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☰
California International Marathon Runner Comments
Back to California International Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.4 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 4.2
Number of comments: 232 [displaying comments 111 to 121]
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E. W. from Magalia, Ca
(12/9/2008)
"Getting too big!" (about: 2008)
50+ previous marathons
| 4-5 California International Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 Weather was perfect. The course is rolling during the first half and fairly flat during the second half. I have run this race 5 times; as the race gets bigger, the logistics are becoming a nightmare. Lot of aid stations were not well prepared. The food at end of race really needs improvement, and waiting in line was no fun. This is still a great race, but they need help. Either have a lot more food tents or limit the race size. I do not like to complain, but this was a much better run when it was smaller. | |
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K. J. from Seattle, WA
(12/9/2008)
"Good times" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 -The start was great. Plenty of porta-potties (especially if you walked beyond the first few of them, which somehow had lines when ones farther down the row were empty!). The wide road start meant little stress. I crossed the line in 10 seconds, without pushing to the front. -I was a little discouraged to see people littering their clothes and trash all along the course. If we drop our stuff near an aid station, it's probably a lot easier to clean up. -Rolling hills during the first half were not as bad as I had feared, but driving the course the day prior was helpful to put it into perspective. Had I not read comments here from prior years or really studied the course, I might have been disappointed by how the reality measured up to the fast-fast-fast descriptions. I happened to like the speed of the course, and the varied elevation, but may have had a different assessment had I not BQ'd and PR'd. -Big thanks to volunteers - very energetic. -Bus to start was convenient, but nobody checked that I was a paid rider. I was, but I fear some potential stowaways could have taken seats from other paid riders. Anyone who ran the Seafair Marathon in 2008 knows the potential perils of that (i.e. the challenge of getting to the finish is irrelevant if you can't get to the start). To be certain, I did not hear of any difficulty regarding this at CIM. The event is so well organized that I imagine there was some built-in slack in the system. -Medal was huge and shiny. Olympian in scale and design. -Crowd briefly narrowed the running lane to 2-3 abreast at half-marathon and 20 mile (AKA "The Wall" arch) marks. Great energy, but a little scary and cumbersome. Thanks to all who organized, volunteered and cheered on a very enjoyable morning. | |
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E. O. from St. Albert, Alberta
(12/9/2008)
"Lightning fast course, but issue re: bus to start" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 This was my 1st CIM and I really enjoyed the fast course. The weather was perfect - cool (high 30s to low 40s) and no wind. This is apparently typical. Minor rolling hills in 1st part of the course are not steep or long enough to pose any sort of a problem. The second half is a slight downhill all the way to the finish. Perfect course to run a PR or Boston qualifying time. There was a pretty serious problem with transporting runners to the start (in Folsom), however. Buses left Sacramento between 5 and 6 a.m. I got in a VERY long line at 5:40. Waiting til 5:40 was a mistake. Get on the first bus at 5 a.m. if you can. My bus arrived at the start just as the race began at 7 a.m. I literally started running as I exited the bus. And there were at least a couple hundred people on buses that hadn't yet arrived at that point. The race director says he prides himself on never making the same mistake 2 years in a row, so I expect the bus issue will be fixed next year. Other than that little organizational glitch, everything was first-rate. Well stocked aid stations and more than adequate spectator support. Volunteers called out the time and pace at each mile marker, which was very helpful for those who forgot to pack their forerunner (whoops). First-rate race. | |
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J. F. from San Diego California
(12/9/2008)
"Great race" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 California International Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Absolutely great marathon. Ran the CIM in 2007 and knew I had to run it again in 2008. The EXPO is well organized, the course is amazing and the support during the run was first rate. A big thank you to the volunteers who braved the cold to support the runners. I for one really appreciate you getting up early on a Sunday morning to volunteer your time. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I will definitely be back in 2009. | |
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M. F. from Lawrence, KS
(12/8/2008)
"Great Job, CIM!!!" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I just got back from the 2008 CIM. The organization was great! Capping it at 6,000 runners makes for a much better overall experience! Everything was easy: Expo, transportation to start and lots of port-a-potties!!!! I have run 6 different marathons and this was near the top!! | |
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C. K. from San Francisco, CA
(12/8/2008)
"Cool, fast, and a perfect day" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 An early, cool start, downhill course and zero wind made for a promising day. The course is well-known for being fast due to the net-downhill elevation and December date, but this year was perfect with absolutely no wind or adverse weather and cool temperatures the entire race. The shuttle buses to the point-to-point start were pretty convenient, considering the early start, and I got there with about 45 minutes to spare. Start line logistics were fantastic with plenty of porta-potties. As advertised, the course was quick and merciful toward the end. Finishing with the state capitol as a backdrop made for a perfect setting for a PR and first Boston qualifier. The gripes are minor. Most of these are due to the relatively low-budget nature of this race (compared to, say, Chicago, which I ran 7 weeks before). Mile markers had people calling the time rather than a visual clock - one nice thing was that they had a second person calling out your pace per mile based on clock time. Crowds are light and sparse until the end, save for a handful of main intersections. Too few aid stations and too few toward the end. Water was in plastic cups, making for tough drinking on the run. I snagged paper Cytomax cups, dumped them and refilled them from the plastic water cups to drink on the run. Next time, guys, PAPER! Zip ties for timing chips were not supplied in the envelope, nor available at the start. I laced it through my shoelaces, but it would have been one fewer thing to worry about. All in all, a fantastic race, nice course (who knew Sac was scenic?) and my first Boston qualifier to boot! | |
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V. H. from Denver, Colorado
(12/8/2008)
"Wonderful Race!!!" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The race certainly lived up to its billing as a great one. After 25 years of putting this event on, the organizers know what they're doing. I took 15 minutes off of my previous PR, and now I'll be running Boston in April! | |
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Michael Archer from Bay Point, Cali.
(12/8/2008)
"Glad to be a part of it." (about: 2008)
3 previous marathons
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Overall I thought the conditions were spot on for a marathon. This was my 1st CIM. Did someone say the course was hilly? Didn't seem like it much, but I guess that's relative. I love seeing the older folks out there - my inspirations for the future. They're all my heroes and heroins. You go, Helen! My one and only complaint would be that at about the 1/2, the crowd bottle-necked us a little tighter than I liked. All in all, a great race. I did better than I expected. In the words of our governor, "I'll be back!" | |
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N. S. from Hopkins, MN
(12/7/2008)
"If you like to run, you will love this race!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 WOW! This race lived up to my expectations - the organizers went out of their way to accommodate runners trying to achieve their dream marathon goal. I flew in late and missed the expo, but from e-mails I knew I could pick up my packet at the host hotel. I was a bit nervous about this, but sure enough, at 4:40 a.m. there was a very helpful volunteer getting my number and chip. Every mile was well marked and had two volunteers - one telling you your overall time and the second one telling you your pace, every mile!! In the last miles the second volunteer started telling you your projected finish times! Traffic control was excellent - weather was perfect (cloudy, 40-50s). The course does generally run downhill but I was surprised that there were a couple of uphills (not too difficult and not at the end of the race, however). There were not large crowds but there was very good enthusiasm with a band, cheerleader groups, a kick-line. There were also lots of volunteers at aid stations, which were plentiful, and well stocked with GU towards the later miles. This race caters so much to marathoners that there is no other half-marathon or other distant run going on at the same time (other than a relay which was fine). Sserious runners should not miss this race! | |
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Kate Sully from Sacramento, Ca
(12/7/2008)
"Pretty Dang Good" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I just finished and it was my first marathon. I really had a great time! The course was very hilly in the beginning, but if you keep in mind that for every up there is at least that much more going down, it's good. The first couple of aid stations were awful; I had to try desperately to figure out where water was and I usually had to get it from the table myself. But they got much more coordinated as it went on. I loved the random people with oranges, M&M's, pretzels, red vines, etc. I loved the Bella Vista Cheer Squad!! My 5-hour pacer was AMAZING. I was originally with the 4:45, but she was very quiet and borderline rude - unlike the chatty and positive 5-hour guy. He made it so we came in about 3 minutes early so our pics could say under 5, and he even let us walk the J Street hill. :) I used my iPod most of the way but from the "the wall" at 20 on, it is very introspective and amazing to just soak it in. It goes by fast, too! Good luck on yours! Dress warmly! |
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