The NMDC Hyderabad Marathon doesn’t get the same headline attention as other major running events. But ask anyone who’s run it — Hyderabad hits different!
A point-to-point course from the old city’s Hussain Sagar Lake all the way to the glass towers of Gachibowli. The undulating terrain that catches runners off guard. The infamous Hyderabad heat, even at 4:30 in the morning. And a finish inside GMC Balayogi Stadium that gives you genuine goosebumps.
The race began as a non-profit initiative in 2007 and has been known for most of its life as the Airtel Hyderabad Marathon — Airtel held the title sponsorship from the 2011 edition before NMDC stepped in as title sponsor in 2022. If you’ve been searching for “Airtel Hyderabad Marathon 2026” — this is the same race, same course, same Hyderabad Runners Society behind it.
This is the complete guide for 2026.
Photo: NMDC Hyderabad Marathon / Hyderabad Runners Society. Image being used for editorial purposes only.
At a Glance — NMDC Hyderabad Marathon 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Edition | 15th |
| Race Weekend | August 29–30, 2026 |
| Organiser | Hyderabad Runners Society |
| Start Point | People’s Plaza, Hussain Sagar, Khairtabad |
| Finish Point | GMC Balayogi Stadium, Gachibowli |
| Course Type | Point-to-point |
| Certification | AIMS-certified |
| Official Website | nmdchyderabadmarathon.com |
Race Categories & Start Times
The NMDC Hyderabad Marathon 2026 offers four race distances across two days.
Full Marathon — 42.2 km Start: August 30, 2026 at 04:35 The flagship race. Point-to-point from Hussain Sagar to Gachibowli. Starts in the dark for good reason — Hyderabad in August is brutal once the sun is up.
Half Marathon — 21.1 km Start: August 30, 2026 at 05:30 Same course, same start point, same finish line. The most popular category at Hyderabad.
10K Start: August 30, 2026 at 07:00 The entry point for runners newer to racing. By 7am the heat is beginning to build — don’t underestimate this distance in Hyderabad conditions.
5K Fun Run Start: August 29, 2026 (Saturday) at 07:00 Held a day earlier on Saturday. A separate, shorter out-and-back format.
Bib Collection / Race Expo Friday, August 28, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Bibs must be collected in person. No race-day collection.
The Course — A Tale of Two Cities
The race begins at the shimmering Hussain Sagar Lake under the gaze of the massive monolith Buddha statue. Runners traverse the city’s undulating terrain, passing through the New Secretariat and Banjara Hills, then cross the Durgam Cheruvu Cable Bridge with panoramic views of the Cyberabad skyline, before finishing inside GMC Balayogi Stadium in Gachibowli.
That description sounds poetic. Here’s what it actually means for your legs:
The course is point-to-point, which means no repeated loops — the scenery changes throughout. But “undulating terrain” is real. Hyderabad is not flat. There are rolling inclines through Banjara Hills that don’t show up dramatically on paper but accumulate through the second half of the race. Runners who go out too fast in the first half pay for it after the 25km mark.
The Durgam Cheruvu Cable Bridge section is genuinely stunning — and genuinely windy. Factor that in for pacing.
The finish inside GMC Balayogi Stadium is one of the better finish line experiences in Indian marathons — track surface, crowd, and a roof overhead. Worth the suffering to get there.
Course Records
| Category | Name | Time | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s | Karan Singh | 2:24:54 | 2014 |
| Women’s | Pascalia Chepkoesh | 2:51:45 | 2018 |
Registration
Registration for 2026 is open. Registration is closing soon — check the official website at nmdchyderabadmarathon.com for current availability.
Eligibility rules to note:
- No transfers, cancellations or changes are accepted within 45 days of the event date.
- All distances require minimum eligibility criteria — stadium races and virtual runs do not count as qualifiers.
- Bib is non-transferable and must be collected in person at the Expo.
For elite runners: prize money is based on gun time, not chip time. Course record bonus of ₹1,50,000 for open category, ₹5,00,000 for Indian national record.
Running Hyderabad in August — What to Expect
This is the section most guides skip. Don’t.
The NMDC Hyderabad Marathon is held in late August — peak monsoon season in Telangana. That means two things: heat and humidity, even at pre-dawn start times.
Humidity is the real enemy. Even at 4:30am, Hyderabad in August runs at 80–90% humidity. Your sweat doesn’t evaporate efficiently. Your perceived effort is significantly higher than the same pace would feel in cooler conditions.
Practical adjustments:
- Train in the most humid conditions you can find in the 6–8 weeks before the race. If you’re in Delhi or Mumbai, early morning runs in July–August are your best preparation.
- Hydration strategy needs to account for heavier sweat losses. Start loading electrolytes the day before.
- Go out 15–20 seconds per km slower than your target pace in the first 10km. The second half will reward this.
- Wear light, moisture-wicking kit. This is not the race for your favourite cotton tee.
- Aid stations are frequent — use all of them. Pour water on your head, not just in your mouth.
- The 10K runners starting at 7am will have the hardest heat conditions. If you’re on the fence between 10K and half marathon, the half marathon’s earlier 5:30am start actually gives you more favourable conditions.
Getting to Hyderabad
Hyderabad is well connected by air (Rajiv Gandhi International Airport) from all major Indian cities. Book accommodation in the Banjara Hills / Jubilee Hills / Gachibowli corridor — puts you closest to the finish area and the Expo.
The start point at Hussain Sagar is roughly 15–18km from Gachibowli. Race day logistics for point-to-point courses mean you’ll need to get to the start line early — organisers typically arrange shuttle buses from the finish area to the start point. Confirm this with the official race communications closer to the date.
Training for the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon
The two variables that matter most for Hyderabad specifically — heat adaptation and hills.
Heat adaptation: If you’re training in a cooler city, build in at least 4–6 weeks of deliberate heat training. Run at the hottest part of the day once or twice a week. It’s unpleasant. It works.
Hills: Include rolling hill repeats in your long run routes for the last 8 weeks. The Banjara Hills section catches runners who have only trained on flat urban roads.
Standard training blocks:
- Full Marathon: 16–18 week plan, long runs building to 32–34km, with back-to-back long weekends in the final phase
- Half Marathon: 12–14 week plan, long runs to 22–24km
- 10K: 8–10 week plan focused on tempo and threshold work
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The NMDC Hyderabad Marathon is an annual AIMS-certified marathon held in Hyderabad, organised by the Hyderabad Runners Society. Known for over a decade as the Airtel Hyderabad Marathon, it is India’s second largest marathon by participation and offers four race distances — full marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K fun run.
The NMDC Hyderabad Marathon 2026 (15th edition) takes place August 29–30, 2026. The 5K Fun Run is on Saturday August 29. The full marathon, half marathon and 10K all run on Sunday August 30, 2026.
Yes. It is the same race, same course, same organiser — Hyderabad Runners Society. Airtel was the title sponsor from 2011 to 2022. NMDC took over as title sponsor in 2022. The race is now officially called the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon.
The course is point-to-point, starting at People’s Plaza near Hussain Sagar Lake in Khairtabad and finishing at GMC Balayogi Stadium in Gachibowli. The route passes through the New Secretariat, Banjara Hills, KBR Park, the University of Hyderabad campus, and crosses the Durgam Cheruvu Cable Bridge.
Yes. The NMDC Hyderabad Marathon is an AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races) certified race.
Bib collection is at the Race Expo on Friday August 28, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Bibs must be collected in person — no race-day collection is available.
It is considered one of the more challenging Indian city marathons due to the undulating terrain through Banjara Hills and the heat and humidity of the late August date. Course records of 2:24:54 (men) and 2:51:45 (women) reflect a tougher course than a flat city marathon.
