Meet the second runner we’ll be following along as he trains with @clifbar for CIM, @therealmattduffy: Hi there, I’m Matt Duffy and this will be my 3rd CIM and 6th Marathon! I last ran CIM in 2015 and tore my plantar fascia at mile 22, I was able to finish in a PR of 2:21:02 but the injury sidelined me quite a bit over the next year. My goal at CIM is to get as close as possible to my previous marathon best and set myself up on a path to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Trials. It should be a fun 9 weeks of hitting the pavement once or twice a day, and it’ll definitely leave me feeling exhausted but the starting line is now, not at Folsom. Looking forward to sharing my training with everyone, please tag me in any comments and I’ll personally reply

“Sacramento is a wonderful city to run in, but recently I have escaped to the hills for training runs. This offers a challenge for my body by adding new terrain and more elevation. When changing your environment, it is important to fuel properly. I find that CLIF Bars provide the carbohydrates my body needs for energy, along with a great taste! They are easy to pack so remember to carry an extra in case of emergencies out on the trails! You never know what you may encounter so it’s best to be prepared, and same goes for on the roads! Has everyone been testing out nutrition options in their training?” @that_runner_girl_goes