All:
Got shut out of Philly so I am thinking of doing the California International Marathon on Decemebr 6 in Sacramento. Has anyone run it and what can you tell me about the course, support, and race organization.
I’ve heard its a fast track, but looks more rolling than anything.
Any help you can offer would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Bob
I’ve heard its a fast track, but looks more rolling than anything.
Yeah, you can roll all the way down!
I set a PB there a while back. Loved the course. I remember thinking around mid way that I was getting a little tired of the rolling hills and then they pretty much disappeared. I do remember one more short steep climb over an overpass, but it was minor. People from my running club do it every year. Every once and a while it seems to have odd weather. The year after I did it there were really strong winds that slowed everyone down. If the weather cooperates the course usually provides a number of PB’s for people from my club.
For the record I do run a lot of hills in training.
I did it as my first marathon in 2007 and had heard the same thing. I found the course tougher than those comments lead me to believe, but I had nothing to compare it to. I would describe it as rolling. Easier course than Boston, for sure. Organization and support are top notch. Pay the $ 10 to get in the shuttle.
Having done it several times and volunteered at it once, here’s what I know:
It’s a fast course. Net downhill. No major uphills. There are a few hills, but nothing to get excited about. They are short, not very steerp, and by about mile 10 you are past the last of them of any significance. It’s a good race to try to qualify for Boston, as not too crowded, not too hot, and downhill.
The weather will not be hot. It also won’t be snow covered. December in Sacramento can be anywhere from 30’s rain and wind, to 60’s and sun. It’s common to be in the 40’s and foggy at the start, and warming to the mid/upper 50’s maybe low 60’s during the race. About every 3 years it seems to be a rainy and windy day.
The course is not the most scenic or destination. Not that it’s ugly, it’s just average. There are some residential areas, some strip mall type areas, and finishes in downtown Sac.
I really shouldn’t talk about the management, on the theory that if you don’t have anything nice to say… Let’s just say that after 27(?) years, they should have the book written on how to organize a marathon. When I volunteered a few years ago, they ran out of water at the mile 13 aid station (on not a hot day). And their recruitment methods for course marshalls was haphazard and unorganized at best.
On the positive side, they have experienced pace runners who attempt to run the race at an exact time. They will carry signs with their finish time, and try to pace themselves accordingly. They have pacers from 2:47 to 6:00 in 5-15 minute increments. This is a great tool if you are looking for a specific time.
Here’s a course hint if you do it: At around mile 24 the course zig’s and zags, passes under the freeway, and turns onto L street. L street has a pretty pronounced camber, so stay in the middle lane. It’s just long enough and late enough that hugging the edge to the finish can hurt the knees.
I’ll probably do it again this year. Kind of waiting til after Big Kahuna to see how I feel.
Good luck!
Thanks, this is really helpful, especially on the pacers.
Bob
I live in Sacramento and usually hate the area, but CIM really highlights what is great about the city. It’s a fantastic reasonably scenic course. You get a little bit of everything. Rolling yes, but definitely nothing you would consider a hill. And the net downhill does make it an overall fast course. Just make sure to be aware of the hills. You don’t want to even pace. You want to go out really really slow and finish super fast. The last part of the course (before you get into midtown) is kinda of boring and quiet, but the finish run to the Capitol is cool. Support at the aid stations is great and cheering support along the way is really really good. It’s also fun for your spectators to be able to ride up and down the course or drive to the relay points in time to cheer for you fairly easily. Always well organized, like any major marathon. Nothing extraordinary but I haven’t heard them running out of water or gels in the past 4 years.
It’s early December, so it will be cold (by Sacramento terms) but probably warm if you’re coming from most of the country.
About the only major downside is that it’s a point to point course. That just makes logistics that much more difficult, even if you’ve got somebody to drive you around. The shuttles are reasonably good, but that means you need to be on those at the right time.
This will be our first year in a while that we won’t be participating or spectating as we’ll be in Vegas for Rock ‘n’ Roll instead. If you do end up signing up shoot me a PM for more info.
A couple of other posters have provided great detail. I’ll just throw in a thumbs-up of my own, with the cautionary advice to bring an extra layer or two to the start that you can throw away. The year I did CIM – 2005 – it was clear and cold, 31 degrees, when the we got off the shuttle in the predawn darkness. Thirty-one degrees. After handing in my clothes bag, I was in shorts and short sleeves for a half-hour before the starting gun. Yow! Bring an old sweatshirt and some cheap cotton gloves that you won’t mind parting with as the race unfolds and you warm up!
Pete
Portland, OR
My now-fuzzy memories of '97 include starting almost in the dark, pouring rain and my first case of bloody raw nipples … and a nice, nice course. Just the right amount of hills and flats. I ran a 3:15 (typical novice attempt: 91 min first half, much tougher second half) while my 60-year-old father stayed on pace and ran a 3:22 for 3rd in his AG.
i ran it in 2000. took the first 10-13 miles a little too aggressively and blew up a bit. it was easy to get rolling a little too quickly on the downhill bits. i liked the course, and had no issues with the organization. there were enough supplies at aid stations (i finished in 3:04ish, so early enough that there would be no reason to be short of water, etc). marshalling seemed fine.
I may repeat what other have said, but here are my thoughts (I’ve done the race 4 out of the last 5 years):
Hills - Yes the course has a net elevation loss, but the first half really is rolling. You need to make sure you’ve got a lot of uphill and downhill running under your belt otherwise you may not be able to take advantage of the speedy second half of the course. I don’t think it’s the uphill running that takes its toll as much as the downhill. The first mile is nearly entirely downhill - if you don’t run that first mile smart (i.e., under control) you could be setting the stage for a tough day.
Cold - It can be very cold at the start (e.g., around 30 degrees in 2005). It hasn’t rained since before 2004, so it’s just a matter of time before it rains again.
Strategy - The course is made for a positive split, but you have to run a smart race to achieve this - something I have yet to do! 
Organization - From my perspective it’s well organized.
Scenery - It’s nothing to write home about, but near the finish you do get to run down the part of L Street where the Tour of California’s Sacramento leg finishes.
All in all, I think it’s a very good race. Of course, I live in Sacramento, so I am biased.