California International Marathon
Sacramento, United States · December · Independent
Why people love it
- Net drop of 112 m (366 ft); local reports say about a third of runners earn a Boston qualifier.
- 17 aid stations about every 2.5 km (1.6 mi), with fuel at three points.
- Cheer zones from 21 km (13 mi) to 40 km (25 mi), and a finish at the State Capitol.
- Pace groups from 2:22 to beyond 3:40 and many toilets.
Watch out for
- Buses leave 04:00 to 05:30 for a 07:00 start; no private drop-off and no start gear check.
- The net downhill hides about 202 to 213 m (663 to 700 ft) of rolling climbing, so early quads suffer.
- Late sweepers removed aid and markers on slower days; bag return at the finish was slow.
- Standard entry tiers sold out for 2026; December can bring rain or smoke.
- Scenery is mostly suburbs and bike paths, called average by reviewers.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.3
Reviewers give it five stars and call it well planned. Deductions for early bus logistics and dull middle miles. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.1
Plenty of aid and toilets and a well-marked course. Faults: late sweepers pulling aid, slow bag return, and a 2023 finish water shortage. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.4
Net downhill with a 6 hour limit, but 04:00 to 05:30 buses and early quad damage from the descent are real. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.2
Net drop of 112 m (366 ft); local reports say about a third qualify for Boston. The last 8 km (5 mi) is flat. · High confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryPleasant2.8
Mostly suburbs and bike path corridors that reviewers call average or bland. Autumn colour and the Capitol finish help. · Medium confidence
- Room to runRoomy4.0
Roads are wide enough for about 9,000 finishers; the only congestion reported is at busy fluid stations. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood4.0
Paved roads with no surface complaints, though few reviewers mention it. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.6
Runs on public roads under police control. Sources do not confirm every road is fully closed. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessRolling3.2
Gross gain of about 202 to 213 m (663 to 700 ft), in the rolling band. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillDownhill4.3
Net drop of 112 m (366 ft) from Folsom Dam to the Capitol, BQ eligible but gentler than Boston's own drop. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting2.6
Buses run 04:00 to 05:30 for a 07:00 start, with no private drop-offs or start gear check. Buses are warm; toilets plentiful. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingFull range4.5
Pace groups from 2:22 to beyond 3:40 are reported, with accurate splits. · Medium confidence
- Crowd supportDecent3.4
Spectators are barred at the start and thin early. Stronger in the second half, with cheer zones from 21 km (13 mi) onward. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.3
Seventeen stations about every 2.5 km (1.6 mi), fuel at three points and many toilets. Late runners sometimes found stations removed. · High confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.9
One report records almost no wind; no other reviewer complains about it. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.3
7 to 12 °C (45 to 54 °F) at the start and 12 to 16 °C (54 to 61 °F) by 10:00. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
Often cool and still, but a 2012 storm, rain forecasts and 2024 wildfire smoke show December can vary. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.0
Point-to-point with eight cheer zones, so friends should pick one or two spots. Finish area has security checkpoints. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Start 112 m (366 ft), finish 8 m (26 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early2.8
Hotels near the Sacramento finish book up quickly and host hotels sell out. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.3
Reports range from sold-out or expensive hotels to mid-range options and a USD 5 parking garage. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.7
Expo, finish and many hotels are downtown, and buses leave from the convention center. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.3
Sacramento airport is about 20 km (12 mi) from downtown, and Amtrak serves the city. · High confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.0
No race-day bib pickup, bag check at the expo or bus hub, 04:00 buses and finish security checkpoints. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.5
Downtown and midtown Sacramento have decent dining, but reviewers say little about it. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inHard2.3
Standard tiers sold out for 2026; a transfer portal ran in autumn. Register as soon as entry opens. · High confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.5
USD 180 to 230 buys fair entry with fuel, pace groups and strong organisation. Bus start is included. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Sacramento, Sacramento County, United States
- Typical month
- December
- Latest or next date
- 6 December 2026
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 9,000 athletes
- First held
- 1983
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Climbing
- 202 m (665 ft)
- Descent
- 306 m (1,000 ft)
- Start time
- 07:00
- Cutoff
- 6 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Asphalt roads
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Yes
- Entry fee
- About $200
- Air temperature
- 7–16 °C (45–61 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate; valley mist common until about mile 10
- Altitude
- 112 m (365 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Sacramento International (SMF), 20 km (12 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown Sacramento, Midtown, Folsom (start side)
- Booking
- Hotels near the finish book up quickly. No private drop-offs at Folsom; buses leave from five hubs between 04:00 and 05:30.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves California International Marathon reviewsRaced 2022-2025 · aggregator · Positive
Runners call it well planned with plenty of aid and toilets. Most found the course rolling, with about 580 m (1,900 ft) of climbing in one tracker, against a net drop of about 91 m (300 ft); the last 10 km (6 mi) is flat. Scenery rated average, crowds good in the second half. Bus waits varied from smooth to 45 minutes, and one 2023 reviewer reported water shortages at the finish.
- Team RunRun: CIM Marathon race reportRaced 2019 · blog · Positive
Found the course net downhill but with over 213 m (700 ft) of climbing on Strava. Buses from Sacramento let him stay aboard until 15 minutes before the start. Few spectators in the first half, more near Sacramento. Aid every two miles with Nuun, bag return at the finish was slow.
“I'd give it five stars and would recommend it.”
- Team RunRun: CIM Marathon race reportRaced 2021 · blog · Positive
Rolling course, well marked, partly cloudy and 6 °C (42 °F) with almost no wind. More than enough aid stations with attentive volunteers and spectators cheering throughout. Advises booking hotels early and wearing throwaway layers for the shuttle.
“The course was marked really well”
- Fueled by Lolz: California International Marathon RecapRaced 2024 · blog · Positive
3:19:57 finish. Fast but not easy: about 213 m (700 ft) of gain, with a big hill near miles 10.5 to 11 (17 km). A 15-minute bus ride to a start with plenty of bathrooms, a large halfway cheer section, and mild wildfire smoke. Enter the corral 15 to 20 minutes early.
- Racecast: CIM reviews (Reddit summaries)Raced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
Five 2025 finishers from 2:22 to 3:42 call the course flat-and-fast to rolling. One said hills were milder than expected, another said they were a surprise. Cool 5 to 6 °C (low 40s °F) and cloudy. Pace groups for 2:22 to sub-3 mentioned.
“Really can't ask for better weather for a Sunday long run.”
Show 4 more
- The Fat Marathoner: CIM 2026 Complete Race GuideRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Lists tiered fees of $180 to $230, an expo at the downtown convention center, no race-day packet pickup and 17 aid stations. Cheer zones every few miles from 5 to 40 km (24.9 mi). Buses 04:00 to 05:30 from five hubs, no private drop-offs and no start gear check. Calls CIM performance-focused and well run.
“Board your shuttle early.”
- Carmichael Times / Rancho Cordova Independent: Marathon runs its courseRaced 2024 · article · Positive
Local report on the 2024 edition: course essentially unchanged since 1983, with the Sacramento Running Association saying nearly a third of runners qualify for Boston. Page blocked on fetch; details come from search results only.
- Wikipedia: California International MarathonRaced 2025 · article · neutral
First run 4 December 1983 with just under 10,000 finishers. Start at 112 m (366 ft) at Folsom Dam, finish at 8 m (26 ft) at the State Capitol. Men's record 2:07:35 (2024), women's 2:24:09 (2025).
- BibRave CIM reviews (search snippets)Raced 2012-2025 · aggregator · neutral
Snippets only: one review estimated 91 m (300 ft) net drop with about 213 m (700 ft) of climbing; another from 2012 recorded a storm on race day. Page was not fetched.
Raced California International Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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