Julie Hirota's Staging Area

The California International Marathon (CIM) is a race you simply must experience, especially if you’re eager to witness the beauty of California. Yes, the course begins with some rolling hills for the first 12 miles, but what follows is a blissfully flat journey that allows you to really find your stride. I cherished every moment (and ran it with my daughterfor her first ever marathon this time), from the mild 42°F at the starting line to a comfortable 65°F by the afternoon—perfect running weather!

The finish line experience was top-notch, complete with fantastic swag and unwavering support from enthusiastic fans. As a Sacramento local, I revel in the opportunity to spot familiar faces both on the sidelines and among the runners. It feels like the whole town comes out to support and celebrate.

CIM is not just a race; it’s a showcase of my beautiful hometown during the mild California winter. For anyone who hasn’t had the pleasure of visiting Sacramento, let this marathon be your introduction. Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or looking to tackle your first 26.2, CIM is the event to add to your list.

This was the 4th time I’ve run this race and I will continue to run it for as long as my legs will allow! It’s a beautiful run along a stunning coastline. The volunteers and Foundation are top notch. The swag is great, with a really cool, coastal and hand crafted medal. I just can’t say enough. Oh, and there are some hills…just some.

I loved visiting Jackson Hole. This was a well organized race-feels like “grass roots” with a high level of organization. The start is COLD (31°) and the finish is warm (71°). Wear layers.
The people and volunteers were fantastic. I appreciated the 1/4 marathon distance where my husband could participate too. The plan was for us to finish together, but the altitude hit this flatlander harder than expected and I had to walk much more than anticipated.
The race itself paralleled the highway which wasn’t my favorote part, but the scenery was beautiful.

This is a downhill zippy course. The first half is beautiful. The second half is all city streets with traffic alongside (though comedy off with plenty of room for runners). Race crew and volunteers were fantastic. It got warm around 10am. I absolutely loved this marathon.