Sports
How Júnior Double Began Doubling Marathons
From a logistical mishap in Rio de Janeiro to the New York cold, discover the origin of the ultramarathoner's project.
Without a bus ticket to the Rio Marathon starting line, Júnior Double decided to run all the way to Recreio. That improvisation became a method, inspired a trek across New York, and sparked his project to double marathons.
What started as an improvised fix for a logistical mishap turned into one of the most unique journeys in Brazilian road running. Known for running the reverse course to the starting line before racing the official 42 km, Júnior Double has completed eleven doubled races—including major challenges like South Africa's Two Oceans ultramarathon. On the Stemma Podcast, the runner recounted how the idea was born purely by chance in Rio de Janeiro.
PUBLICIDADE (GAM) — 1250x250
A logistical oversight becomes an ultramarathon in Rio
At the Rio Marathon, which starts in Recreio dos Bandeirantes and finishes in Aterro do Flamengo, standard procedure for out-of-town runners is staying near the finish line and taking the official shuttle to the start. Júnior, however, forgot to purchase the bus ticket during registration. Already accustomed to ultramarathon mileage, he ruled out taxis and decided to run to Recreio in the middle of the night.
For the journey, he teamed up with two local runners who used the overnight trek as a training run for the Ultramaratona dos Anjos Internacional (UAI), a 215 km race held in Minas Gerais. After crossing the city overnight, he lined up at the official starting arch and finished the marathon in 4:02, wrapping up the day with over 70 km logged.
Crossing New York and tackling the Majors
The experience came back to mind during his preparation for the 2018 New York City Marathon. Faced with traditional transit options to Staten Island—waiting for hours in the freezing cold on the ferry or languishing on early-morning buses—Júnior looked into whether anyone had ever traveled to the start on foot. Finding no records even in established ultramarathon Facebook groups, he mapped out contingency routes (from Plan A through E) and successfully completed the trek.
His double run on New York soil received widespread coverage in national and international media. Shortly after, upon securing a spot for his second Chicago Marathon—a race where he had hit the wall in his debut—the athlete decided he would not return for a standard run. That moment sealed his commitment to double every stage of the World Marathon Majors circuit, a journey that also gave rise to a book trilogy detailing the behind-the-scenes reality of these challenges.
PUBLICIDADE (GAM) — 1250x250
