If you run a half marathon, 25K or full marathon in India, your timing certificate is about to matter more than ever. Many runners use a certificate from a smaller race to enter India's biggest marathons. From now on, that certificate only counts if your race meets a published set of technical standards. Organisers have a transition period until 31 March 2027 to get there.
Here is what the new standards say, what they mean for your event, and the steps to take this season so your finishers' timings keep their value.
Why this matters for filling your race
Entry to the full marathon at the Tata Mumbai Marathon is only against a timing certificate, and a faster, more recent certificate gets a runner a better start wave. That makes qualifying races a big part of how serious runners plan their year.
The organisers of the Tata Mumbai Marathon, TCS World 10K Bengaluru, Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon and Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata have now published Road Race Technical Standards and Timing Recognition Guidelines. They set out which races' timing certificates they will accept for qualification. If your race meets them, it becomes a more attractive start line for every runner chasing a big-city marathon. If it doesn't, those runners may look elsewhere.
The four big requirements
1. A properly measured course
The course must be measured by an AIMS / World Athletics accredited measurer (Grade A or Grade B) using the calibrated bicycle method. The resulting International Course Measurement Certificate must be uploaded on your official event website and stay publicly accessible, showing the race name, distance, certificate number, measurer's name and grade, and the measurement date or validity.
2. RFID chip timing with split mats
Every runner must be timed with RFID, with the timing tag fixed to the bib before distribution. Split mats along the route help confirm that each runner covered the full course.
3. Fast, downloadable results
Provisional results must be published within 12 hours, and final results with downloadable timing certificates must be available online.
4. Proof the right person ran
Races need a way to confirm that the person who registered is the person who ran, for example by matching race photos to bib numbers or checking ID.
Key dates and limits
- Distances: only half marathon, 25 km and full marathon certificates are considered. Virtual runs, trail runs and uncertified races are not.
- Event date: the race must have been held on or after 17 July 2025.
- Transition: organisers have until 31 March 2027 to comply. Courses without an AIMS certificate are accepted only for events whose registration opens on or before that date.
- No "official qualifier" claims: races must not call themselves official qualifiers for these events on any platform.
The guidelines also say timing certificates can be rejected if there are substantial problems with timing accuracy, course distance or runner verification. Read the full text on the official page linked in the sources below before you plan anything.
A runner who trains for months deserves a timing certificate that counts. Organisers who measure their course properly and time it honestly are giving athletes something real, and we want those events to be the first ones athletes find on Feet and Pedals®.Amit Daga, Founder and CEO, Feet and Pedals®
Your five-step plan for this season
- Book a measurer early. The AIMS website keeps a list of accredited course measurers. Measurement needs the final route, so lock your route and permissions first.
- Talk to your timing partner now. Confirm RFID tags on the bib, the number of split mats for each distance, and a 12-hour results promise.
- Plan runner verification. Decide how you will match runners to bibs, whether through race photos, ID checks at bib collection, or both.
- Put the proof on your event page. Upload the course certificate to your website, and say clearly on your listing that the race is measured and chip-timed. For many runners, that line alone is a reason to book.
- Mind your wording. Say "AIMS-measured course" and "chip-timed" if true, but never "official qualifier".
How Feet and Pedals® helps on race weekend
Course measurement and chip timing sit with your measurer and timing partner. Feet and Pedals® takes care of the rest around them: athletes book in minutes and receive QR e-tickets and invoices, you can run early-price and club coupons, and volunteers can check in participants from their QR tickets at bib collection, which also helps you match the right runner to the right bib.
Our Early Bird offer for organisers runs for the first 25 organisers or until 31 October 2026, whichever comes first: a 90-day trial from the day you activate the Trial Plan, up to 10 event listings, ₹0 subscription charges during the trial, ₹0 payment gateway charges, and just 1% management fee on paid tickets (0% on free events). Subject to offer terms; see pricing and the organiser manual. Questions? Write to amit@feetandpedals.com or WhatsApp +91 92207 22803.
This article summarises published guidelines for general information. Always check the official page for the latest version.
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