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California International Marathon

December 6, 2026 · 7:00 AMSacramento, CA, United States

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Race snapshot

Race Day

50°F

39–59°F · Feels cool

Total elevation gain

663ft

Moderate rolling hills · Net elevation change −366 ft

Participants

8,200

Large field

Crowd Rating

6/ 10

Good crowd energy

Entry

Sold Out

Worry-Free Entry (Gold)

$230

Official Website

Key Dates

1. Registration Opens
  Dec 8, 2025
  Online registration opens for the 2026 California International Marathon
2. CIM Gold Entry Draw - Application Deadline
  Apr 30, 2026
  Gold Entry Draw application window closed (April 30, 2026, 12:00 PM PST)
1. CIM Gold Entry Draw - Random Drawing
  May 1, 2026
  Random drawing for remaining Gold entries; selected applicants charged within 24-48 hours
2. CIM Expo - Day 1
  Dec 4, 2026
  Packet pickup at California Exposition & State Fair
3. CIM Expo - Day 2
  Dec 5, 2026
  Packet pickup at California Exposition & State Fair
4. Race Day
  Dec 6, 2026
  California International Marathon - 7:00 AM PST start at Folsom

Found in

Marathons in California Races in California Marathons in the United States Marathons in North America

The Lowdown

The California International Marathon runs point to point from Folsom Dam to the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The start is at about 366 feet above sea level and the finish at about 26 feet. The first half rolls through the suburbs east of the city, and the second half is flat. The course is certified and a Boston qualifier. In 2025, 8,178 runners finished, and 30.2 percent of them ran a Boston-qualifying time. John Mansoor and Sally Edwards founded the race. Mansoor based the course on his own training run from Folsom Dam into Sacramento. The first edition was run on December 4, 1983, with about 1,600 starters. From the start it paid men and women equal prize money. The Sacramento Running Association organizes it. CIM was the U.S. national marathon championship for men in 1984 and for women in 1984, 1985, 1989 and 1993. It hosts the USATF Marathon Championships in 2025 and 2026. Tsegay Weldlibanos set the men's course record of 2:07:35 in 2024, breaking a mark that had stood for more than 20 years. The race is held in early December, on the second Sunday after Thanksgiving.

Previous edition results — 2025

May 20, 2026: Sutter Health Announced as Presenting Sponsor
Sutter Health and the California International Marathon announced a partnership naming Sutter Health as presenting sponsor and official medical team and health partner for the 2026 race; the event's own name is unchanged.
Dec 7, 2025: Course Records Broken at the 2025 USATF Marathon Championships
The 2025 California International Marathon, held as the USATF Marathon Championships, saw new course records: a women's course record in a marathon debut and a men's American-course-record performance, plus a masters women's course record and a masters men's record among roughly 8,200 finishers.

Edition unconfirmed · Marathon

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Course Highlights: 01Folsom Lake – The race starts in the Folsom Lake area, offering scenic views of the reservoir and rolling hills
02Old Town Folsom – Early in the course runners pass the historic downtown with brick sidewalks, shops and crowd support
03Nimbus Fish Hatchery – A recognizable riverside landmark near the early miles where the course follows the American River
04American River Parkway / Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail – Long stretches along the shaded, paved river trail that make up much of the course
05Guy West Bridge / Sacramento State – The course passes near California State University, Sacramento and the distinctive Guy West Bridge
06California State Capitol / Capitol Mall – The downhill finish on Capitol Mall culminates in a grand finish in front of the State Capitol building
Time Limit: 6 hours
Boston Qualifier: This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event. Achieve your qualifying standard here on a verified course.

Minimum Age: 18 years
Entry Methods: Online Registration
Time-qualifier / Guaranteed Entry
Charity Entry
Club/Team Entry
Eligibility: Must be 18 years of age or older on race day
Registration and payment of entry fee required to participate
Runners must provide proof of time when registering for seeded corral placement (valid time from a certified race within the event’s published qualifying window)
Open to both U.S. and international entrants
Wheelchair and handcycle competitors must register in the designated divisions and follow race organizer instructions (contact race director for classification requirements)
All participants must follow USA Track & Field rules and race-specific regulations set by the event organizers
No unauthorized pacers or support vehicles; entrants must comply with course and safety instructions from race officials
Participants must withdraw or not start if ill or injured and follow any medical screening or health/safety requirements communicated by the race organizers
Required Documents: Photo ID (government-issued)
Proof of Time (official race result within qualifying window)
Signed Waiver/Release Form
Cancellation & Refund Policy: All entries are non-refundable
Entries are non-transferable
Entries are non-deferrable
In the event the race is cancelled by the organizers, a refund, partial refund, or credit may be issued at the organizers' discretion

01: The California International Marathon (CIM) is a point-to-point, net downhill course from the Folsom area to the State Capitol in downtown Sacramento, which makes it one of the nation’s fastest marathon courses and a high producer of Boston qualifiers.
02: Finishers receive a custom finisher medal and a technical long-sleeve shirt, with post-race food, recovery areas, and a beer garden for participants and spectators near the finish line.
03: Race weekend typically includes a runners’ expo with packet pick-up and vendors, a Saturday pasta dinner (ticketed), and a kids’ fun run to engage families and supporters.
04: Aid stations are well-spaced approximately every 1.5–2.5 miles offering water, electrolyte drink, and gels at select stops—plan to carry your own fuel if you have specialized needs.
05: Transportation and parking are limited near the start in Folsom, so most runners use shuttle buses to the start or arrange drop-off; layers are recommended for the cool December morning with warmer conditions possible in the afternoon.

Questions about the California International Marathon 2026

When is the California International Marathon 2026?

Sunday, December 6, 2026.

Where is the California International Marathon?

Sacramento, CA, United States.

What time does the California International Marathon start?

The race starts at 7:00 AM, local time.

What is the California International Marathon time limit?

6 hours.

How do I enter the California International Marathon 2026?

The race is sold out. May 1, 2026: CIM Gold Entry Draw - Random Drawing. Apr 30, 2026: CIM Gold Entry Draw - Application Deadline. Dec 8, 2025: Registration Opens. Ways in: Online Registration; Time-qualifier / Guaranteed Entry; Charity Entry; Club/Team Entry.

How much does the California International Marathon 2026 cost?

Worry-Free Entry (Gold): $230. Standard Entry (Orange): $200. Unprotected Entry (Blue): $180.

When and where is packet pickup for the California International Marathon?

Dec 4, 2026: Packet pickup at California Exposition & State Fair. Dec 5, 2026: Packet pickup at California Exposition & State Fair.

What is the California International Marathon elevation gain?

202 m (663 ft) of total elevation gain. Net elevation change: −366 ft (112 m). Moderate rolling hills.

What is the California International Marathon course like?

It passes Folsom Lake, Old Town Folsom and Nimbus Fish Hatchery. Course map

What is the weather like at the California International Marathon?

Race-day temperatures are usually 4–15 °C (39–59 °F). Feels cool.

How many runners does the California International Marathon have?

8,200 participants. Large field.

Where are the California International Marathon results?

The official 2025 results are on the organizer's site. Official results

Is the California International Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event.

Prepare for This Race

Pace CalculatorPlan splits for marathon Race PredictorPredict your marathon time BQ CalculatorBQ-eligible course Fuel PlannerPlan nutrition for marathon, cool weather Difficulty Analyzer663ft gain, 50°F avg, marathon Training PacesTraining zones for marathon

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