California International Marathon (CIM) Reviews & Race Reports
86 reviews from runners who've completed this race
Reviews & Race Reports
Rolling Course Surprises — Many runners were caught off guard by the frequent rolling hills throughout the course. While some found the inclines manageable, others struggled with pacing, especially in the later miles.
Crowd Energy — The crowd support was a standout feature, with reports highlighting loud cheers and funny signs at various points. Runners noted that the energy from spectators helped push them through tough moments, particularly around mile 20.
Pre-Race Logistics — Getting to the start was smooth, with bus transportation from Sacramento to Folsom working well for most. A few runners mentioned the benefit of arriving early to settle nerves and find a good spot in the corrals.
Aid Stations and Fuel — Aid stations were well-stocked and organized, providing a variety of hydration options. Many runners recommended testing your fueling strategy beforehand to avoid any surprises on race day.
Surprised by mild hills, pushed through pain to finish strong
With every step, my quads began to hurt more and more. I couldn't believe my legs were still moving, let alone holding my pace. I told myself, "If this bridge doesn't break me, I think I'll be in a good spot". Here it comes. I slowed a bit going up, but it really wasn't bad at all.
Boosted by a dog sighting at mile 20, finished strong
The weather was characteristically perfect in the low 40's with cloud cover the entire morning. Really can't ask for better weather for a Sunday long run. Even though I was fueling well -- gummy bear pouches every four miles and a handheld with 100g of carbs -- after passing the 2:55 pace group around mile 17, I did hit a rough patch. Seemingly out of nowhere, the effort started to feel much harder and thoughts of doubt started to creep in about whether I could continue clipping off 6:35-minute miles nine more times.
Surprised by hills, battled through intense last 10 miles
This was my first CIM so I didn't really know what to expect from the course. The hills really surprised me and I spent far more of the course on a grade than the profile would have you believe. I was able to take the ups pretty relaxed and on the downs I kept telling myself to let the shoes do all the work.
Fought through knee pain to achieve a 17-minute PR
Things felt smooth to start, but then around 4, beersandmile7 shouted that he was hopping in a portapotty, and I kept on with the group. I didn't worry too much about my watch for a while, just focused on the effort and aiming for a 70/71 first half, calling out to the group periodically to relax on the hills where we could, keep things in check. We got to halfway with the clock reading 70:40, so pretty much spot-on.
Felt great throughout, enjoyed the marathon experience fully.
Race plan was to aim for a Sub3. I had discussed with coach that there was a small chance of a 2:55 but I decided that I would be more disappointed if I blew up trying for a 2:55 and getting a 3:05 than running a 2:59. Lined up with the Sub3 pacers and off we went.