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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 151 to 161]
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R. A. from USA
(12/3/2007)
"The CIM is a fantastic run!" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 3 California International Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 It has been quite a few years since I ran a full marathon, so I ran the relay. I ran the 3rd leg of the race. People were pushing and shoving where I was waiting for my teammate. Turns out they weren't even running; they just wanted to see the runners. I still think this is a great run. One more thing: They ran out of relay medals. | |
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R. C. from Pittsburgh, PA
(12/3/2007)
"Fantastic, Fast Course" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Fantastic weather and a fantastic fast course. The rolling hills were small in my opinion, but I am from Pittsburgh and train on a lot of hills. My only problem was that this was the first marathon I had run with the GU sports drink. They had it in tiny little cups, which made it hard for the volunteers to hold the cup while leaving enough of the cup exposed for the runner to grab easily. I also found that many times when I grabbed a cup that it was only 1/4 to 1/2 full (about 2 oz. maybe). So my request would be for bigger cups with more liquid. | |
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H. R. from Bakersfield, CA
(12/3/2007)
"Harder than billed, but fun run." (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 After being just short of my Boston goal in San Diego, I really hoped to make it this time. But, I took off too fast and ended up dying with those seemingly endless rolling hills. The spectators were great - very encouraging - with great music along the way. Getting your gear at the expo was confusing and too time-consuming. The finish line was great, but no one directed you after you finished. They just told you to keep moving. | |
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W. S. from Indianapolis, IN
(12/2/2007)
"Ow - My Legs!" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This marathon is without a doubt downhill and you ought to do a lot of hill running before trying this one (or else your quads will be very tender). It is so downhill that you will see the downhill grade for 60% of the race. This makes for a fast race, which got me a PR and Boston qualifier after some pretty weak training (and not enough downhill runs). I'm hooked on Gu sports drink now. It goes down easy and doesn't make your hands sticky like Gatorade. After mile 15, though, it seemed really watered down and the volunteers (which rock) were mixing the cups (water in a Gu cup and vice versa). I ran on and off with Mike, the 3:10 pacer, and he was great. Good advice, encouragement, and knowledge of the course. The pacers didn't come out until about 5 minutes before the gun. Also, they ran solo for the entire race, so be ready to ditch your pacer if needed (the 3:30 guy finished around 3:50). I was hoping to see Arnold at mile 26, but not this year. I guess I will have to run it again. Volunteers were outstanding. One of the best and most organized runs that I have done. | |
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M. C. from West Sacramento, CA
(12/2/2007)
"Beware of course time limit" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Let me cut to the chase. I implore you to listen and take note. If you cannot do a marathon in 6 hours or under, do not - I repeat, do not - do CIM. This is a wonderful course, and a flawless organization. However, they mean 6 hours. Once the 6-hour pace group passes all the road blocks, the road blocks are taken down, the road opened to traffic and the runner becomes a pedestrian. Fair Oaks Blvd. is a dangerous thoroughfare. I fell behind the 6-hour group, fell behind the trucks picking up the course, and was a pedestrian from mile 16 on. I honestly don't know why I and many others were not pulled off the course; we should have been. I still PR'd, but it was well after the 6-hour cut off. I you insist on still doing this marathon, and if you are unable to complete in 6 hours, I urge you to carry hydration and nutrition. This is a fantastic marathon, but I will not do it again until I can run faster. I honestly thought I was going to be able to keep up the the wonderful 6-hour group, but I had a bad day. | |
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R. O. from California
(12/2/2007)
"Where was the Gu at mile 13? Sports drink?" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 The rolling hills through the first half were fine. What wasn't fine, however, was the lack of any sports drink at the water stops. Every time I thought I took a Gu drink, it was just water. So, without the opportunity to get any calories from the drink I was looking forward to the Gu at mile 13. THERE WAS NO GU! Maybe there was later, but for the 2:35 pace people - NOTHING! Having no calories available on the course for us is dangerous, and it makes your last ten miles pretty painful. I did think the course was really nice; I just would have enjoyed it more if I weren't energy-deprived. | |
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jellie bellie from Pacific Northwest
(10/15/2007)
"Awesome 1st Marathon" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I couldn't have asked for a better first marathon than this one! I was able to stay with the pace-setter for almost the entire race (3:45), but once I ran through the balloon "wall" at mile 20, I literally hit my wall. I was not ready for the pain and agony of the last six miles and finished in 3:54. Not too bad for my first-ever marathon! :) The aid stations were awesome, and the spectators were amazing. The best expo and tech shirts (although they were a bit big). Great course, with rolling hills. If hills are not your thing, maybe pick another race. I loved it though. The medals were absolutely beautiful! Overall, a wonderful experience. This is definitely not my last marathon! :) I will be back to CIM again! | |
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s. h. from Sacramento, CA
(5/6/2007)
"Yuck!" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Okay, I'm a native Sacramentan, so maybe I have a different perspective, but I'll try to be impartial. The course: way more hilly that billed. And I liked Big Sur! But there was a lot of straight stretches when all you could was a hill of people. I guess that was my big problem - not enough twists and turns. I am a small and ended up with a shirt that, although labeled a Medium, is way too large, they were out of smalls. Why do races always run out of smalls? The 4:30 pacer was way too fast for the first half. If straight and hilly is your cup of tea, go for it. | |
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D. C. from Mountain View, CA
(5/2/2007)
"Very Nice Race" (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Make sure to check out the elevation chart. It is a fast course with a net downhill (which allowed me to take 30 min off my PR and qualify for Boston), but there are "rolling hills," which upset many unsuspecting runners. If you prepare for them during your training, you'll be fine. I felt that there was a large contingent of Boston qualifying hopefuls and this is the group that the race organizers focused upon. The pacers were great, and the website is informative. Also, the expo is surprisingly good for a medium-sized marathon. | |
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M. L. from Roseville, CA
(1/17/2007)
"Not for the slower runner" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 California International Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon so I can only compare it to my experience at several half marathons and shorter races. The spectators were great, but if you were running with the goal of just finishing under 6 hours, there was little support on the course. The trucks picking up the mile markers and tables were constantly cutting us off and nearly hit me at one point. It was also very disappointing to finally cross the finish line of my first marathon and have no refreshments or a medal. They were taking everything down even though I finished under 6 hours. I will run this again, but only when I know I can finish well ahead of the truck. I can say that the CIM website provided very useful information and the Board does a great job of putting together a great event. If you are a slow runner, I would stick to marathons with a longer cut-off or no cut-off. |
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