Every December, Sacramento closes the streets on Capitol Mall and turns into a finishing chute for thousands of runners who have spent months preparing for one of the most famous marathons in the country. The California International Marathon — known simply as CIM — returns on Sunday, December 6, 2026, and if you haven’t registered yet, the news is a little complicated: solo marathon spots sold out. But there’s still a path to the start line, and even if you’re not running, this is one of the best free spectator events Sacramento hosts all year.
What Makes CIM Different
CIM has been running the same course for 42 years, and that’s not an accident. The route drops 366 feet from the Folsom foothills to the California State Capitol on a net-downhill, point-to-point course that’s earned the nickname “the fastest course in the West.” Runner’s World has called it “one of the most iconic races in the U.S. that any runner should have on their bucket list.”
The practical result: CIM consistently produces more Boston Marathon qualifiers than almost any other race in the country — it holds the #1 spot as a Boston qualifier by multiple running publications. For runners chasing a BQ, this is the destination event. For Sacramento residents who don’t run marathons, it’s a free show along 26 miles of city streets, ending with a finish-line crowd on Capitol Mall.
Registration: What’s Still Available
The 2026 solo marathon is sold out across all three registration tiers — Gold ($230 plus fees), Orange ($200 plus fees), and Blue ($180 plus fees) are all gone. Two paths remain open:
- Relay option: The In-Shape Fitness CIM Relay is still available. This two-person format splits the 26.2-mile course between two runners. Check runcim.org/registration for current availability.
- Transfers: The official transfer process opens October 1 via Race Roster. Runners holding Gold or Orange entries can transfer their spot to another participant. Blue entries offer no transfer or deferral options.
Note: All transfers go through Race Roster only — there is no direct-transfer process through the CIM website.
The Course
The marathon begins in Folsom’s foothills and finishes at the California State Capitol — a point-to-point route that covers 26.2 miles with a net elevation drop of 366 feet. Participants must use official CIM transportation to reach the start line; no personal vehicles or drop-offs are permitted at the start.
The gun goes off at 7:00 AM sharp. Sweep runners cross at 7:30 AM and no starters are allowed after that point. From Folsom, the course winds through the American River corridor, through Fair Oaks and Carmichael, and drops into midtown Sacramento before the final stretch down L Street to Capitol Mall.
Seventeen aid stations are set up along the route, stocked with water and Precision Hydration drink mix. Three stations also carry energy gels, caffeine gels, and fruit. The finish line closes at 1:30 PM, making this a 6-hour event from first gun to cutoff.
Expo and Packet Pickup
The CIM Expo runs at the Sacramento Convention Center, 1401 K St, Sacramento, the two days before the race:
- Friday, December 4: Noon to 7:00 PM
- Saturday, December 5: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
There is no race-day packet pickup — all runners must collect at the expo. Bring a government-issued photo ID and your confirmation QR code. One relay teammate can pick up both packets as long as they bring the QR codes for both runners.
The expo also features running gear vendors, shoe brands, and sports nutrition booths — worth browsing even if you’re just spectating.
Where to Watch
Spectators aren’t allowed at the start line, but the course has plenty of prime viewing spots. Official cheer zones are positioned at:
- Mile 10.1 — Fair Oaks Blvd & California Ave (Asics Cheer Zone)
- Mile 13.1 — The halfway point (Red Bull/In-Shape Fitness Zone)
- Mile 17 — Fair Oaks Blvd & Arden Way (CIM Breakthrough Zone)
- Mile 24.4 — 28th & L St (Sutter Health Never Stop Zone — runners are deep in the pain cave here, loud cheers go a long way)
- Mile 25 — 23rd & L St (Fleet Feet Cheer Zone — one mile to go)
At the finish, spectators access Capitol Mall through the 9th & N Street Gate or the 10th & N Street Gate. Bag inspections are required at all entrances. After the race, runners and spectators meet up at the alphabetized A–Z meeting signs on the Capitol Mall grass median, between 8th and 9th Streets.
A livestream of the USATF Championship coverage starts at 6:55 AM; the mass-finish livestream begins around 10:00 AM on YouTube if you prefer to watch from home.
The Details
- Date: Sunday, December 6, 2026
- Start time: 7:00 AM (no starters after 7:30 AM)
- Start location: Folsom foothills — official CIM transportation required
- Finish location: Capitol Mall, between 5th and 10th Streets, Sacramento
- Finish line closes: 1:30 PM (6-hour cutoff)
- Expo: Sacramento Convention Center, 1401 K St — Fri Dec 4 (noon–7pm), Sat Dec 5 (9am–5pm)
- Relay entries: Still available — check runcim.org/registration
- Solo transfers: Open October 1 via Race Roster
- Official site: runcim.org
Bottom Line
CIM is the kind of race Sacramento does well — fast, well-organized, and genuinely community-focused. Whether you’re chasing a Boston qualifier bib through the relay or transfer market, or just planning to stand at Mile 24.4 with a cowbell, December 6 is worth circling. The finish on Capitol Mall is one of those Sacramento mornings that reminds you why this city is actually a great place to live.
If you’re building up a race calendar this fall, Sacramento has more events worth knowing about. The Run to Feed the Hungry on Thanksgiving morning draws tens of thousands of participants for a beloved 5K and 10K on the same downtown streets. And if you want to run the American River terrain that CIM passes through, the American River Trail is one of Sacramento’s best year-round running routes.
