SUB-3 INITIATIVE

Talent was never the missing piece — Infrastructure was.

Fewer than 300 African Americans have ever run an officially-timed sub-3-hour marathon. The Sub-3 Initiative is RunJuneteenth’s program to change that number — not one runner at a time, but cohort after cohort. Each cohort of sub-3 candidates is surrounded with everything a professional build requires: an intensive 16-week training block featuring individualized run coaching, strength training, physical therapy, and nutritionist support; bibs to marquee marathons and tune-up races; and product and gear support from our brand partners. And they don’t do it alone — every runner in the cohort is chasing the same goal on the same timeline, together. Every step of it gets documented, from day one of training to the finish line, so the next candidate can see the path before they run it.

Meet the Fall 2026 Cohort

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 Fall 2026 Coach

Tunde Akinyeke | @taut_7

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.

Goal Race — Fall 2026

California International Marathon — Sunday, December 6, 2026

California International Marathon (CIM) is an annual point-to-point marathon from Folsom, CA's foothills to the California State Capitol in Sacramento. A top-10 largest U.S. marathon by finishers, its course has been unchanged for 42 years and has hosted over 100,000 finishers; the 2025 event saw 8,185 runners finish.

Why this race. CIM is a net-downhill course — 366 ft of drop — and has been ranked the #1 Boston Qualifier (BQ) by multiple running publications. In 2025, over 30% of the field BQ’d and over 17% ran a sub-3 marathon.‍

The event is organized by the Sacramento Running Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

‘Tune-Up’ Races — Fall 2026

dc half marathon (Washington, DC) — Sunday, September 20, 2026

The DC Half is a two-day road racing event held annually in Washington, DC and organized by Pacers Running. The event comprises a 5K (Saturday), a half marathon (Sunday) and the District Challenge (entry in both races). Both courses start and finish at West Potomac Park, with the half marathon route winding its way through many of DC’s iconic landmarks including East Potomac Park, the Tidal Basin, the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. Always a popular race within the DMV, the race increasingly attracts runners nationally given its relatively flat course profile and early/mid-September date on the Fall race calendar. The 2025 DC Half Marathon tallied 7,540 finishers.

district 19 (Washington, DC) — Sunday, October 4, 2026

District 19 is an annual run crew-led, race experience in Washington, DC created by District Running Collective. Featuring 5K, 19K, and 19 Mile distances, road and trail run event was built to challenge traditional race culture and create a more community-centered experience rooted in storytelling, culture, and the city itself. What started as a response to uncertain times has grown into one of the country’s most culturally significant crew-led races, bringing together runners from across the nation to celebrate movement, community, and the future of running culture. Proceeds from District 19 support the work of District Running Community, District Running Collective’s nonprofit arm focused on youth programming, community wellness, and access to resources in DC.

run the parkway (folsom, CA) — Sunday, november 8, 2026

Run the Parkway is an annual running event on the American River Bike Trail around Lake Natoma in Folsom, CA. Organized by the Sacramento Running Association, the event offers 20-Mile and Half Marathon course distances — both featuring a loop around Lake Natoma. Proceeds benefit the American River Parkway Foundation in helping to further its mission of supporting the preservation and enjoyment of the Parkway, the “crown jewel” of Sacramento Parks. The event also serves as Official Training Run of the California International Marathon, held four weeks later.

To explore partnership, sponsorship, or donation opportunities with the Sub-3 Initiative, contact us at run@juneteenthmarathon.org