Jodhpur Marathon 2027 and the SK Jodhpur Half: Dates, Cut-Offs and a Winter Training Plan

Jodhpur Marathon 2027: date, distances and cut-offs

The Jodhpur Marathon, run under the line “Run with the Blue City” and organised by RunnerX, returns for its second edition on Sunday, 21 February 2027, and registration is open on the official site (checked October 2026). The first edition ran on 18 January 2026 with a half marathon as its longest race and a 1.6 km open run as its shortest. For 2027 the organisers have added a 42.195 km full marathon, a first for the event, which the site describes as passing “Mehrangarh’s shadow”.

The organisers say flag-off times are approximate and final timings will be shared before race day. Every timed runner gets an event T-shirt and a bib with an RFID timing tag; those who finish inside the cut-off get a timing e-certificate, a finisher medal handed out only at the finish line, and post-race refreshments. Results are by net chip time. Under-18s need a parent’s or guardian’s consent, and under-12s must be accompanied on race day.

The full marathon has a qualifier

You can’t enter the 2027 full marathon cold. The official full-marathon page asks for an officially timed race of at least 21.097 km finished between 21 August 2025 and 20 February 2027, within these limits: a half marathon in 3 hours 15 minutes or faster, a 25 km run in 4 hours or faster, or a full marathon in 7 hours or faster. If your only half so far was slower than 3:15, a December half (below) is a sensible place to get a qualifying time.

What the cut-offs mean in minutes per kilometre

Cut-offs decide whether you get a medal, so work out your pace before you choose a distance. These are simple averages from the official limits; aid-station stops and a crowded start eat into them.

A brisk walker can finish the 5K and 10K inside the limits. The half needs steady run-walking under 10 minutes a kilometre for three and a half hours, which is what the 12-week plan below builds towards. The full marathon is not a first race.

SK Jodhpur Marathon: the city’s December half

Jodhpur’s other recurring road race is the SK Jodhpur Marathon, an initiative of Sanskriti Yuva Sansthan promoted by IIEMR. Its fourth edition ran on 14 December 2025 with three distances, according to its RaceMart listing.

Entries included a T-shirt, breakfast, a certificate and a medal. The listing doesn’t give cut-offs, the course or prize money, and a date for a December 2026 edition hadn’t been published when we checked. Follow the organisers’ listing before you build a plan around it.

Jodhpur race weather: cool starts after a hot build-up

Both of Jodhpur’s main races sit in the city’s short cool season, and that’s the good news. The awkward part is the training, which has to start while October and November are still hot. The 1991–2020 normals show the shift clearly.

A 5:30 or 6:00 AM flag-off in February means the first hour is run in cool air near the overnight low, but a three-hour half-marathon finisher will still be out as the sun climbs towards a 27 °C afternoon. Drink at the early aid stations even if you don’t feel thirsty, and wear a cap for the second half. The opposite problem hits December and January long runs: with average lows of 9.6–11.2 °C, a 6 AM start in shorts can feel cold for the first kilometres. Wear an old long-sleeved layer you can tie round your waist, and take ten minutes over the warm-up.

A 12-week half marathon plan for the Jodhpur Marathon

Counting back 12 weeks from 21 February 2027 puts the start in the last week of November, just as the heat breaks. The plan assumes you can run or run-walk 3 km now and aims at finishing comfortably inside the 3 h 30 min cut-off. Our national half marathon training plan for beginners explains the reasoning behind each week; this version is fitted to Jodhpur’s calendar.

Keep at least one rest day between hard days and never increase the long run by more than a couple of kilometres a week. If you’re aiming for the full marathon instead, you need a qualifying half first and a longer build; start with this plan, race a half in December or January, then talk to your coach.

Strength work for Jodhpur runners

Two short strength sessions a week protect the knees, calves and hips that take the pounding of road running. The core list: squats or split squats, Romanian deadlifts, step-ups, calf raises held at the top, side planks and glute bridges, 2–3 sets of 8–12. Our guide to strength training for runners shows each one and how to progress it.

No gym? Personal Home Training in Jodhpur runs the same strength work with a mat and a pair of dumbbells. If a knee or shin has stopped your running before and your physio has cleared you, Rehab & Recovery in Jodhpur rebuilds strength carefully. If you’re weighing up a gym or a coach on the ground, see gym fees in Jodhpur and personal trainer fees in Jodhpur.

Eating and drinking around a Jodhpur race

• The night before: a normal, familiar dinner. Dal, rice or roti and a vegetable work; skip the mirchi vada and mawa kachori until after the race.
• Race morning: something small and easy at least an hour before a 5:30 or 6:00 AM start, such as a banana or toast, plus water.
• On the course: practise drinking at aid stations on your 16–18 km long runs so race day isn’t the first time.
• Afterwards: a glass of salted chaas and a proper meal with protein. Our page on healthy food in Jodhpur has the numbers for Marwari staples.

Use the TDEE calculator to see how much more you burn in the long-run weeks. If you want hills afterwards, our page on treks near Jodhpur covers the rock trails below Mehrangarh. Everything else about training with us is on online personal training in Jodhpur.