Frequently Asked Questions

The "SHHM - the Ultra Half Marathon" is organized by the SATARA RUNNERS FOUNDATION (SRF), a nonprofit organization. SRF is a group of runners, who have been organizing this event, on a voluntary & community basis, since 2012 - with a focus on keeping the "Runner" at the center of all its activities.

SHHM 2026

is scheduled for Sunday, 6 September, 2026. The race will start at 6:30 am and the reporting time is 5:30 am.

The route for the SHHM (Half Marathon) is an OUT & BACK course. The Starting point, as well as the Finish point, is Police Parade Ground, Satara City.

A detailed map of the route, along with photos of the course, and an elevation profile is available on our website here.

PS: Final details of the route for SHHM every year are subject to approvals and permissions from the respective Official departments. The final announcement in this regard will be made at the appropriate time.

The race will start at 6:30 am on 6 September, 2026. The reporting time is 5:30 am.

Yes, Timing chips for the computerized recording of the run will be provided to all runners of the JBG SHHM (21.1 Km)

Registrations for SHHM 2026 are going to be carried out in two phases.

1. Registration STEP 1, and

2. Final Registrations.

Every participant should pre-register themselves to be eligible for final registrations.

Registration STEP 1 start from Apr 6, 2026 at 6:00AM at 6 AM & will close on Apr 9, 2026 at 6:00PM at 6 PM.

Final Registrations start on Apr 12, 2026 at 6 AM until all slots are filled.

Dates for Registration STEP 1 and final registrations are as follows:

Registration STEP 1: From Apr 6, 2026 at 6:00AM at 6 am to Apr 9, 2026 at 6:00PM at 6pm.

Final Registrations: Start from Apr 12, 2026 at 6 am until all slots are filled.

Please visit the SHHM registration page for more details.

SHHM registrations are taken online. Please visit the SHHM registration page to register yourself.

Registration for SHHM 2026 will happen in two steps.
Every year, due to popular demand for our event, there's a lot of rush on registration day. Runners often end up filling incorrect information as they try to complete their registration form online hastily. Many runners also miss their chance to register as the available slots usually fill up in a couple of hours.

That's why we've introduced a two step process, that'll help everyone to get a fair chance to register for their favorite Half Marathon.

Due to limited options for accommodation, we always recommend that our runners book accommodation first & then register for Satara. That's also why we have introduced registration in two steps ( Registration STEP 1 and STEP 2) so that runners who have completed Registration STEP 1 get time to look out for accommodation & then go for Registration STEP 2, once their accommodation was sorted out. If they are unable to find accommodation, they can choose to opt out of the Registration STEP 2.

All Athletes who successfully complete Registration STEP 1 between Apr 6, 2026 at 6:00AM and Apr 9, 2026 at 6:00PM will become eligible for the Registration STEP 2 (Final STEP) for SHHM 2026.

However, Registration STEP 1 DOES NOT GUARANTEE a slot to run in SHHM 2026.

Registration STEP 2 will start on Apr 12, 2026 at 6:00 AM ( will be closed as soon as the available spots fill up )

Only those who have completed Registration STEP 1 will be able to confirm their registration by completing their payment on Apr 12, 2026, as long as tickets in their category are available.

So, make sure to complete the Registration STEP 1 between Apr 6, 2026 at 6:00AM and Apr 9, 2026 at 6:00PM to qualify for a chance to register on Apr 12, 2026.

Candidates who've not completed Registration STEP 1 won't be eligible for the Registration STEP 2, and therefore cannot attend this year's event.

Registration fees for SHHM 2026 are as follows:

1. Satara District Runners With Valid Aadhaar ID (Local Category): ₹(to be announced) + GST.
2. All Runners (General Category): ₹(to be announced) + GST.

You can register at the SHHM registration page after registration dates are declared.

Expo for SHHM 2026 will be held on September 4 & 5, 2026 (2 days).

Expo Time (Day 1): 12PM - 7PM (Local Runners)
Expo Time (Day 2): 10AM - 6PM (Outstation Runners)

The address for the Expo Venue is Abhaysinhraje Sanskrutik Bhavan, Shendre Fata, Shendre, Satara – 415 004.

Please visit SHHM Expo page for more information.

Under exceptional cases, in case the transaction failed at the payment gateway stage, and if the money was debited but a confirmation was not generated, the money will be credited back to your account within 3 working days automatically. However, if in rare cases that does not happen and if you need further support, please email us with details of your registration – date of registration, name, and mail id and we will follow up to ensure the problem is tracked and dealt with.
Send an email to [email protected].

Prize money is distributed in various age groups for both men and women. You can see the Age Categories and other Prize Money related details including rules and regulations here.

Special Medal Categories
Every finisher will get a finisher’s medal & an online certificate with the finishing time. However, to make it more exciting, challenging & fulfilling for the runners, we have three categories of finisher’s medals in the Half Marathon event, according to different cut-off times as follows.

Medal Cut-Off Times
Hill Champion 2 Hrs.
Hill Conqueror 2 Hrs. 30 Min.
Hill Challenger 4 Hrs.
No Medal After 4 Hours

The race starts at 6:30 am sharp. The cut-off times will be strictly implemented as per the recorded chip time.

The time considered for the Medal Category will start only when you cross the Timing mat at the Start line. This new change is being implemented from this year (2025).

Please note that the Finisher Medals as well as your Ranking and Official Timing will be as per Chip time, starting when you cross the timing mat at the starting line.

Sorry, no cancellations/transfers are possible and registration fees are non-refundable.

Our aim as organizers is to promote & propagate the sport of Distance Running in our predominantly semi-rural & rural communities. To that end, we offer lower rates for registration to local runners, in comparison to outstation runners.

The SHHM is a very popular event & is much in demand. The demand is far in excess of the available registration slots. However, the organizers cannot increase the registrations due to logistical issues. The organizers want to maintain the high standards set in the past, ensuring a flawless & memorable experience for all runners. Additionally, the accommodation options like Hotels, etc are also limited in a small city like Satara, posing an additional challenge, especially for Outstation runners.

Announcements and music on loudspeakers cannot be started before 6AM as per the rules & regulations of the Local Administration. This is the reason we flag off the race at 6:30AM after warmup, instructions & line-up etc.

There are four Line-Up sections at SHHM.
LINE UP - E, A, B & C.

Section E is right upfront at the Starting line. It is for the ELITE category of runners, the ones who've submitted the fastest qualifying times/are contenders for a podium finish.

Section A is just behind section E, for the relatively fast runners expected to finish the run in approx. 2 hours.

It is followed by the intermediate runners in Section B & the last section is Section C, which is farthest from the Start Point/Timing Mat.

The Qualifying criteria for participation in SHHM & Seeding /Line Up section allotment for SHHM 2026 are as follows:

1. It is not compulsory to have a Timing Certificate from a previous event to participate. However, we strongly advise you to train well for the event, especially if this is your first event. Follow one of our training programs to make sure you reach the Starting line fully prepared.
2. Those who do not have / cannot provide any Timing Certificate from a previous event will be automatically allotted Line-Up section C.
   
   
3. If you wish to have a better seeding/Line Up section (E, A or B), then please provide your Finish Time certificate or Results link from a Half or Full Marathon event held on or after 1 January 2025. Timing certificate submitted once cannot be changed or upgraded.

The cutoff times for the qualifying/allocation for Line-Up sections are as follows:

Only runners having valid residential proof of Satara District will be allowed to register under the Local Satara District Runner category.  Only AADHAAR CARD shall be considered residential proof.

All registrations will be scrutinized. Any Outstation runners found to have registered in the Local category will be DISQUALIFIED. The registration charges will be refunded only AFTER DEDUCTING penalty + processing fees (total ₹ 500).

We regret to inform you that we are unable to assist with accommodation arrangements in Satara. As volunteers managing this event with limited resources, we focus on organizing the marathon itself. Accommodation options in our small city are typically booked well in advance by participants. Due to limited availability and lack of cooperation from hotel owners, we advise runners to secure accommodation before registering.

Our two-step registration process allows pre-registered participants time to arrange accommodation before finalizing registration. If you struggle to find accommodation, consider staying with friends from the running community or family friends nearby.

We are also exploring homestay options with local runners to support participants in need. Stay tuned for updates on our website regarding this matter.

Please follow us on our social media to stay updated with scheduled Training Runs. You can also train by opting for one of the available Training Programs by our Fitness Partner. Details coming soon.

You can look out for man-made slopes like parking lots, ramps, etc. You can also run on a Treadmill with an inclined ramp. Alternatively, running up and downstairs in a building ( gradually increasing the number of stairs and speed ) is also a good strategy.