California International Marathon Training Log (Week 3) | The Road to 2:20
Week 3 of 12 - Stacking miles, cooler weather, and a fast finish long run.
This week marked week 3 of 12 of my official build toward the California International Marathon (CIM) on December 7, 2025. Each week, I’ll be sharing data, insights, and other information about my training and process. I did something similar for the 2025 Boston Marathon, and the feedback was positive enough that I decided to do it again! You can find week 1 of the training log here and week 2 of the log here.
Big training requires big nutrition. Thanks to a few partners of this training log (and my weekly newsletter) who make products that support my training, recovery, and overall health:
Equip Foods (for all of your protein needs). Get 15% off your first order or 30% off your first subscription.
Create creatine gummies (because sometimes it’s more fun than the bland powder). Take 20% off your order.
Ketone IQ (my go-to source for a brain boost during a run or the best post-workout recovery shot). Get 30% off your order.
Week 3 (September 29–October 5, 2025)
Another week of high mileage! I’ll be honest, this is the first week in a while where my legs have felt pretty sore, trashed, and generally just “tired.” That’s an expected byproduct of increased mileage and intensity—and it’s a signal I’m heeding to make sure I’m not overdoing it among the excitement I have for training right now. The cooler fall temperatures in Texas made training feel MUCH easier and more enjoyable compared to previous weeks. A few runs this week let me know how fit I am! Along with hard training, I fit in a hot-cold contrast recovery session, a few saunas, and even treated myself to a massage. I fit in an off day, too.
Weekly totals
Running: 84 miles (5 days of running)
Biking: 2 hours 45 minutes (two rides)
Week 3 | Day 1 - OFF/Recovery day
It’s probably been well over a month since I had a day where I didn’t “train.” So today I decided to do a light bike ride to the gym, hit the sauna, and get in a few light walks. It’s not a “do nothing” day, but it’s not a real training day either (keep the stress low, but sweat just a little is my motto).
Today’s training:
~7,000 steps of walking (two 30-minute walks)
Light cycle to and from the gym
45-minute sauna
Week 3 | Day 2
Workout: 17-mile easy run
Shoes: Brooks Hyperion Max 2
Bonus: 30-minute infrared sauna, 15 minutes of hot-cold contrast, and 20 minutes using Normatec recovery boots at the Generator Athlete Lab here in Austin, Texas (if you’re ever here, check them out or join me!)
Week 3 | Day 3 (Workout Wednesday + Easy Double)
Today felt GOOD. Despite a goal of having the hard portions of this workout at a more relaxed effort, I ended up feeling strong and therefore pushed just a little bit harder than planned. Oddly enough, ~5:00/mile pace felt surprisingly easy—something I’ll partly attribute to the cool temperatures.
AM Workout (~17 miles total)
5-mile warmup including 2 hard strides and one hard 3’ effort
10 x 3 minutes at threshold pace with 2 minutes rest (4:55—5:10 pace for the hard portions)
~2-mile cooldown
Shoes: Nike AlphaFly Next% 3
PM Workout: 4 miles easy
Shoes: Asics Superblast 2
Week 3 | Day 4
Workout: 2 hour 7 minute indoor Zwift ride
Week 3 | Day 5
Workout: 13 miles easy + microinterval set during the last mile (1 x 60”, 2 x 30”, 4 x 15” at tempo effort)
Shoes: Asics Superblast 2
Bonus: Deep tissue massage!
Week 3 | Day 6 (Long Run with a Fast Finish)
Another huge confidence-boosting long run! I planned on 20 but went 21 (logistics) and decided to see how fast I could make the last mile. The entire run was a progression run: after 5 easy miles, I picked up the pace and mostly kept things in the 6:00—6:15/mile pace for the remainder of the run. In the last 10k, I picked things up a bit more and averaged 5:45—6:00/mile, and the last mile was a tough but controlled 5:17(!)
Workout: 21-mile long run
Shoes: Mizuno Neo Vista
Fuel: Total carbs = 150 grams (~65 grams per hour)
1 shot of caffeinated Ketone IQ before
40 grams of carbohydrates (gel) at 30, 1:15, and 1:45
1 bottle (18 ounces) of water with Skratch carbs + electrolytes (30 grams carbs total)
Week 3 | Day 7
Workout: 10 miles easy + 35-minute Zwift ride
Shoes: ASICS Superblast 2
