Jan 13, 2025
Current Year Results
Results Search
Biggest/Best Boston Qualifier
2025 Results
2024 Results
2023 Results
2022 Results
2021 Results
2020 Results
2019 Results
2018 Results
2017 Results
2016 Results
2015 Results
2014 Results
2013 Results
2012 Results
2011 Results
2010 Results
2009 Results
2008 Results
2007 Results
2006 Results
2005 Results
2004 Results
2003 Results
2002 Results
2001 Results
2000 Results
☰
California International Marathon Runner Comments
Back to California International Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.4 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 4.2
Number of comments: 233 [displaying comments 91 to 101]
|
A. A. from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
(12/7/2009)
"An awesome marathon experience" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I may be biased because I ended up with a PR by 12 minutes after running this marathon, but it was a great experience from start to finish. Registration was quick and simple; my questions to the race directors regarding the flavor of GU were answered very promptly. The race expo was fun and clinic speakers were very interesting and educational. I stayed at the Embassy Suites, where getting a bus to the start of the race was very easy. It was a bit of a chilly morning, so it was appreciated when we were allowed to wait on the bus to stay warm before the race start. Many people got off the bus to use a port-a-potty (a ratio of one for every 25 runners, which basically means very short or no line-ups) and then got back on the bus to stay warm. I was a bit concerned at the gear check, because with 7,000 runners, there were only 2 trucks to keep everyone's bags, but this proved not to be a problem. The temperature of the race was around freezing at the start and probably didn't get much warmer; however I found it to be very comfortable for running a marathon. (That being said, I am from western Canada so this temperature was much warmer than at home.) I wore shorts, a long-sleeved shirt, compression socks, gloves and a headband. Sometimes the wind was a bit chilly, so I ended up wearing my headband for the entire race and was very happy to have it. The course itself is beautiful. This was the first marathon I've done that was not entirely in a city, and I loved it. There were constant hills in the first half of the race, but they weren't at all steep (sometimes I didn't every realize I was running up a hill) and it's good to use different muscle groups than if the course was totally flat. While the course wasn't completely lined with spectators, I was still surprised at how many came out to cheer (and cheer loudly!), and just when I felt like I could use a boost, the course would go around a corner and there would be crowds cheering for us. To avoid over-crowding through the finish line, there were separate finish mats for men and women. The finish area was picture-perfect and extremely well organized; it took no time at all to get the awesome medal, Mylar blanket, chip removed, etc., etc. The food served at the finish was pancakes and soup, as well as the usual bagels, bananas, etc. The most pleasant surprise, however, was how easy and fast it was to get my gear at the end. I don't know how they organized 7,000 bags to make them easy to find at the finish, but I'm sure glad they did. My one and only complaint is that although GU gels were promised at 3 different locations throughout the race, I only saw them being given out near the end (mile 21, I think?). If I hadn't brought one and been given another one by a fellow runner, I would have been in trouble. My impression is that CIM is a race for serious marathoners. Many people were trying to qualify for Boston, or had a goal in the 3:00-3:30 range. There weren't too many "just want to finish" runners, although for them, this race would have been equally as awesome. For me personally, this was my first marathon experience that I can describe as "ideal." I loved the whole weekend, and hope to do it again someday! | |
|
D. L. from North Bend, WA USA
(12/7/2009)
"Good race for non-megathoners!" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 California International Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I just ran the 2009 edition, and have run this once before in 2005. It was quite cold and windy this year, which made for a more difficult run, but as usual, the organizing was great. There aren't a lot of spectators, but then it's 30 degrees and windy out! Once in town, the spectators and music come out to play though. There were some problems with the race bag trucks this year. Perhaps it was due to the school buses being open to stay warm, but it seemed like all of the runners waited until the last moment to drop their bags. It was a horrible melee, and many thoughtless runners began throwing their bags at the attendants. | |
|
B. G. from cupertino, ca
(12/6/2009)
"Great organization, fast course, but cold/windy" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran this race in 2009. The organization is great. They had plenty of buses to lug us out to the start. They had a ton of port-a-potties both at the start and along the way. The toughest thing was the wind; it was really windy in our face for a good portion of the race (I guess that's a downside possibility of a point-to-point course). Besides the wind, it's a really fast course with rolling hills, and I got a BQ, so I can't complain. | |
|
J. K. from San Francisco, CA
(11/8/2009)
"Great race overall!" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 It was very cold, and we didn't have a chance to warm up. Wait time for bus pick-up from Sacramento was long, and we were very cold. | |
|
M. T. from Eugene, Oregon
(3/19/2009)
"One of the best" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 By definition there is no such thing as an easy marathon, but if there was, this would be it. Great course, well organized, fantastic volunteers and spectators. Highly recommended!! | |
|
Rick Kerr from Fort Collins,CO
(1/23/2009)
"Just as Advertised" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Nice, fast course made faster by the cool, foggy weather throughout. I particularly liked being able to pace myself by following the various predicted finish time groups, e.g. 3, 3 1/2, 4 hours.... I hadn't seen this before and thought it was a great idea. | |
|
T. E. from Washington, DC
(1/23/2009)
"Nice race that seems to have grown too quickly" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Well organized logistically but they seemed to be overwhelmed by the number of runners. I missed several water stops because the volunteers couldn't keep up. The plastic cups were dangerous and difficult to drink from. Runners were really crowded on the course. | |
|
David Perotti from Livermore, CA
(12/28/2008)
"Will run it again" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 California International Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run this race twice. I do not remember it being so great the first time! Well done. Organized, plenty of spectators and just a great time. GU was provided at three different times and plenty of water and sports drink. Pretty funny thing they had at mile 20... they had a fake wall you ran through with a grim reaper standing there! I was struggling and still thought it was kind of funny. :) I saw Santa, Winnie the Pooh, the Grinch, Mickey Mouse and other crazy folks dressed up. There is such a great atmosphere at this race. | |
|
M. S. from Folsom, CA
(12/19/2008)
"Do NOT rely on buses to get to start on time!" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 The CIM advertised the buses as the BEST way to get to the start. HAH! I was at one of the Folsom hotels for pickup at 5 a.m. The bus did not pick us up until well after 6 a.m., as the bus driver said the first load was full so she had to come back for our hotel. This load was packed as well. We got dropped off one mile downhill from the start with fewer than 10 minutes to hoof it up to the start line. At least we got our warm-up in, right? Had to strip and throw my race bag to the side of the road in order to get to the start on time. So I ended up losing my race bag with two pairs of sweats, my iPod, and my sunglasses case (lost and found never found any of it). Had to fumble with getting my hydration pack on while running, which meant it wasn't as secure as it should have been and it fell off completely at mile 17 or so and lost lots of time going back for it and getting it situated again. WAY too much anxiety before the race even started. Next year I'll have my husband drop me off early and I'll leisurely walk that uphill mile to the start instead! Other than that, it was fun to do my first marathon right in my hometown. The spectators' support/cheering was phenomenal. | |
|
John Tackett from Atlanta, GA
(12/18/2008)
"Great race, but..." (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Came out to Sacramento to a) visit with relatives, and b) run the CIM. Had a great time doing both. I had just qualified for Boston at the Atlanta Marathon 10 days earlier, so I had no pressure to qualify at this event. The expo was nice, but I almost forgot I had purchased an additional tech shirt. I was leaving when I looked at my bib and saw it listed on it. Perhaps a card needs to be sent out before the race to "remind" folks. I registered early, so it just slipped my mind. The course had the right number of hills (being from Atlanta, I train on hills), and the weather was a bit of an issue for me (foggy and moist), but overall I had a good run. The water stations need to be expanded a bit to avoid bottlenecks, and I would prefer digital clocks on the course and I had a hard time hearing times given out by the volunteers (I am partially deaf). At the finish, I would suggest that the food be inside the runners' area. I saw a lot of non-runners standing with runners to get food. I also had to retrieve my own bag at the end of the race, but they had it set up so well that it was not a problem. Spectators were light at some spots, but at others I was surprised to see them. Thanks for being there. This was my 12th marathon in 3 years, and rates as one of the best. Looking forward to running it again. And the finisher's medal ROCKS!! |
Quick Links
Marathon Search
Upcoming US Marathons
Upcoming International Marathons
Search Marathon Results
Latest Running News
Recent Newsletters
Race Director Tools
© 2000-2024, All Rights Reserved by MarathonGuide.com LLC
