1,807 Runners, 960 m Climb: Kashmir Marathon 2026 Guide
The Kashmir Marathon runs this Sunday in Srinagar with 1,807 runners registered, 73 from abroad. Routes, cut-off times, fees, prize money and what the hilly course means for your race.
Only 391 people signed up to run the full 42 km of the Kashmir Marathon this year. Another 1,416 picked the half. Together that makes 1,807 online registrations for a race that climbs about 960 metres around Dal Lake.
The third Kashmir Marathon starts this Sunday, October 25, at Polo View in Srinagar. Here is what runners and first-timers should know.
Quick answer
- Race day is Sunday, October 25, starting and finishing at Polo View, Srinagar.
- Two races: a 42 km full marathon and a 21 km half marathon, both for runners aged 18 and above.
- The full marathon has a 7-hour cut-off and the half a 3-hour cut-off.
- Online registration is closed. Spot registration was offered at the expo at Polo Ground.
Kashmir Marathon 2026 by the numbers
Director Tourism Kashmir Syed Qamar Sajjad said 1,807 runners had registered online, Kashmir Observer reports. The department expects the total to cross 2,000.
Of those runners, 1,221 are locals, 513 come from other parts of India and 73 are foreign athletes from 12 countries.
Source: Kashmir Observer
The gender gap is wide. The registrations include 1,614 men and only 193 women.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah opened the three-day expo at Polo View, with 20 stalls of sports gear and bib collection counters. He ran the first two editions but told Greater Kashmir he will only flag off the race this year.
The route: scenic, but not flat
The course passes Dal Lake, Boulevard Drive, Nishat Garden and Hazratbal Shrine, with chinar trees and Mughal gardens along the way.
The organisers say the route mixes flat and hilly sections, with a total elevation gain of about 960 metres. That is a real climb, so do not plan your pace like a flat city race.
Aid stations with water, energy drinks and medical help will be placed at regular intervals, and medical teams will be at the start and finish, says the official FAQ.
Cut-off times and what pace you need
The official rules give 7 hours for the full marathon and 3 hours for the half, for every age group.
Some quick maths helps here. Finishing 42 km in 7 hours means an average of 6 km per hour, which is a brisk walk mixed with easy jogging.
The half is tighter. Covering 21 km in 3 hours needs 7 km per hour on average, so walkers will have to jog a fair share of it, especially on the hilly parts.
Source: Kashmir Observer
Fees and prize money
The entry fee was Rs 2200 for the full marathon and Rs 1800 for the half, and it is non-refundable and non-transferable.
The prize money is big for an Indian race. Overall winners of the full marathon, men and women, each get 25,00,000 rupees, with 20,00,000 for second place. Half marathon winners get 15,00,000.
There are also age-group prizes, with 1,00,000 for the top full marathon finisher in each band. A separate category for J&K residents pays 4,00,000 to the fastest local in the full race.
Omar Abdullah said the local category was added after runners asked for it.
If you are running on Sunday
A few practical points from the official pages and the reports:
- Carry your registration confirmation and a valid government ID; they were needed for bib collection.
- Start slower than usual, because the 960-metre climb will cost you time later.
- Use the aid stations for water and energy drinks rather than carrying too much.
- Late October mornings in the valley are cold, so warm up well and dress in layers you can drop.
- Plan a recovery walk the next day, not another hard run.
If you are not running this year
The government has added the Kashmir Marathon to its annual calendar, Sajjad said, so it should return next year.
A half marathon with a 3-hour cut-off is a realistic first goal for a regular walker or jogger who trains for a few months. Build up weekly distance slowly, add some hill walks, and practise eating and drinking on long runs.
Who should be careful
People with heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or asthma, and anyone who has not trained for this distance, should get a doctor's check before a long, hilly race at altitude.
FAQs
When is the Kashmir Marathon 2026? On Sunday, October 25, starting and finishing at Polo View, Srinagar.
Can I still register for the Kashmir Marathon? Online registration is closed. Spot registration was available at the expo at Polo Ground, which ran from October 22 to 24.
What is the prize money for the Kashmir Marathon? Overall full marathon winners get 25,00,000 rupees each in the men's and women's categories, and overall half marathon winners get 15,00,000.
Is the Kashmir Marathon good for beginners? The half marathon is open to anyone aged 18 and above with no qualifying time, but the hilly route means you should train before attempting it.
This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before changing your diet or training.
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