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Do you love pushing yourself to the limit? Spending your Saturday running laps while carrying heavy weights, smashing out burpees and generally questioning your life choices?
Good. Because Deadly Dozen Durban is back.
The popular functional fitness race returns to Kings Park Athletic Stadium on Saturday, 24 October 2026, for what will be the event's only Durban race of the 2026/2027 season.
And organisers are promising a bigger, tougher and louder event than ever.
The format is brutally simple: complete 12 x 400m runs, with every lap followed by a different functional fitness challenge. Expect farmers carries, deadlifts, lunges, snatches, crawls, presses and, just when you think you're done, a final round of Devil Presses.
Don't let the intensity fool you, though. Deadly Dozen is designed for everyone, from experienced athletes and gym regulars to first-time racers looking for a serious personal challenge.
You can enter as a Solo competitor, in Doubles or as part of a Relay team, depending on how you'd like to tackle the course.
READ: Durban Sunrise Run 2026 adds 42km Comrades Marathon qualifier
Twelve runs. Twelve challenges. One very deadly day.
The race alternates between 400m runs and functional fitness stations, testing both endurance and strength from start to finish.
Here's what you'll be taking on:
- 400m run + 240m Farmers Carry
- 400m run + 60 Deadlifts
- 400m run + 60 Lunges
- 400m run + 60 Snatches
- 400m run + 60m Burpee Broad Jumps
- 400m run + 60 Goblet Squats
- 400m run + 240m Front Carry
- 400m run + 60 Push Presses
- 400m run + 120m Bear Crawl
- 400m run + 60 Clean & Presses
- 400m run + 180m Overhead Carry
- 400m run + 20 Devil Presses
In other words, you probably won't want to schedule leg day on Sunday.
READ: Comrades Marathon 2027 gets a new Kings Park finish and its biggest field yet
Why Durban is a favourite stop
“Durban has always brought an incredible energy to Deadly Dozen, and as Cameron Cleaver (co-owner of Deadly Dozen Africa and UAE) is originally from Durban, he is really excited to be back. What makes the event special isn’t only the racing — it’s the community around it,” says Mallean Cleaver, event organiser.
“You’ll have some athletes chasing podiums and others simply trying to prove to themselves that they can finish, but everyone is on the same track doing the same hard thing together.
"This is our only Durban race for the 2026/2027 season, so we want KZN to really show up and make it one to remember. Expect hard racing, big crowds, plenty of suffering, even more banter and that unmistakable Durban gees.”
The event is also designed to be more than just a race.
Expect a lively spectator atmosphere, a vendor village, recovery zones, a beer garden and a kiddies' play area, so friends and family can enjoy the day even if they have absolutely no intention of attempting a bear crawl.
READ: WOA Iqembu Cycle Challenge returns to Durban for 2026 team cycling race
You don't need to be an elite athlete
One of the biggest draws of Deadly Dozen is that almost anyone can take part.
There's no qualification required, and you don't need to be a professional athlete. You just need to be willing to test yourself.
Solo competitors complete all 12 runs and 12 challenges themselves. Doubles teams share the workout stations while running together, and Relay teams split the challenge between teammates.
And if you're not racing? Come and cheer on the people who are!
READ: Blanche Moila: The South African runner still breaking barriers at 70
What you need to know
- Event: Deadly Dozen Durban
- Date: Saturday, 24 October 2026
- Time: 9am
- Venue: Kings Park Athletic Stadium, Durban
- Categories: Solo, Doubles and Relay
- Tickets: Webtickets
- Format: 12 x 400m runs and 12 functional fitness labours
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