26 Reasons to Run CIM

26 Reasons to Run 26.2 Miles at the 26^th Annual
California International Marathon!

Sunday, December 7, 2008 • Folsom to the State Capitol, Sacramento, California

1. “One of the fastest, if not THE FASTEST, courses in the country!”
— Bart Yasso, Runner’s World Online 2007

2. “One of the WORLD’S BEST small marathons.”
— Runner’s World Magazine, 2006

3. Ranked in the TOP FIVE as a Boston Marathon Qualifier.
— Runner’s World Magazine, 1995

4. The CIM is ranked in the TOP FIVE marathons who send the most number of qualifiers to Boston.
— BAA Statistics, 2008

5. “…in the TOP TEN as a FALL DESTINATION Marathon.”
— USA Today, Bart Yasso, 2007

6. Sacramento is the perfect hub for travel to California’s most popular tourist destinations (Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Napa Valley Wine Country, Yosemite, the Giant Redwoods).

7. Benefits youth fitness programs and regional running venue improvements such as cross country courses and the American River Parkway.

8. Knowledgeable, local Pace Team Leaders, many of them elite Ultra marathoners, with Pace Team goal finish times that correlate to Boston Marathon qualifying times.

9. Average temperatures range in the mid-50s, 80% chance of perfect running weather.
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10. Fall continues well into December in Sacramento and the “City of Trees” is ablaze with fall colors.

11. The CIM wide start line minimizes congestion and allows for you to easily settle into your marathon pace.

12. Same USATF certified course for all 26 years: point-to point, net downhill, with gently rolling hills, on wide well-surfaced streets with few turns.

13. Spectacular finish in front of the historic California State Capitol, with separate finish lines for men and women.

14. $50,000 in prize money, an Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, and often a USATF Marathon Championship.

15. Sacramento’s rich “Gold Rush” history.

16. Experienced race managers, many of whom have been with the event since its inaugural running.

17. More than 2,000 dedicated, caring volunteers.

18. Great crowd support from local residents who support this “Capitol Running Tradition.”

19. 18-well-stocked aid stations and plenty of nourishment at the finish.

20. Block-by block, lively and “international” course entertainment.

21. Colorful, technical fabric t-shirt very cool original art 2008 logo. Men's and women's sizes! Click here to view them.

22. Beautiful, large, unique and colorful finishers’ medallions. See the preview on the right.

23. Festive two-day Expo, timed perfectly for your holiday shopping.

24. Bring your family and friends to run the popular Four-Person Marathon Relay Challenge or the 2.62-Mile Kaiser Permanente maraFUNrun/Fitness Walk (with free online entry for kids 13 & under).

25. Do your high mileage training for the CIM during the cooler fall temperatures rather than the heat of the summer.

26. Get in shape, meet new friends, achieve a goal, and then enjoy the holiday season guilt free!