Blue Ridge Double Marathon

Double runners start at 1 a.m. or 2:30 a.m. from the Patrick Henry Hotel and run the marathon course once on open streets in the dark, with headlamps, reflective gear and a phone required. The first lap must be finished before 7:30 a.m., and runners then start the second lap with the marathon at 7:35 a.m.

The two laps total about 14,860 feet of elevation change. The second lap has a 7.5-hour limit and follows the marathon cutoffs.

Runners used to sneak in an unofficial lap in the middle of the night before the Blue Ridge Marathon. It became an official race in 2017, sold out with 75 runners, and is now capped at 150 and sells out every year.

The first lap is mostly self-supported, with roving support vehicles and roll-call checkpoints. The second lap runs with the full marathon field and its aid stations, and finishers get double-specific bibs, shirts and medals.