The TCS World 10K is a challenging race. What are those challenges? the april weather on the one hand and the nature of the course on the other. While the weather is something that we cannot control, visualizing the course will help us prepare better to tackle this tricky course come race day.
The route underwent significant changes in the last edition (2024). You can read more about those changes here. This time around the changes are not as significant. Having said that, there are a few key changes that are worth highlighting. It is our educated guess that the changes have been necessitated by the road-works around Ulsoor lake and on Guard Cross Road.
Before we do a deep dive into the course proper let us look at some other changes vis-a-vis TCS 10km 2025
The start time has been moved to 6:10 AM as opposed to the 5:10 AM start we saw in the 2024 edition of this race.
There will be a wave start for each corral. Wave A goes out at 6:10 AM and Wave G goes out at 6:38 AM. The start has historically been a challenge in this race. Kudos to PROCAM for this initiative. Please check the race website for the exact time at which your wave goes off.
The start and end point have also changed. In this edition we will be starting on the Cubbon road opposite the RSAOI Cricket ground (Gate No. 5) and ending on Cubbon road, outside Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Parade Ground. Again, a good move on the part of PROCAM to utilize the Cubbon road in a way that will benefit runners.
Fun Fact: For the first time the elites and the amateurs will be running on the exact same route and in another first the elite men and women will be starting ahead of the open category.
Note on the weather
Bengaluru weather is very hot and sultry around this time of year. This year in particular has seen a relentless spike in temperatures in April. We have been experiencing some sporadic but intense showers as this report is being prepared, hopefully this trend continues and the mercury comes down on race-day.
Now, let us cut to the chase and focus on the course. We did a recce on the course last Sunday. Based on our experience of the previous edition (and with the benefit of hindsight) we would say that this course is certainly tougher than the 2024 edition. For those of you who have run multiple editions of TCS 10km some parts of this route will evoke nostalgia, more of that later!
To sum it up, this course has everything - undulating roads, (u) turns and a fast straightaway at the end.
If you are hard pressed for time, do not have patience to read the detailed preview or find the write-up too verbose and boring. We have you covered. Here is a bulleted list of what the TCS-10KM 2025 course has to offer.
Having set the context, let us do a deep dive into the course proper.
KM-1: You are all charged up and on fresh legs. Add the wave start to this mix. It can be very tempting to bolt like a horse on this first KM. Especially because this section is largely downhill in nature. We would say, hold your horses and cruise the downhill section. You start on Cubbon road and take a left onto Dickenson road and then take a right onto Ulsoor road. Be careful on the two turns.
Route Trivia #1: The seasoned TCS 10KM runners would fondly recollect this section of the race as it has featured in (much) older editions of this race :)
KM-2: You get off Ulsoor road and take a left on Bhaskaran road. This is a winding section of the course with Ulsoor lake on your left and the Gurdwara on your right as prominent landmarks. The initial part of this KM is a downhill continuation of the last KM and in the latter part you will encounter a short but sharp uphill.
Pro Tip #1: The first 1.6km is net downhill. Cruise in this section and conserve energy for the challenges that lie ahead.
KM-3: Shortly after the second KM you will encounter the first U turn on this course. Thereafter you will trace your path back on the same winding road. There will be a short and sharp downhill and then a steady uphill climb back to the Gurdwara. Be mindful of the headwinds that you are likely to face in this section of the course. You will take a sharp right turn from Bhaskaran Road onto Gangadhar Chetty road. This KM ends on a flat note :)
KM-4: This is largely a flat and uneventful section of the course. A stretch where you may want to inject some pace into the proceedings. Towards the end there is a brief detour. You take a right turn on Gangadhar Chetty road towards Annaswamy Mudaliar road, navigate the second U-turn on the roundabout and trace your path back on the same road before you take a short right turn back onto Gangadhar Chetty road.
Pro Tip #2: Gangadhar Chetty road is probably the flattest section of this course, but you have two turns and one roundabout to contend with. Surge in this section and get some time in the bank.
KM-5: This is the mid-race challenge! At the end of Gangadhar Chetty road as it blends into Dickenson Road you take a gentle left opposite South United football club. And the fun begins! What follows is a short and sharp uphill followed-up by a right turn onto a protracted uphill worth its weight in gold (pun intended, just look to your right and you’ll see what we mean) finally you take a left turn on to Kamaraj Road. The final 300m will test your grit as you negotiate a sharp but short uphill and make your way to the midway point opposite Army Public school.
Pro Tip #3: This is the steepest section of this course. Fortunately, it comes midway through the race. Last year THIS KM was the FINAL KM of the race. The “Ultimate Challenge” has graduated to the “Mid-race Challenge”. Keep reminding yourself that and bunch-up with a pack of runners of similar pace to maneuver this section.
KM-6: At the end of Kamraj road you take a right turn and voila! You are back on Cubbon road. Pat yourself on the back, half the battle has been won! This is a straight and mildly undulating section of the course. This KM ends around the Chinnaswamy Stadium on your left. Here is a handy mantra to keep you going - Ee Saala, PB Namde …
Pro Tip #4: We view this KM as a good segway point where you recover from all the uphill running and mentally prepare yourself for the undulating block of running that you will encounter over the next 2.5 KM or so.
KM-7: Now you transition to the scenic part of the course. You will encounter a mild and short downhill stretch as you cross Minsk Square and then work your way up a gentle uphill on Rajbhavan road. You will take a left-turn at the GPO signal on to Dr Ambedkar Road. This KM and the uphill ascent end around the Karnataka High court.
KM-8: For the most part of this KM, you will be running a steady downhill with the magnificent Vidhana Soudha on your right, then, you will take the third (and last) U turn on this course at the KR circle and run the first part of a steady uphill stretch.
KM-9: Grunt time … The first half of this KM is the continuation of the steady uphill on Dr Ambedkar road. At the top of this hill you will take a right at the GPO and run a gentle downhill on Rajbhavan road all the way back to Minsk square.
Pro Tip #5: KMs 8 and 9 are tricky partly because of the course topology and partly because the enemy is at the gate. That enemy goes by the name “fatigue” and he has an uncanny ally in the lay of the land. The sequence (steady downhill - U turn - steady uphill) and where it comes in the race makes it tricky.
By now the body is asking questions of you and the mind wants to open the gates to the enemy. Distract yourself, this stretch has some iconic landmarks - Vidhana Soudha, Cubbon Park, Karnataka High Court - soak in the beauty of these timeless landmarks. This is also a stretch where you will have some crowd support as running groups may set-up their cheerzones. Draw energy from all the cheering. If all this doesn’t work; count, hang on to a pack of runners, focus on your breathing, say a mantra, invoke your Ishta devata.
KM-10: The straightaway at the end! We could not have thought of a more fitting finale to this race. This is one straight stretch on Cubbon Road that culminates at the finish line just outside the SHFJ Manekshaw ground. This stretch has some minor undulations. If you have paced yourself well until this point then you will fly on this stretch! All the training, tears, blood and sweat come down to this final dash! All Systems are a GO, dig deep and just get the job done!
Final Pro Tip: JUST HANG IN THERE though the final KM. We get it that you are in “where is the damn finish line” mode by now. Remember, everyone is struggling around you. Derive solace from that fact. Focus on the runner in front of you, reel him or her in, and then the next runner and then the next runner. And besides, the best part of this course is that you can see the finish line from afar on this final stretch. Let that be your North Star towards a strong finish with a smile on your face!
| KM | Elevation Gain (m) | Elevation Drop (m) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 17 |
| 2 | 0 | 10 |
| 3 | 7 | 3 |
| 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | 17 | 0 |
| 6 | 11 | 0 |
| 7 | 6 | 2 |
| 8 | 2 | 12 |
| 9 | 7 | 3 |
| 10 | 0 | 5 |
Here is the GPX file for reference
PACING THE RACE
Given the course elevation profile, a steady pace is probably not ideal. We’ve put together a pace calculator based on the race elevation profile. You can use the calculator to arrive at the kilometer wise split paces based on your goal time.
Check out the pacing calculator here
Route preview write-up by Kartik
Kartik Iyer is a conversationalist, news junkie, AvGeek, running geek, techie, marathoner, strength & conditioning junkie, and a music aficionado in no particular order. He loves striking random conversations with people just about anywhere and on just about anything. He can be reached at @kartikiyer2007 on Insta and on Strava
Route Video and pacing calculators by Aravind
Aravind is a techie, running geek, and a marathoner. He loves all things technology and technology in running, with special interest in running form analysis. He is the co-founder of GeeksOnFeet.