CALIFORNIA, USA — Thousands of athletes from near and far will descend on Sacramento for the 40th Annual California International Marathon. The race starts 7 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 at the Folsom Dam and ends near the State Capitol.
“Over the years, it's just gotten a reputation of being really one of the best marathons in the entire world right here in Sacramento,” said Scott Abbott, Executive Director of the Sacramento Running Association. “We've been fortunate to see it grow.”
CIM has become a tradition in the capital city, welcoming athletes from 42 countries and all 50 states for the 26.2-mile trek. When it first started in 1983, it had 1,600 participants. About 10,000 marathon runners are signed up to race this weekend and an additional thousand plan to compete in a relay.
“It attracts people from all over the world here to Sacramento, and I think a big part of it is the beautiful fall, late fall weather that we get here,” Abbott said. “Our topography here in Sacramento is outstanding. You know, generally, it's hard to find many cities where you can run 26 miles of relatively flat running. In Sacramento, obviously being here in the valley provides for that. On top of that, our community has really embraced this event, our organization has worked hard to put on an event that is thoughtful about the participant experience and it being locally owned by a nonprofit — we really invest so much into making it a premier event.”
Runners dub it the “fastest course in the west” for its scenic views and net downhill course, giving athletes the chance to perform at their best.
“It's exciting to think about how 40 years ago to now folks in Sacramento came up with the idea when they were in Folsom, looking towards downtown, and they came up with this idea for a marathon, and the fact that the course has remained largely unchanged over the last 40 years,” said Tamara Torlakson, an avid runner and president of the Sacramento Running Association Board of Directors. “It's just awesome to see, I don't know if they knew how much the race was going to grow. It is definitely a race that's talked about in the running community across the country and the world."
Torlakson knows the route well, having run the marathon several times since 2010 and lacing up her running shoes again this weekend.
“The last, probably four to six miles are pretty rough and shocking on your bodies since you've never done it before,” Torlakson said. “But you know that the accomplishment of getting to the finish line is going to be so worth it.”
About 75,000 spectators are expected to line Sacramento streets for race day, along with 4,000 volunteers, as they cheer on athletes of all ages and abilities. Nearly a third of participants hope to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
“This is such an important event in so many people's lives and you know, having that community, having our community embrace it is a source of a great source of civic pride here in Sacramento,” Abbott said.
The annual event also pours money into the local economy, with Visit Sacramento projecting $10 million will benefit the region this weekend. In addition, CIM has raised $500,000 for local nonprofits and community groups in its 40th milestone year.
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