Courtney Dauwalter to Race California Marathon in December
The runner aims to qualify for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials with a target marathon time of 2:37:00.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Running
Live Poll
Would you try an intense new sport or hobby to challenge your personal limits?
Courtney Dauwalter is set to race the California International Marathon on December 6, 2026, as she seeks to hit the 2:37:00 qualifying standard for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials. The endurance runner aims to build on her previous road marathon performances in Sacramento.
Why it matters
Attempting to shift from ultra-endurance racing to the strict requirements of a high-speed road marathon tests physiological adaptation and performance limits. Her progress illustrates the rigorous training demands necessary for elite runners to qualify for high-level competitive fields.
Dauwalter recorded a marathon time of 2:38:55 at the California International Marathon in December 2025, falling just short of the 2:37:00 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying standard. Her previous personal best was 2:49:54 at the Twin Cities Marathon in October 2025.
The players
Courtney Dauwalter
An elite endurance athlete and ultrarunner recognized for her performance in 100-to-250-mile mountain and trail races.
The details
Dauwalter incorporates high-volume training weeks and fast road workouts into her routine to bridge the gap between ultrarunning and marathon speed. She intends to race in a pack of runners during the event to help maintain the momentum required to shave nearly two minutes off her best time. The transition involves adapting from the variable terrain of 100-to-250-mile ultra-races to the high-cadence demands of a flat 26.2-mile road course.
Timeline
October 2025: Dauwalter ran her personal best 2:49:54 marathon at the Twin Cities Marathon.
December 2025: Dauwalter finished the California International Marathon in 2:38:55.
May 2026: Dauwalter placed second in the Cocodona 250 race.
August 2026: Dauwalter dropped out of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc at the 50-mile mark.
December 6, 2026: Dauwalter is scheduled to run the California International Marathon.
Health Landscape
The effort to secure a qualifying time for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon highlights the unique challenges of shifting between extreme endurance disciplines and standardized road racing. This pursuit follows a pattern of elite athletes attempting to push their physiological performance limits in new endurance environments.
Readers interested in endurance training can note that consistency and targeted speed workouts are key for improving marathon times. Consult a running coach or sports medicine physician before drastically increasing training volume to ensure recovery and avoid overuse injuries.
The takeaway
Dauwalter's path emphasizes that incremental speed gains are essential when pivoting to high-intensity road racing. Runners looking to improve their own performance should prioritize a mix of high-volume aerobic capacity and specific, race-paced road workouts.
Further reading
Learn more about high-performance endurance goals in the Running section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Runner's World.
Live Poll
Would you try an intense new sport or hobby to challenge your personal limits?
