Techniques for reducing data log recovery time and metadata write amplification when checkpointing a data log of a storage object in a distributed storage system are provided. In one set of embodiments, a node of the system can determine whether the data log has reached a first threshold size, where the data log comprises a plurality of data log records, and where each data log record includes data and metadata for a write request directed to the storage object. If the data log has reached the first threshold size, the node can copy, from each of the plurality of data log records, the metadata for the write request to a corresponding metadata log entry in a metadata log of the storage object. The node can then truncate the data log by removing the plurality of data log records.