🇺🇸Sacramento, USA
California International Marathon
Dec 6, 2026
Race facts
Next edition · 2026
Dec 6, 2026
ScheduledCourse
110 melevation gain
- Distance · surface
- 42.2 km · Road
Entry
Open entry
- Status · last recorded
- Open
Dates and entry details change. Confirm with the organiser before you book.
PB potential
World-record territory — one of the fastest courses on the planet
Beginner friendly
Great for newcomers — manageable course, strong support
About this race
CIM (California International Marathon) is the west coast's answer to the Boston qualifier hunt. The point-to-point course from Folsom to downtown Sacramento runs a consistent net downhill of about 110m, making it genuinely fast for trained runners. The December date brings ideal conditions — 6–12°C, low humidity, light winds. CIM is purpose-built for qualification runs and draws enormous fields of BQ-chasers every year. The course runs through the American River Parkway's tree-lined paths and suburban Sacramento neighbourhoods before finishing on Capitol Mall with views of the State Capitol dome. Organisation is outstanding, pacers are reliable, and the race regularly sends hundreds of runners to Boston.
Typical race-day weather
Temperature
6–13°C
Humidity
60–75%
Conditions
Cool Sacramento December — near-perfect racing
Wind
5–15 km/h
Qualifies for
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