26.TRUE is an unsanctioned marathon (26.2 miles) specifically designed to amplify and celebrate the culture and diversity of the neighborhoods that make up the City of Boston. 26.TRUE is a tour of Boston – the real Boston – that highlights neighborhoods throughout the city and celebrates communities that are often overlooked during the Boston marathon weekend. We come together in defiance of history’s divisions to embrace old spaces in new ways and to run a marathon that is more than just a race.
THE ROUTE
Designed to truly highlight Boston, the 26.TRUE course goes through 14 of the city’s neighborhoods and a small slice of Brookline. Starting near the Ella Little-Collins house where Malcolm X lived, runners will travel south along Washington St passing between Boston’s largest greenspaces, Franklin Park and the Arnold Arboretum, as they make their way past bourgeoning BIPOC-owned businesses and cultural hubs in Egleston Square, Forest Hills, Hyde Park Square, & Mattapan Square. From there the course turns north into Dorchester, Boston’s largest and most diverse neighborhood, leading the way to scenic water-front views of the Atlantic Ocean. After passing through the seaport and Chinatown the course reveals some of Boston’s most storied historical areas, such as the Theater District and the Boston Common, the oldest public park in the nation. The final miles of the route take runners on a journey past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks like the Boston Strong bridge, the Citgo sign, and Fenway Park, before passing by MLK Jr and Coretta Scott King’s Boston home and through Nubian Square. Right on Washington St, Left on Dale St, finish at Malcolm X Park.
LESS
26.TRUE - See Boston and have fun
The 26.TRUE was great, it is put on by the Pioneers Run Crew to “make running more equitable & accessible to runners with a course that intentionally runs through the … MORE
The 26.TRUE was great, it is put on by the Pioneers Run Crew to “make running more equitable & accessible to runners with a course that intentionally runs through the beautiful & diverse neighborhoods of Boston”. 2023 delivered.
The race is unsanctioned, no official timing, no road closures, no traffic held at intersections. The production made all that work. The time at intersections can be used to look up and around and talk with fellow runners. There were a very adequate number of aid stations with water, Gatorade, goos, fruit, and even donuts at some; four were designated cheer stations but all the volunteers on the course were encouraging and enthusiastic. There were bike riders checking up on and encouraging the runners. There were a good number of course marshals and a Strava map for the places marshals couldn’t be.
The weather for 2023 was great, overcast and 50 at the start, sunny and 70 but with a cooling breeze 5 hours later. The course was a fun eye level tour of Boston, one of the hardest parts was not being able to stop and eat at the places along the way. My watch had 728 ft total ascent, I wouldn’t call it hilly.
Swag was really good this year, Puma warmup jackets and shoes, and a cool looking medal.
Packet pickup was smooth, inside a rec center so warm toilets. The start and finish was chalk on the street, I love races like that.
There were more runners in this race (80-100?) than the first two events combined. I hope it continues to thrive, I was very glad to have ran it.