- Weather
- 47°Ftypical startModelled estimate
- Field size
- ~1,200 runners
- Course
- Net downhill
- Elevation
- 50 ft gain · -2,000 ft net
Runs through the 2-mile Snoqualmie Tunnel
PR10Weather9Experience7
Early December · West Coast · Point-to-Point
California International Marathon (CIM)
Sacramento, CA · Sunday, December 6, 2026
A point-to-point course from Folsom, a former gold rush town on the American River, into downtown Sacramento, with a meaningful net downhill that's exactly why this has become one of the country's premier Boston-qualifying races. December timing keeps temperatures on the runner's side too.
Premier BQ / Olympic Trials Qualifier
- Best for PR
- Boston Qualifier
- Scenic
Opens the race organizer's website
Typical start
46°
Cooler than 64% of U.S. marathons
Modeled historical conditions
Elevation gain
150ft
Flatter than 64% of races
Estimated total climb
Field size
10K
Larger than 96% of races
Estimated field
PR potential
9.9/10
Top 1%
Almanac model
Percentiles compare this race against all 224 U.S. marathons in the Almanac.
Course profile
150 ft gain · -340 ft net
Net downhill course, point-to-point.
0510152026.2
Race-day weather
Modeled from location, month and coastal proximity, not verified race history.
6 AM
38°
Start
46°
Midday
53°
ExcellentGoodWarmHeat risk
Typical start sits at 46°F, excellent marathon conditions.
Typical dew point 24°F, 6% chance of precipitation, wind around 7 mph. All modeled.
The bottom line
This is a course built to give time back.
California International Marathon (CIM) is a strong choice for a fast time on tired legs, and the route gives back elevation for most of the 26.2 miles. The tradeoff is your quads, which will feel the descent in the closing miles.
Why runners choose this race
A point-to-point course around Sacramento, CA, that gives back elevation for most of the race.
The case for it
- PR attempts
- Boston qualification
- Runners who care about scenery
The tradeoffs
- No notable warnings in the data.
Course and logistics
- Course type
- Point-to-Point
- Surface
- Road
- Profile
- Net downhill
- Total gain
- 150 ft(estimated)
- Total loss
- 490 ft(estimated)
- Net elevation
- -340 ft(estimated)
- Field size
- ~10,000 runners(estimated)
- Crowd support
- Heavy crowd support
- Entry
- Data coming soon
- Start / finish
- Start and finish in different locations
Race details
- Typical timing
- Early December
- Next confirmed date
- Sunday, December 6, 2026
- Region
- West Coast
- Editorial tier
- Featured
- Data last reviewed
- 2026-08-26
- Best for PR
- Boston Qualifier
- Scenic
- Olympic Trials Qualifier
- Point-to-point
- Net downhill
- Destination race
Similar races
Races with a comparable profile.
Early June · West Coast
North Olympic Discovery Marathon (5K / 10K/ Half / Full / Relay / Kids Marathon)
Port Angeles, WA
- Weather
- 45°Ftypical startModelled estimate
- Field size
- ~800 runners
- Course
- Net downhill
- Elevation
- 350 ft gain · -400 ft net
Event listed as: Marathon
PR10Weather9Experience7
- Weather
- 48°Ftypical startModelled estimate
- Field size
- ~1,500 runners
- Course
- Net downhill
- Elevation
- 50 ft gain · -2,000 ft net
High BQ rate along Cascade rail-trail
PR10Weather9Experience7