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 over the last two editions (2024 & 25). This time around the changes are not as significant. Having said that, there are a few key changes that are worth highlighting.
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.
Now, let us cut to the chase and focus on the course. We have done a couple of recces on the race route. Based on our experience of the previous edition (and with the benefit of hindsight) we would say that this course is relatively easier than the 2025 edition. Again, 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, lesser (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 2026 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. Towards the end you take a left on to Kensington Road.
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: This is largely a flat and uneventful section of the course. A stretch where you may want to inject some pace into the proceedings. You run this KM completely on Kensington Road with Ulsoor lake on your left and take a gentle left opposite The Madras Sappers HQ.
KM-4: Kensington road merges into Annaswamy Mudaliar road which eventually blends into Gangadhar Chetty Road – sounds confusing? Okay let us keep it simple – predominantly flat section with a couple of short and sharp turns. This KM culminates with a short but sharp uphill from South United football club to the Dickenson Road Junction.
Pro Tip #2: KMs 3-4 are largely flat, and the turns are gently negotiable it is not a bad idea to get some time into the bank through this section i.e. pickup and maintain a steady pace.
KM-5: This is the mid-race challenge! On Dickenson Road junction you take 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 and this KM ends at on this road right before you join the Cubbon Road again.
Pro Tip #3: This is the steepest section of this course. Especially the final 300m on Kamraj Road which will test your grit as you negotiate a sharp but short uphill as you cross the Army Public school on your left. Fortunately, it comes midway through the race.
KM-6: Voila! You are back on Cubbon Road. Pat yourself on the back, more than half the battle has been won! This is a straight and mildly undulating section of the course. You will cross Chinnaswamy Stadium on your left and end this KM around Minsk Square. 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 3 KM or so. Also remember there will be people around Minsk Square who will be cheering for you. Soak in that energy, you’ll need it ahead!
KM-7: Now you are transitioning 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. Thereafter you will be running a steady downhill with the magnificent Vidhana Soudha on your right, This KM culminates right in front of the Vidhana Soudha.
KM-8: As you cross the Vidhana Soudha, you take U turn, and this part of this KM is a short upward ascent on Dr Ambedkar Road. At the end of this road, you will take a right at the GPO and run a gentle downhill on Raj bhavan road all the way back to Minsk square. Finally, and with the downward ascent in continuum you will take a right on to Queens Road.
KM-9: Grunt time … but thankfully easier than last year! A short downward ascent, the second and final U-turn on this course and a short upward ascent before you take that final right turn back on to Cubbon Road.
Pro Tip #5: KM-8 & 9 in this edition are relatively easier compared to what they were in the last edition. Sure, you do have some uphill sections, a couple of turns and a U turn. But this gets offset by the fact that you will be running a good dose of downhill sections as well. This is the time to bring your mental fortitude into the proceedings even though fatigue would like to have a say!
By now the body is asking you questions and the mind wants to give into fatigue. Distract yourself, this stretch has some iconic landmarks - Vidhana Soudha, Cubbon Park, Karnataka High Court, Chinnaswami Stadium - soak in the beauty of these timeless landmarks. This is also a stretch where you will have some crowd support as running groups will set up their cheer zones. 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 | Gain | Loss | Gradient | Terrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +0m | -12m | -1.3% | Gentle Down |
| 2 | +3m | -9m | -0.5% | Flat |
| 3 | +0m | -0m | -0.1% | Flat |
| 4 | +0m | -0m | 0% | Flat |
| 5 | +13m | -0m | 1.4% | Gentle Up |
| 6 | +5m | -0m | 0.4% | Flat |
| 7 | +4m | -4m | 0% | Flat |
| 8 | +5m | -5m | -0.1% | Rolling |
| 9 | +1m | -6m | -0.4% | Flat |
| 10 | +2m | -2m | -0.1% | Flat |
Interactive Route
We’ve also put together a page with interactive route map, elevation profile and also a GPX file for download. You can access the page here on RunStrong.
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
Elevation charts and Pacing calculators by Aravind
Aravind is a technologist, marathoner, and self-confessed running shoe geek. He’s passionate about the intersection of technology and running, with a keen interest in running mechanics. Aravind is also the co-founder of GeeksOnFeet, a platform dedicated to helping runners train smarter through data, technique, and community. Find him on Twitter: @imgeeksonfeet