Breaking 3:00 at the California International Marathon
Even splits would be 4:16/km (6:52/mi). But California International Marathon isn't flat-even — the plan below redistributes the same finish time across the course the way experienced runners actually race it.
How to pace this course
0–10 km
Rolling descent — don't redline the downs
4:15/km (6:50/mi)
10–32 km
Waves of rollers, net downhill
4:17/km (6:54/mi)
32–42.2 km
Flattens and drops to the Capitol
4:15/km (6:50/mi)
Split table
| Checkpoint | Split | Elapsed | Pace at this point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km | 21:13 | 21:13 | 4:15/km |
| 10 km | 21:13 | 42:26 | 4:15/km |
| 15 km | 21:26 | 1:03:52 | 4:17/km |
| 20 km | 21:26 | 1:25:18 | 4:17/km |
| Half | 4:42 | 1:30:00 | 4:17/km |
| 25 km | 16:44 | 1:46:44 | 4:17/km |
| 30 km | 21:26 | 2:08:10 | 4:17/km |
| 35 km | 21:18 | 2:29:28 | 4:15/km |
| 40 km | 21:13 | 2:50:41 | 4:15/km |
| Finish | 9:19 | 3:00:00 | 4:15/km |
Print this table or write the elapsed times on your arm — GPS pace is least reliable exactly when you need it most.