The 26.TRUE Marathon & Half Marathon are specifically designed to amplify and celebrate the culture and diversity that make up the City of Boston. The route takes runners right through the heart of the city so that they can feel the pulse. It highlights neighborhoods and uplifts communities that are often overlooked during the Boston marathon weekend. We invite you to join us as we come together in defiance of history’s divisions, to embrace old spaces in new ways, and to run a half and full marathon that is so much more than just a race.
We’re running it back with the same route from last year. A 13.1 mile loop that will take runners through Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Dorchester, and into Mattapan. One loop for the half marathon, two loops for the full.
Runners start in Malcolm X Park and quickly enter Franklin Park, the city’s largest green space, before exiting into Jamaica Plain. Runners will travel along the beautiful SW Corridor Park until Roxbury Crossing where they will pass the storied Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center and continue into historic Nubian Square. Warren St will connect the route to Blue Hill Avenue and a loop around Harambee Park will take runners right by Dorchester Center. The southern tip of the course takes a quick dip into Mattapan before returning to Franklin Park and back to the start/finish line.
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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.