Runners Code of Conduct

At all Hyderabad Runners events, programs, and spaces operated by Hyderabad Runners:

  • Participants should conduct themselves in a courteous manner, respect all fellow participants, volunteers, event staff, spectators, and members of the community, and follow the Rules of Competition.
  • Volunteers should also follow the Hyderabad Runners Volunteer Guidelines.
  • Proper race etiquette is required at all times, including being aware of your surroundings and of announcements and instructions from event officials.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

  • Runners must not engage in any misconduct that is abusive, harassing, insulting, or offensive, even if not explicitly prohibited by Hyderabad Runners' Rules of Competition.
  • Participants displaying unsportsmanlike behavior or using offensive language towards event officials, Hyderabad Runners staff, or volunteers may face disqualification or other penalties.
  • Unsportsmanlike conduct includes providing false or misleading information on an event application.
  • Any behavior deemed unethical, unfair, abusive, offensive, harassing, disrespectful, harmful, or illegal by Hyderabad Runners is considered unsportsmanlike.
  • Runners should remain respectfully quiet during pre-race announcements.

Start

  • Allow sufficient time to reach the start venue.
  • Drop your baggage at the designated counter.
  • Enter your assigned corral promptly.
  • You may enter a slower corral if necessary, but not a faster one.

No Smoking or Vaping

No smoking, vaping, or use of electronic smoking devices, tobacco products, or marijuana products is allowed:

  • In the Start Corrals
  • On the Course
  • In the Finish area
  • Within 1,000 feet of the Start Corrals, the Course, or the Finish area

For invited professional athletes, the use of the following is prohibited:

  • Headphones
  • Mobile phones
  • Other mobile recording devices

These prohibitions are enforced under the rules and regulations of the relevant governing bodies: World Athletics C1.1 & C2.1 - Competition Rules & Technical Rules for the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon 2025.

  • The use of headphones is strongly discouraged for all other athletes in the open category.
  • If you choose to wear headphones, ensure you can hear all announcements.
  • Remain aware of your surroundings, including other participants.
  • Keep the volume low enough so that the sound is not audible to other runners.
  • The use of mobile phones and other recording devices during the event is strongly discouraged unless used to track your run.

Running Courtesy

  • Forming: Do not run in groups of three or more abreast; wide groups become barriers to other runners.
  • Passing: Communicate when passing a runner, and allow others to pass. If someone running behind you says, “On your left,” move to your right. If someone says, “On your right,” move to your left.
  • Stopping: Do not stop abruptly. If you stop to drink at an aid station, take water from the furthest point on the table or line to avoid congestion and continue to walk forward. If you need to tie your shoelaces, move to the side of the course.
  • Spitting: Take care when you spit and blow your nose to avoid hitting other participants.
  • Noise: Portable speakers are banned at our events. Do not run with a speaker during a race as the amplified noise may diminish the race experience for other runners.
  • Helping: If you encounter a runner in distress, offer assistance and/or report the situation to the nearest aid station, event official, or the event medical emergency.

Portable Toilets

  • Be considerate in portable toilet lines.
  • Do not cut in line or into another line.
  • Respect that others will use the toilet after you.
  • Avoid urinating or defecating in the corrals, at the post-finish walk-off, or on roadside of the course.
  • Understand that such actions are discourteous and violate Hyderabad Runners' Rules of the event.
  • Be aware that engaging in such conduct risks disqualification.

Trash

  • Dispose of all trash in the designated trash bins.
  • This includes bins at aid stations.
  • When discarding cups at aid stations, be careful not to hit other participants.

Lost and Found Items

  • If you find an item during or after the event, please turn it in to the Hyderabad Runners staff, to a section lead on the course, or to any Hyderabad Runners event official.
  • Hyderabad Runners will make best efforts to make these items available for pick up by the next day at the Hyderabad Runners Office located in Manikonda, Hyderabad.
  • Items will be held for 30 days and discarded if not claimed by their owner.

Bag Check at the Race

Hyderabad Runners is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen bags or items from bags checked at Hyderabad Runners bag check.

Violations of the Code of Conduct

  • Hyderabad Runners reserve the right to apply penalties to participants who violate the Code of Conduct.
  • Penalties may include disqualification from a race.
  • Participants may become ineligible for awards and prize money.
  • Suspension or barring from future Hyderabad Runners events or programs is possible.
  • Revocation of Hyderabad Runners membership may occur.
  • Entry to any spaces/events operated by Hyderabad Runners may be barred.
  • Other penalties deemed appropriate by Hyderabad Runners may also be applied.