In this special Road to the Trials episode, Peter Bromka and Matt Chittim team up with Brendan Gregg, the Course Director of the California International Marathon and a former CIM champion, for the ultimate 2025 race preview.

Brendan brings insider knowledge from both sides of the barriers: years of experience designing and refining the course, and firsthand insight as an elite athlete who has mastered it himself. Together, the trio walks listeners through every key detail of race weekend — from boarding the buses on race morning to navigating the final miles into Sacramento.

Over the episode, Peter, Matt, and Brendan break down:

What runners should expect at the start, including timing, logistics, and what actually matters in those early minutes before the gun
How to approach pacing over CIM’s rolling terrain, where to stay patient, and where to open up
Strategy differences for first-timers, OTQ chasers, negative-splitters, and anyone trying to survive that long descent into the city
Course features that matter more than people think — and the ones that don’t
How to stay composed in the final 10K and set up a strong, efficient finish on the streets of Sacramento

Peter also shares lessons from racing CIM five times, giving runners an honest sense of the effort, rhythm, and mental checkpoints that define the race.

Whether you’re racing for a PR, an OTQ, or the joy of a fast December marathon, this is the comprehensive course breakdown you’ll want in your pocket.

This episode is sponsored by V.O2, the coaching platform built on Dr. Jack Daniels’ proven training science. V.O2 gives coaches and athletes calibrated training paces, individualized planning tools, and team management features that help users train more accurately, improve performance, and reduce injuries. Listeners can find V.O2 in the app stores and at https://www.vdoto2.com. Save 20 percent with the code “roadtothetrials”.

This episode is also sponsored by OS1st Socks, an official partner of the California International Marathon. OS1st creates performance socks with purpose, built for runners who pay attention to the details that matter on race day. Their designs blend blister protection, moisture-wicking fabric, antimicrobial technology, targeted cushioning, and light compression, all while allowing natural toe splay to support the fit and function of modern racing shoes. OS1st is trusted by specialty running stores nationwide and is one of the fastest-growing sock brands in run specialty. From performance socks to compression sleeves, every product is engineered to reduce discomfort, support healthy movement, and help runners train hard and recover well. Find your local retailer at os1st.com/trials. And in true Matt Chittim fashion, he’s still wearing his first pair from five years ago — so if you spot him out on the run, feel fr

brendan gregg

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