SUB-3 INITIATIVE
Partnered with BLACKSUB3 & RUNJUNETEENTH
About the Program
The Black Sub-3 Collective is a partnership between RunJuneteenth, BLACKSUB3, and the California International Marathon dedicated to increasing representation among Black runners pursuing the sub-3-hour marathon.
Talent was never the missing piece — Infrastructure was.
Over the last several years, distance running has become more diverse. Yet black runners remain significantly underrepresented among those achieving one of the sport’s most recognized performance milestones—the sub-3-hour marathon. Closing this gap requires more than determination. It requires access to coaching, mentorship, competitive opportunities, and meaningful support.
For the 2026 California International Marathon, CIM is proud to welcome and support a cohort of 12 athletes as they pursue the sub-3-hour marathon. Together with RunJuneteenth and BLACKSUB3, this initiative is designed to provide a platform for these athletes while sharing their stories, celebrating their progress, and connecting them with the broader running community.
As one of the fastest marathons in the country, CIM has long been a destination for runners chasing personal bests, Boston qualifiers, and Olympic Trials standards. We believe that the same stage can also help expand representation in the sport by giving more athletes access to opportunities, visibility, and a community that believes in their goals.
The 2026 cohort led by RunJuneteenth and BLACKSUB3, extends far beyond race day. Over the next 16 weeks, the cohort will train together under the guidance of Coach Tunde Akinyeke, compete in key tune-up races, and document every stage of the journey—from the first training runs to race weekend at CIM. Along the way, they’ll share the highs, lows, and lessons that come with chasing a sub-3-hour marathon. While the immediate goal is a successful performance at the California International Marathon, the long-term mission is to grow the number of Black sub-3 marathoners—cohort after cohort, year after year.
Meet the Team
Not Just Athletes — Amplifiers.
For Fall 2026, RunJuneteenth is partnering with Black Sub3 to bring together a cohort of prime sub-3 candidates, including founders and captains of Club Seattle Runners Division, District Running Collective, St. Louis Run Crew, and more.
Meet the Coach
Tunde Akinyeke
Tunde Akinyeke is the founder of Chasing Roses Training, where he has coached runners of all levels since 2019. He earned his Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) Level 1 certification in 2021, and he also serves as a captain within Atlanta Run Club.
A sub-3 marathoner himself, Tunde coaches from the far side of a barrier most of his athletes are still working toward — including those chasing the same sub-3 mark. His philosophy is simple enough to state and hard enough to live: it all boils down to consistency. That belief shapes how he trains himself and how he trains everyone who runs under his guidance. Running is his hobby in every direction it extends — his own training, his athletes’ training, and the work of getting more Black runners to the start line.
Off the roads, Tunde is a biology professor based in Atlanta, GA.