on Sunday.

Cronje plans to run alongside fellow Mangaung-born legend LJ van Zyl, a nine-time South African 400m hurdles champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist. He hopes to finish close to van Zyl, wherever his running partner ends up.