The 'Double Boston' Plan

Seven members of the Trail Animals Running Club — Kathryn Zioto, Justin Hetherington, Jon Western, Maria Chevalier, Dave Desnoyers, Brendan Morgan and Bill Dittman — plan to start from the Boston finish line on Boylston Street in the pre‑dawn hours of Marathon Monday, run the 26.2‑mile Boston course in reverse to Hopkinton, rest for a few hours, then run the official race later the same day. (trailanimals.com) (marathonhandbook.com) Because they will run the course twice, their total distance is 52.4 miles — twice the standard marathon distance of 26.2 miles — which puts the effort into ultradistance territory and requires different planning than a single marathon. (baa.org) (marathonhandbook.com) Logistically the group is relying on private support: they expect to depart Boylston around 3:00 a.m., use a sponsor‑rented house to rest and refuel between legs, and carry or receive crewed supplies rather than depending on race‑day services. (marathonhandbook.com) (bostonnewsroom.com) That private support is important because the Boston course is a point‑to‑point route managed by the B.A.A. and local authorities, with specific timing, aid‑station and road‑closure schedules that govern when official services are active and when roads reopen to traffic. (baa.org) (boston.gov) From a performance standpoint, covering 52.4 miles in one calendar day shifts the emphasis from pure speed to steady pacing, continuous fueling, and crew logistics — the same priorities runners use in organized ultramarathons, where support crews, calorie timing, and managing fatigue are the major variables. (marathonhandbook.com) (trailanimals.com) “Double Boston” has existed as an informal challenge among a handful of runners in prior years, but this year’s seven‑person group is notable for having a sponsor (Mount to Coast) and an organized plan to document times and logistics, signaling the move from personal stunt toward a repeatable, supported format. (boston25news.com) (bostonnewsroom.com)