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California International Marathon
The California International Marathon is a flat course of 42.2 km (26.2 miles) with 43.5 m (143 ft) of climbing. Its lowest point is 9 m (30 ft) and its highest 104 m (341 ft) above sea level. Next race: Sunday 6 December 2026, starting at 7:00 AM.
At a glance
- Race day
- The 2026 race
- Start
- 07:007:00 AM
- Distance
- 42.2 km26.2 mi
- Marathon · Relay
- Total climb
- 43.5 m143 ft
- Highest point 95 m312 ft above lowest
- Time limit
- 6 hours
- Finish closes 13:301:30 PM
The course
Pick a place, or drag along the profileThe course falls from about 104 m at the start to about 14 m at the finish, and climbs only 43.5 m on the way.
StartFinish
© OpenStreetMap contributors
- Photo: Ian Howard, CC BY 2.5
- Photo: Photograph: Radomianin, Public domain
km 22.6mile 14.1
Carmichael Park
The organiser puts a self-refill water station at Carmichael Park, near mile 14.
km 39.5mile 24.5
Sutter's Fort
The organiser's aid station 16 stands at Sutter's Fort, near mile 24.5.
Photo: Ian Howard, CC BY 2.5
km 41.5mile 25.8
California State Capitol
The organiser's point-to-point course runs from Folsom Dam to the State Capitol in Sacramento, where the marathon ends.
Photo: Photograph: Radomianin, Public domain
Height drawn many times taller than life · GEDTM30
0 10 20 30 40 km
0 10 20 26.2 mi
Dashed: bridge
Your 5 gels, at the orange marksFor a 4:00 finish, one every 40 minutes
- km 7mile 4.4
- km 14.1mile 8.7
- km 21.1mile 13.1
- km 28.1mile 17.5
- km 35.2mile 21.8
Get them on AmazonAmazon partner link
- A 90 m drop from Folsom to the CapitolThe biggest drop comes first: about 36 m in the first 5 km, and the lowest point is 8.8 m at km 39.
- Buses to a 7:00 start, a 1:30 closeRunners cannot drive to the start: every runner takes an official bus.
Course notes 2 short reads on the course
km 0 to 42.2GradientA 90 m drop from Folsom to the CapitolThe biggest drop comes first: about 36 m in the first 5 km, and the lowest point is 8.8 m at km 39.
This is a point-to-point course that only goes one way. It starts at about 104 m near Folsom Dam and loses about 36 m in the first 5 km. It reaches about 60 m by km 10, runs between roughly 54 and 65 m to km 15, and then drops about 29 m between km 15 and km 20.
The second half is gentle. From km 21 to the finish the road loses about 25 m and gains only about 18 m. The lowest point, 8.8 m, comes at km 39, and the road finishes at about 14 m. A watch will count more small rises than the 43.5 m here.
Measured
Whole courseTacticsBuses to a 7:00 start, a 1:30 closeRunners cannot drive to the start: every runner takes an official bus.
The organiser starts the marathon at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday 6 December 2026, near Folsom Dam. The start staging areas, set by expected finish time, close from 6:50 to 7:08 a.m., and the last one stays open. The last pace group is followed by the sweep runners, who cross the line at 7:30. The course time limit is six hours, so the finish line closes at 1:30 p.m.
Runners may not drive to the start or be dropped off near it, because the roads are closed. Every runner uses one of the official transport options, and there is no gear check at the start line.
Sourced
Race weekend
Friday 4 December Expo
-
13:001:00 PM–19:007:00 PM
Expo and packet pick-up SAFE Credit Union Convention Center, 1400 J Street, Sacramento. All packets are picked up at the expo; there is no race-day pick-up. Photo ID and the confirmation QR code are required.
Saturday 5 December Expo
-
09:009:00 AM–17:005:00 PM
Expo and packet pick-up SAFE Credit Union Convention Center, 1400 J Street, Sacramento
Sunday 6 December Race day
-
06:506:50 AM–07:087:08 AM
Start staging areas close Self-seeded staging areas by expected finish time close between 6:50 and 7:08; the last one stays open. Gear check is at the expo or at bus loading location A, not at the start. -
07:007:00 AM
Marathon mass start Near Folsom Dam, Folsom. Runners cannot drive or be dropped off at the start and must use the official transport. -
07:307:30 AM
Sweep runners cross the start line The start line closes at 7:30. -
until 13:301:30 PM
Finish line closes Six-hour course time limit. 6:00 limit: 8:31/km for 42.195 km6:00 limit: 13:43/mi for 26.2 mi
Times as published by the organiser, in Sacramento time, checked . Confirm on their site before you travel.
The forecast for Sunday
Race morning, on the record
Add to calendar .ics file, times in Sacramento time
Entry
Race fuel
Energy gel
5 gels for Sacramento, plus 1 spare
Finish
One every 40 minutes, the orange marks on the profile, by the clock:
Under about 75 minutes most runners need no gel: water at the aid stations does it.
- km 7mile 4.4
- km 14.1mile 8.7
- km 21.1mile 13.1
- km 28.1mile 17.5
- km 35.2mile 21.8
For your long training runs:
Our pick: SiS BETA Fuel gel, box of 6, strawberry and lime. 40 g of carbohydrate a gel, about twice a usual gel, from two kinds of sugar your body takes up side by side. Enough for race day and two test long runs.
Easy to forget on race morning: pack them with your bib the night before.
Order by 15 November to test them on two long runs first.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
In Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Salted Caramel, 24-pack, the best seller there.
Outside the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the UK and Ireland, Spain and Portugal, Italy, the rest of the EU and Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Chocolate Outrage, 24-pack on Amazon.com, the best seller there.
Anti-chafe
Compeed anti-blister stick, 8 ml
An invisible layer before the start keeps seams, straps and shoes from rubbing skin raw.
Put it on before you leave for the start: heels and toes, inner thighs, under a bra or heart-rate strap.
Try it on a long run first, like everything you use on race day.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Number belt
Compressport Race Belt
Holds your bib without safety pins through your top, with loops for up to 8 gels.
Clip the bib on the night before, so it goes on with your shorts in the morning.
Keep the number on the front, where officials and photographers can see it.
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We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Electrolytes
SiS Hydro electrolyte tablets, tube of 20
One tablet in a bottle puts back some of the salt you sweat out.
One tablet in 500 ml of water in the hour before the start.
Only if you have used them in training: nothing new on race day.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Blister plasters
Compeed blister plasters, medium, 6
One in a pocket cushions a blister if one starts.
Put it on clean, dry skin and leave it until it comes off by itself.
Give a couple to whoever comes to cheer, so they are there at the km you need them.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Questions about the California International Marathon
- Is the California International Marathon course flat?
- Yes. It has 43.5 m (143 ft) of climbing over 42.2 km (26.2 miles). The highest point is 95 m (312 ft) above the lowest. It finishes 90 m (295 ft) lower than it starts.
- When is the California International Marathon 2026?
- Sunday 6 December 2026. The start is at 7:00 AM.
- What is the time limit at the California International Marathon?
- Runners have 6 hours to finish. The finish closes at 1:30 PM.
- Where does the California International Marathon start?
- Start: Near Folsom Dam, Folsom.
Keep exploring
More races to look at after the California International Marathon.
