How do I register for CIM?

CIM uses open, tiered registration (Blue, Orange, and Gold levels) released each January on a first-come, first-served basis through Race Roster. All tiers typically sell out within weeks. Runners who miss open registration can secure a spot via a charity entry, which requires a mandatory donation of approximately $235 on top of the race fee.

What is the time limit?

CIM has a strict 6-hour cutoff. The start line closes at 7:30 AM and the finish line closes at 1:30 PM sharp. Runners who fall behind the sweep pace (13:44/mile) will be offered bus transport to the finish and will not be guaranteed race services.

Is CIM a Boston Marathon qualifier?

Yes. CIM is USATF-certified and accepted by the BAA as a Boston qualifier. In 2025, about 30% of finishers ran a Boston-qualifying time, making it one of the higher BQ-rate marathons in the country.

What is the elevation profile like?

The course is point-to-point with a net loss of roughly 340 feet, starting at 366 ft near Folsom Dam and finishing at 26 ft at the State Capitol. Total cumulative gain is 663 ft and loss is 1,003 ft. The first half features six short rolling climbs; the second half flattens steadily into Sacramento.

What is the typical race-day weather?

Early December in Sacramento is typically cool and dry. Historically, race-day temperatures average a low near 38°F and a high near 56°F, with light winds. Conditions generally fall within the ideal window for fast marathon performances.

How large is the field?

CIM typically draws around 8,000 to 9,000 marathon finishers, making it one of the ten largest marathons in the United States. The 2025 edition had 8,178 marathon finishers.

Is the course USATF certified?

Yes. CIM is certified and sanctioned by USATF, and also qualifies for the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon.

Sun, Dec 6 · 2026Sacramento, CASince 1983

California International Marathon

CIM runs 26.2 miles from the Folsom foothills down to the California State Capitol on a course unchanged since its first edition. The first half rolls with short punchy hills before the route flattens into Sacramento for a fast, crowd-lined finish.

Net downhillQualifierOpenBQ Hotbed

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CALIFORNIA INTERNATIONAL · US

California International

SUN, DEC 6

2026

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Race Overview

EST. 1983

CIM starts near Folsom Dam in the early-morning dark and heads west toward Sacramento on roads that have been used for this race since day one. The first half is rolling, not flat, and that surprises a lot of first-timers. Short climbs come at you every few miles and the downhills in between feel great, maybe too great. Don't go with them. The hills fade around mile 13 and the second half gets progressively flatter until the last six miles are almost pancake-flat through midtown Sacramento. That's where you cash in whatever you saved. The finish at the State Capitol is genuine, with a crowd that knows what it's watching.

For PR hunters, CIM is about as good as it gets in December. The weather almost always cooperates, the course loses more than it gains, and the field is fast enough that you'll rarely be alone on pace. Getting in is straightforward: open registration drops in January and the tiers sell out fast, so set a reminder. If you miss it, charity entry is a reliable backup. Bring hill training. The course rewards it.

Field size

~9.1k

9,100 finishers

BQ rate

30%

Among the highest in the US

Time limit

6:00

Tight cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

Course records

Men

2:07:35

Tsegay Weldlibanos

2024

Women

2:24:09

Molly Born

2025

The Course

340 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑340 ft

Total descent

↓690 ft

Net elevation

↓350 ft

Highest point

366 ft

Lowest point

26 ft

Course shape

Point to point

Different start and finish

CIM is a point-to-point net-downhill course starting near Folsom Dam at 366 ft and finishing at the State Capitol at 26 ft, with 663 ft of cumulative gain and 1,003 ft of loss. The first half is the critical section: six short but punchy climbs appear between miles 1 and 11, requiring effort-based pacing rather than chasing a pace on the descents. Quads that get hammered early on the downhills pay the price after mile 18. The course flattens progressively from the halfway mark, and the final six miles through midtown Sacramento are essentially flat. For PR chasers the strategy is clear: treat the first 13 miles as controlled, run by effort on the rollers, and release in the back half. The net loss qualifies easily under Boston index standards.

DIFFICULTYFLATPR-FRIENDLYYES

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Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

38°F

High

58°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

December in Sacramento means a chilly start, often in the upper 30s when the gun goes off. Dress in throwaway layers you don't mind leaving on the course by mile three. The good news is it usually warms into the high 50s by the time you're grinding through the back half, which is about as close to ideal marathon weather as you'll find. Wind can be a factor on the more exposed stretches, but most years the conditions genuinely favor a fast day. This is not a race where you're fighting the weather.

Entry

OPEN · QUALIFIER

Three open registration tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold) sell out fast each spring, with Gold typically gone within minutes. A first-timer program and time-qualifier guaranteed entries provide a back door for runners who miss the open sale. Charity entries are also available.

Register on race site

Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

SMF

22 mi

from the start

≈ 35 min transferEasy transfer

What to expect

Most travelling runners fly into SMF, about 22 miles from the start, an easy transfer by rideshare or transit, roughly a 35-minute trip. Stay close to the start in Sacramento, CA so you're not fighting race-morning closures and transit on tired legs. Arrive a day early to clear the expo and bib pickup, and build in buffer for gear-check and corral entry.