WEEKEND. WELCOME. COME ON IN. BLUE ONE RIGHT AT THE END OF THE TABLE. HAVE A GOOD RACE BEFORE THE FIRST STEPS OF SUNDAY’S MARATHON. THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE PERFECT WEATHER. THE JOURNEY STARTS HERE. THEY’LL COME SEE ME AT THIS EXPO TO KIND OF GET THEM READY FOR THE EVENT. GOT A LITTLE FINAL? FINAL? TUNE UP A TUNE UP FOR A LONG RACE 26.2 MILES TO BE EXACT. AS THOUSANDS OF RUNNERS PREPARE FOR MORE THAN 50,000 STEPS FROM FOLSOM TO DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO ROLLING HILLS. IT’S A LITTLE BIT DOWNHILL. WE COMING FROM MEXICO CITY. I’M EXCITED. I’LL SEE MY. KASSON ROAD JUNIOR RAMS CHEERING ME ON OAK AVENUE. SO WE’RE READY. MORE THAN 10,000 RUNNERS PARTICIPATING IN THIS YEAR’S MARATHON, PICKING UP THEIR PACKETS AHEAD OF SUNDAY’S BIG DAY. HAVE YOU RUN A MARATHON BEFORE? IT’S MY FIRST ONE. SIM SERVING AS THE U.S. TRACK AND FIELD MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIP, AS WELL AS A BOSTON QUALIFIER COURSE. MY PR IS TWO HOURS AND 58 MINUTES IN CHICAGO LAST YEAR, AND ON SUNDAY I LOOKING FOR A 250. IT’S JUST SUCH A GREAT TIME THROUGH ORANGEVILLE. FAIR OAKS, CARMICHAEL AND SACRAMENTO. I LOVE THIS RACE. THAT’S SUPER AWESOME BECAUSE WHAT KEEPS RUNNERS COMING BACK ISN’T JUST THE COURSE ITSELF. OH, BUT THE PEOPLE THEY’LL LINE UP SIDE BY SIDE WITH ON SUNDAY. IT IS A COMMUNITY, RIGHT? WE ALL HAVE ONE GOAL TO MAKE IT TO THAT FINISH LINE. SOME PEOPLE FASTER THAN OTHERS, BUT THAT DOESN’T MATTER. HAVE A GOOD RUN IN SACRAMENTO
Runners arrive for California International Marathon this weekend
Updated: 9:00 PM PST Dec 5, 2025
More than 10,000 runners are gearing up for the California International Marathon, a 26.2-mile race from Folsom to downtown Sacramento. This year, the event also serves as the U.S. Track & Field Marathon Championship and a Boston qualifier.Before the first steps of Sunday’s marathon, participants gathered at Cal Expo for a final tune-up. “These guys are going to have perfect weather,” Suzanne Cardenas, a CIM volunteer, noted, as they anticipated the journey ahead.RELATED | Road Closures, weather forecast and more to know ahead of CIMThe marathon includes runners from all over the globe. Erica Chan, a local runner, expressed excitement about the course. “I love this race,” Chan said. She added that she looked forward to seeing the Casa Robles Junior Rams cheering along Oak Avenue. Sergio Zumpano shared his personal record as he eyes a shot at qualifying for Boston. “My PR, it’s two hours and 58 minutes in Chicago last year, and on Sunday, I’m looking for 2:50,” he said.The marathon is not just about the course but also the camaraderie among participants. “It is a community, we all have one goal to make it to that finish line, some people faster than others, but that doesn’t matter,” Cardenas said.Saturday will feature an organized two-mile shakeout run to help athletes loosen their muscles and get the blood flowing ahead of race day. Check-in for the shakeout run begins at 7:30 a.m. in the DOCO plaza at 405 K Street, with the run starting at 8 a.m. and proceeding to the Old Sacramento Waterfront and across Sacramento’s iconic Tower Bridge.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
More than 10,000 runners are gearing up for the California International Marathon, a 26.2-mile race from Folsom to downtown Sacramento.
This year, the event also serves as the U.S. Track & Field Marathon Championship and a Boston qualifier.
Before the first steps of Sunday’s marathon, participants gathered at Cal Expo for a final tune-up.
“These guys are going to have perfect weather,” Suzanne Cardenas, a CIM volunteer, noted, as they anticipated the journey ahead.
RELATED | Road Closures, weather forecast and more to know ahead of CIM
The marathon includes runners from all over the globe. Erica Chan, a local runner, expressed excitement about the course.
“I love this race,” Chan said. She added that she looked forward to seeing the Casa Robles Junior Rams cheering along Oak Avenue.
Sergio Zumpano shared his personal record as he eyes a shot at qualifying for Boston.
“My PR, it’s two hours and 58 minutes in Chicago last year, and on Sunday, I’m looking for 2:50,” he said.
The marathon is not just about the course but also the camaraderie among participants.
“It is a community, we all have one goal to make it to that finish line, some people faster than others, but that doesn’t matter,” Cardenas said.
Saturday will feature an organized two-mile shakeout run to help athletes loosen their muscles and get the blood flowing ahead of race day. Check-in for the shakeout run begins at 7:30 a.m. in the DOCO plaza at 405 K Street, with the run starting at 8 a.m. and proceeding to the Old Sacramento Waterfront and across Sacramento’s iconic Tower Bridge.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel