Sacramento, December 6, 2026
California International Marathon Pacing Plan
A point-to-point, net-downhill course that has run essentially unchanged for over 40 years: it starts near Folsom Dam and drops through the suburban towns of Orangevale, Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks and Carmichael (long stretches follow Fair Oaks Blvd) before entering Sacramento under a canopy of fall foliage along the American River Parkway to finish at the California State Capitol. The course drops a net ~110m (366ft) from start to finish, keeping it within Boston-qualifying course-index limits, which combined with typically cool, calm December weather makes it one of the most popular BQ/PR courses in the US.
Weather is a 10-year seasonal average for this course's location and month, not a forecast for a specific date. See FAQ.
Route shown is from the 2025 edition; next year's course hasn't been officially published yet.
Distance
26.3 mi
Elevation gain
+92ft / -430ft
Typically run in
December
Typical race-day weather
43Ā°F, 6 mph
Elevation profile
Sample strategy: 3:45:00 goal
A real, AI-generated excerpt of what Splitshape produces for this exact course, not a hand-written example. Upload your own goal and recent results to get the full plan.
KM 0-6: The net downhill start is generous: 4:59 to 5:16/km on grades between -0.2% and -1.3%, but this is exactly where the fade begins if you spend it. Hold 5:00-5:15/km through here and resist the urge to bank time just because the legs feel free. You cross 6K around 30:48; that's the pace budget, not a floor to chase.6
KM 7-12: The grade flattens out and pace settles to 5:11-5:19/km, mostly with a tailwind at your back through 10K. This stretch has no real climbs, so if you're drifting slower than 5:20/km here it's fatigue talking, not terrain. You pass 10K at 52:00: check that split against your watch and recalibrate if you're off.
KM 13-19: The mild uphill grades (0.3-0.6%) push pace out to 5:25-5:32/km, the slowest stretch you've seen yet, before a short sharp downhill km at 18 (-1.7%, 4:52/km) gives you one gift kilometer. Don't chase that 4:52. It's terrain, not a sign you're recovering. You'll cross the half around 1:39:41, roughly on pace for a 3:45 with the modeled back-half slowdown still ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the California International Marathon considered a fast BQ course?
CIM is a point-to-point course that drops a net ~110m from Folsom Dam to the California State Capitol, with just 28m of gain against 131m of loss. That net-downhill profile stays within Boston-qualifying course-index limits, and combined with typically cool, calm December weather (around 6Ā°C, light 9 km/h wind) it's one of the most popular BQ and PR courses in the US.</br>
Should I run an even split or negative split strategy on the CIM course?
Since the course loses elevation steadily rather than in one dramatic drop, most of the descent is spread across the early and middle miles before leveling out along the American River Parkway into Sacramento. A slight positive split (banking a bit of time on the net-downhill first half) tends to suit this course better than an aggressive negative split, since the final miles flatten out and offer less gravity assist.</br>
Does the elevation profile mean I should go out fast at CIM?</br>
The net drop of 110m is spread gradually over the full 42.4km, not concentrated at the start, so it doesn't reward an overly aggressive early pace. Out-and-back downhill sections near Fair Oaks Blvd help offset effort, but pacing still needs discipline since the drop is gentle and gradual rather than a steep early plunge.</br>
What weather should I expect on CIM race day?</br>
Typical race-day conditions are cool and calm, around 6.1Ā°C with light wind near 9.1 km/h. These conditions, run each December, are a key reason CIM's net-downhill course converts into fast finishing times, since low temperatures reduce heat-related slowdowns over the point-to-point route.</br>
Is the CIM course technical or hilly despite being net-downhill?</br>
No, while the course does lose 131m overall, the elevation gain is minimal at just 28m, meaning there are no significant climbs to counteract the descent. The route is largely a steady drop through suburban Sacramento-area towns like Orangevale, Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks and Carmichael before flattening into the American River Parkway and finishing at the Capitol.</br>
Build your California International Marathon plan
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Build my California International Marathon plan āSplitshape is an independent pacing-plan tool and is not an official partner, sponsor, or affiliate of the California International Marathon or its organizers. Course data source: digitized from the official course.