California International Marathon in Sacramento: Your guide to traffic, race times, more

Brianna Taylor
·8 min read

The California International Marathon, noted as the fastest course in the West, is scheduled to kick off Sunday at 7 a.m. near the Folsom Dam and end at the State Capitol in Sacramento.

The point-to-point net downhill course, which has remained unchanged for 38 years, is expecting 10,000 marathoners and relay runners this year.

The CIM is certified and sanctioned by the United States of America Track and Field and is a Boston Marathon and U.S. Olympic marathon trials qualifier.

Here’s what you need to know about where to watch the race, road closures, where to stay, the award ceremony, COVID-19 protocols and more:

California International Marathon event guide

CIM EXPO

Location: Safe Credit Union Convention Center

Noon to 7 p.m., Friday

9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday

RACE DAY TIMELINE

Sunday

5 a.m. - start line buses depart from all Sacramento pickup locations.

5:30 a.m. - start line buses depart from all Folsom locations.

6:53 a.m. - wheeled athletes with disabilities start.

6:55 a.m. - ambulatory athletes with disabilities start.

7 a.m. - buses depart from downtown Sacramento relay exchange point.

7 a.m. - marathon and relay start.

11 a.m. - awards ceremony for top three overall male and female runners.

1:30 p.m. - marathon finish line closes.

START LOCATION

At 7 a.m. sharp, runners leave the start line during the California International Marathon on Dec. 3, 1995 on Auburn-Folsom Road near Folsom Dam.
At 7 a.m. sharp, runners leave the start line during the California International Marathon on Dec. 3, 1995 on Auburn-Folsom Road near Folsom Dam.

Folsom - Auburn Road near Folsom Lake Crossing (approximately 7550 Folsom-Auburn Rd., Folsom).

FINISH LOCATION

Karen Johnson approaches the finish line of the California International Marathon. Johnson, a Placer County sheriff’s deputy and elite runner, died in January 2003 when she was struck by a vehicle while running in Orangevale. She will be remembered during a Mary 12, 2018, Fun Run in Auburn sponsored by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office to raise funds for Northern California Special Olympics athletes.

Ninth Street and Capitol Mall, which is one block from the California State Capitol (approximately 1220 Ninth St., Sacramento).

Where to watch

Sara Hall of Santa Rosa, Calif., takes a victory lap after winning the USATF Marathon Championships held in conjunction with the California International Marathon (CIM) in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017. Hall led the entire women’s race.
Sara Hall of Santa Rosa, Calif., takes a victory lap after winning the USATF Marathon Championships held in conjunction with the California International Marathon (CIM) in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017. Hall led the entire women’s race.

Spectators are not allowed at the start line, which is located on Auburn-Folsom Road next to Folsom Dam. The first opportunity to watch the race is at mile six at the corner of Oak Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard.

Here are other locations where spectators are allowed to cheer on the racers:

Mile 10 - Old Town Fair Oaks

Mile 13.4 - Fair Oaks Boulevard at Manzanita Avenue

Mile 20 - Fair Oaks Boulevard in front of Drake’s Circle

Mile 21 - Loehmann’s Plaza

Mile 24.2 - Sutter Middle School

Mile 25.7 to 26.2 - California State Capitol Museum

Spectator information visual for the 2021 California International Marathon
Spectator information visual for the 2021 California International Marathon

Road closure schedule

Runners start the California International Marathon in 2016 in Folsom.
Runners start the California International Marathon in 2016 in Folsom.

The Capitol Mall between Eighth Street and Ninth Street will be closed from 8 a.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Sunday. Ninth Street between N Street and L Street will also be closed from 2 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Eighth Street and 10th Street between N Street and L Street will be closed from 6 a.m. Saturday until 5 p.m. Sunday.

For up-to-date road closure information, CIM recommends using the Waze app because the road closure schedule below is subject to change on race day.

MILE 1

Close - 5:20 a.m.

Open - 7:50 a.m.

Cross Street - Oak Avenue

MILE 2

Close - 5:20 a.m.

Open - 8:05 a.m.

Cross street - American River Canyon

Close - 5:20 a.m.

Open - 8:05 a.m.

Cross streets: Santa Juanita and Oak

MILE 3

Close - 6:50 a.m.

Open - 8:20 a.m.

Cross streets - April and Oak

MILE 4

Close - 6:50 a.m.

Open - 8:30 a.m.

Cross streets - Beech and Oak

MILE 5

Close - 6:50 a.m.

Open - 8:45 am

Cross streets - Wachtel and Oak

MILE 6

Close - 6:50 a.m.

Open - 9 a.m.

Cross streets - Oak and Fair Oaks Boulevard

MILE 7

Close - 6:50 a.m.

Open -9:15 a.m.

Cross streets - Woodlake Hills and Fair Oaks Boulevard

Close - 6:50 a.m.

Open - 9:30 a.m.

Cross streets - Greenback Lane

MILE 8

Close - 7:05 a.m.

Open - 9:30 a.m.

Cross streets - Niessen and Fair Oaks Boulevard

Close - 7:05 a.m.

Open - 9:40 a.m.

Cross streets - Madison Avenue

MILE 9

Close - 7:05 a.m.

Open- 9:50 a.m.

Cross streets - Dorian and Fair Oaks Boulevard

MILE 10

Close - 7:05

Open - 10 a.m.

Cross streets - Main and Fair Oaks Boulevard

Close - 7:05 a.m.

Open - 10:05 a.m.

Cross street - Sunrise Boulevard

MILE 11

Close - 7:05 a.m.

Open - 10: 15 a.m.

Cross streets - New York and Fair Oaks Boulevard

MILE 12

Close - 7:05 a.m.

Open - 10:30 a.m.

Cross streets - Hollister and Fair Oaks Boulevard

MILE 13

Close - 7:05 a.m.

Open - 10:45 a.m.

Cross streets - California and Fair Oaks Boulevard

Close - 7:05 a.m.

Open - 11 a.m.

Cross streets - Manzanita Avenue

MILE 14

Close - 7:30 a.m.

Open - 11 a.m.

Cross streets - Grant and Fair Oaks Boulevard

MILE 15

Close - 7:30 a.m.

Open - 11:15 a.m.

Cross streets - Kenneth and Fair Oaks Boulevard

MILE 16

Close - 7:30 a.m.

Open - 11:30 a.m.

Cross streets - Garfield and Fair Oaks Boulevard

MILE 17

Close - 7:30 a.m.

Open - 11:45 a.m.

Cross streets - Paloma and Fair Oaks Boulevard

MILE 18

Close - 7:30 a.m.

Open - noon

Cross Streets - Saverien and Fair Oaks Boulevard

MILE 19

Close - 7:30 a.m.

Open - 12:15 p.m.

Cross streets - Coronado and Fair Oaks Boulevard

Close - 7:30 a.m.

Open - 1 p.m.

Cross streets - Watt Avenue

MILE 20

Close - 7:30 a.m.

Open -1 p.m.

Cross streets - Hawthorn and Fair Oaks Boulevard

Close - 7:30 a.m.

Open - 1 p.m.

Cross streets - Munroe and Fair Oaks Boulevard

MILE 21

Close - 7:30 a.m.

Open - 1 p.m.

Cross streets - University and Fair Oaks Boulevard

Close - 8 a.m.

Open - 1 p.m.

Cross streets - Howe Avenue

MILE 22

Close - 8 a.m.

Open - 1 p.m.

Cross streets - Carlson and J Street

MILE 23

Close - 8 a.m.

Open - 1:30 p.m.

Cross streets - Bear Flag and J Street

MILE 24

Close - 8 a.m.

Open - 1:45 p.m.

Cross streets - 33rd and J Street

Close - 8 a.m.

Open - 1:45 p.m.

Cross streets - Alhambra Boulevard

Close - 8 a.m.

Open - 2 p.m.

Cross streets - L Street

MILE 25

Close - 8 a.m.

Open - 2:05 p.m.

Cross streets - 22nd and L Street

Close - 7 a.m.

Open - 2:10 p.m.

Cross streets - 15th and L Street

MILE 26

Close - 7 a.m.

Open - 2:15 p.m.

Cross streets - 8th and L Street

For more information on closures and when to avoid certain streets, visit CIM’s road closure schedule page.

Where to stay

DOWNTOWN

Sheraton Grand Sacramento - headquarter hotel

Address: 1230 J Street

Contact: 916-447-1700

CIM rate: $181

Direct booking link

Hyatt Regency Sacramento

Address: 1209 l Street

Contact: 888-421-1442

CIM rate: $209

Direct booking link

Holiday Inn - Arena

Address: 300 J Street

Contact: 916-446-0100

CIM rate: $182

Direct booking link

POINT WEST

Fairfield Inn by Marriott

Address; 1780 Tribute Road

Contact: 1-800-605-6578

CIM rate: $139 to $149

Booking link

TownePlace Suites Sacramento Cal Expo

Address: 1784 Tribute Road

Contact: 916-920-5400

CIM rate: $129 to $169

Booking link

FOLSOM

Lake Natoma Inn

Address: 702 Gold Lake Drive

Contact: 916-932-2751

CIM room rate: starting at $139

Direct booking link

For more information on CIM partner hotels visit CIM’s lodging page. For complimentary transportation to the start line visit the start line transportation and information page.

Aid stations

Volunteers fill water glass before the start of the California International Marathon (CIM) in Fair Oaks Ca, Sunday Dec 3, 2017.
Volunteers fill water glass before the start of the California International Marathon (CIM) in Fair Oaks Ca, Sunday Dec 3, 2017.

There will be 17 aid stations equipped with water, sports drinks and medical personnel. Portable toilets will also be located at each aid station as well as each relay exchange zone along the course.

Medical assistance will be provided by UC Davis Children’s Hospital at all relay exchange areas, aid stations and the finish line.

Awards ceremony

Time: 11 a.m.

Where: Finish line near the State Capitol

CIM’s top male and female finishers will be awarded. All of the other awards including divisions and relay awards will be mailed roughly eight weeks after the event.

For more information on bib numbers and finish area gear check stations, visit the official California International Marathon’s general marathon information page.

COVID-19 requirements of runners

All CIM participants will be required to produce either proof of a complete vaccination or a negative COVId-19 test within 72 hours of race day (starting Thursday at 7 a.m.).

Participants must also bring tangible proof of their vaccination or negative coronavirus test. Accepted materials include:

  • Original paper copy

  • Digital copy

  • Photocopy

  • Photo of the vaccination or negative test proof

PCR and antigen tests including rapid tests are all acceptable proofs of a negative COVID-19 test and results. Test results must be from a test provider or laboratory and show the patient’s name, type of test performed, date of the test and negative test results.

Accepted proof of negative COVID-19 viral test results include:

  • Printed document from the test provider or laboratory showing the test result.

  • Electronic test result (email, text message or mobile application record) displayed on attendee’s phone or mobile device.

Negative results from a home test that are accessed through a CDC-approved mobile app will also be accepted, as long as the name on the results matches the name on the participant’s photo ID.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our California Utility Team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email utilityteam@sacbee.com.

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