by Bob Anderson, publisher of Double Runner magazine (Photo Bob Anderson with world record holder Julius Koskei wearing the yellow jersey since he won the first stage at our Indy Double 15k) 

I enjoy running, but I really love racing.  Now I have particularly fallen in love with Double Racing® -- and it’s not because I created this innovative new sport.   I will always run straight races, but in the future most of my races will be Doubles. Here’s why…

I’ve always loved the feeling of pushing my body to see how fast I could go and what time I could run. I have fond memories of winning the Junior Olympics half-mile in June 1963 back in my native Kansas.  The feeling of dropping the field on the final turn is still fresh in my mind.  I ran 2:08.5 that day, and I knew I wanted to run races the rest of my life.

Nearly 52 years later I am not winning races anymore, but I am enjoying running them  just as much. In fact, thanks to the Double, I am enjoying them more than ever!

Little did I know when I created Double Racing® that I had stumbled upon a way to double the fun of racing, except with all the elements, nuances and strategy considerations present in the Double, it’s more like you triple or even quadruple the fun.

It’s really come full circle, I guess. I started Runner's World magazine when I was 17 because I wanted a magazine covering the sport I loved.  Now we’ve started Double Runner to serve as the Bible of Double Racing®.

I first came up with the idea of Double Racing® when I was out on a run with my son, Michael, in October 2010. The idea was to run a race in two stages and calculate the aggregate or combined times to determine the winner. The first stage would be a 10K and  the second a 5K.  I really had no idea what it would feel like or even if I would like the experience,

Our first Double was held in October 2010; I think we had 20 or so in the field in Cabo,  Mexico.  It was hot and everyone was very nervous.  My son-in-law, Justin, ran it with me.  We just did not know what to expect.  How fast should we run the first 10K? Would we have anything left for the second leg?  We really had no idea how to approach it.

After finishing the 10K, we had about an hour before we would run the concluding 5K. I remember starting out that 5K.  My feet felt like they were glued to the road.  It felt weird! I was still wearing the wet shirt from the first leg.  I hadn’t eaten anything, and I had truly been at a loss what to do during the Halftime, as it would come to be called later.

I am totally excited about seeing many of you Saturday t the San Jose Double. Want to know how this all started? Here is the short story.
Bob Anderson 2/19/15 11:52 am

Great interview, and story about The Double. I'm so proud to be a Double alum.
Brad Chatfield 2/19/15 8:37 pm

Thanks Brad. See you at a Double in a few months! Maybe in OKC? Or at least in Overland Park in the summer!
Bob Anderson 2/19/15 10:40 pm

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But after I had run about a quarter mile of that concluding 5K, I started to get back into a rhythm. The act of running was comfortable again. I felt energy coming back.

To be sure, I did not prepare myself for the second leg like I do now. To me, the Double in those formative days just felt like a tough event.  I have to admit I loved the challenge, but I was not yet hooked on it.

We held more Doubles in Mexico.  Each one I learned more and each one became more fun.  In total, we held six Doubles in Mexico from Oct 2010 to October 2012. None had more than 65 runners, all were held in the heat, and I ran each one after spending long hours in the sun doing photo shoots of our Ujena swimwear models.

Nevertheless, by then I had thoroughly fallen in love with Double Racing® -- I was finally and truly hooked! – and I realized it was time to officially unveil this new sport on the world stage, which we did in Pleasanton, Calif., on Dec. 23, 2012. 

To lay the proper foundation for the sport, I felt it was important that all Double Racing® events would be held using the same guidelines.  World records and world best performance statistics would be maintained.  Double Racing® would be a world class and family fun event. We focused on making the Halftime really exciting.  We would offer all sorts of recovery tools (like exercise bikes, massage, rollers, hydration, nutrition, etc.) to help runners get ready for the second stage.  We also added live music.

Today I love our halftime break.  It gives me time to regroup, make adjustments. Most of all what I love about it is that it gives me the chance to talk and relate with other runners. The race is still on, we just aren’t running, and I, like many others, find the Halftime of the Double a very meaningful time of camaraderie and unity.

So now, 25 Doubles later, I am totally in love with Double Racing®. I wasn’t at the beginning.  It didn't happen overnight. Indeed the early Doubles I ran felt downright uncomfortable – much like that experience you have in your first marathon when you’re thinking “I don’t know if I want to do this again!” But with each Double I ran, I enjoyed it more than the one before. Now I can’t wait to do another one.

For the latest Double Racing Schedule go to: www.doubleracing.com/calendar

(Start of the second stage at the 3rd Annual Pleasanton Double Road Race 15k Dec 21, 2014. )

(Editor note: Double Racing was created by running visionary and Runner's World magazine founder Bob Anderson.  This new sport and new challenge with its strategic endurance twist is unique to the running world.  The title event is the Double Road Race 15k challenge.  It's a 10k followed by a 5k with a break in between featuring the Recovery Zone.  The second stage starts one hour and 45 minutes after the first stage.  Times of the two legs are combined for scoring.  The current world records for the Double 15k are: Men - Julius Koskei (KEN) 44:24 12/22/13, Women - Risper Gesabwa (KEN) 48:45 12/21/14. 

Other Double Racing distances include the Double 21k (15k+6k), Double 8k (5k+3k), Double 5k (3k+2k) and the Bob Anderson's Kids Cup Double 1.5 Mile (1 mile + half).  Double Racing is the only running event with a halftime... For more information go to: www.doubleracing.com   Would you like to bring Double Racing to your area? For details go to: www.doubleproducer.com )