NMDC Hyderabad Marathon

What kind of race it is

Organised by the Hyderabad Runners Society — a runners' club rather than a commercial promoter — and it has the feel of a race put on by people who run it themselves. It has grown into one of the best-regarded marathons in the country on the strength of its course and its volunteer support.

The course

This is the one big Indian marathon where elevation is a real factor. The route through the older parts of the city and around the lake includes sustained climbs, and finishing times here are typically slower than a runner's Mumbai time. Train on hills.

Conditions

An August date means monsoon season — humid, often damp, sometimes raining. Cooler than a pre-monsoon date would be, but the humidity is unforgiving.

How to approach it

Do your long runs on the hilliest route you can find and practise running downhill on tired legs, which is what actually causes the damage. Do not set a personal-best target here unless your best was set on a similar profile.