California International Marathon: Elevation Profile, Course Map & Pace Calculator
First Sunday of December · Moderately rolling · 590 ft total ascent · 340 ft net downhill
CIM has run since 1983 from Folsom Dam to the State Capitol: Sacramento's flagship and one of the country's most reliable Boston qualifiers. The point-to-point course drops about 90 m over its length, with gentle rollers giving way to a flat run-in past Capitol Park. Cool, often foggy morning conditions.
The California International Marathon is moderately rolling — rated 3/5 on our difficulty scale. Over the official 42.195 km (26.2 mi) the course gains about 590 ft (180 m) and loses 930 ft (280 m), with a net drop of 104 m (341 ft). Grade-adjusted pace says the toughest stretch arrives at kilometre 18 (near mile 11), demanding about 7% more effort than the same distance on flat ground. The steepest pitch on course reaches 6.2%.
Course stats
| Distance | 26.2 mi (42.195 km) |
|---|---|
| Location | Sacramento, CA, USA |
| Total ascent | 590 ft (180 m) |
| Total descent | 930 ft (280 m) |
| Elevation range | 104 m (340 ft) |
| Net elevation | -341 ft (-104 m) |
| Steepest grade | 6.2% |
| Difficulty | 3/5 |
| Field size | ≈9,000 runners |
| Race day | First Sunday of December |
| Elevation from | USGS 3DEP ned10m (US, 10 m) |
Bare-earth terrain model, smoothed over 500 m — it measures the ground, not the rooftops.
Key segments
| km 0–10 | Start to 10K. Net downhill, 50 m (+50 / −100 m), about 2% easier than flat. |
|---|---|
| km 10–21.1 | 10K to halfway. Net downhill, 20 m (+80 / −105 m), about 1% easier than flat. |
| km 21.1–30 | Halfway to 30K. Net downhill, 20 m (+30 / −45 m), about 1% easier than flat. |
| km 30–42.2 | 30K to the finish. Net downhill, 15 m (+15 / −30 m), about 1% easier than flat. |
Mile-by-mile splits (grade-adjusted)
Grade-adjusted (GAP) splits for a 4:00:00 finish, computed from the course's elevation profile with the Minetti gradient-cost model: uphill miles get more time, downhills less, at even effort. Splits scale proportionally for any other goal time — the interactive pace calculator on this page computes them exactly.
| Mile | GAP pace /mi | GAP pace /km | Elev Δ | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8:39 | 5:23 | -67 ft (-20 m) | 8:39 |
| 2 | 9:25 | 5:51 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 18:05 |
| 3 | 8:48 | 5:28 | -52 ft (-16 m) | 26:52 |
| 4 | 9:04 | 5:38 | -22 ft (-7 m) | 35:56 |
| 5 | 9:08 | 5:40 | -15 ft (-5 m) | 45:04 |
| 6 | 9:11 | 5:42 | -9 ft (-3 m) | 54:15 |
| 7 | 9:15 | 5:45 | -5 ft (-1 m) | 1:03:30 |
| 8 | 9:15 | 5:45 | -4 ft (-1 m) | 1:12:45 |
| 9 | 9:35 | 5:57 | +33 ft (+10 m) | 1:22:20 |
| 10 | 8:59 | 5:35 | -31 ft (-10 m) | 1:31:18 |
| 11 | 8:53 | 5:31 | -52 ft (-16 m) | 1:40:11 |
| 12 | 9:15 | 5:45 | -8 ft (-3 m) | 1:49:26 |
| 13 | 9:15 | 5:45 | -3 ft (-1 m) | 1:58:41 |
| 14 | 9:07 | 5:40 | -15 ft (-5 m) | 2:07:48 |
| 15 | 9:22 | 5:49 | +12 ft (+4 m) | 2:17:10 |
| 16 | 9:06 | 5:39 | -17 ft (-5 m) | 2:26:16 |
| 17 | 8:57 | 5:34 | -32 ft (-10 m) | 2:35:13 |
| 18 | 9:10 | 5:42 | -11 ft (-3 m) | 2:44:23 |
| 19 | 9:13 | 5:43 | -6 ft (-2 m) | 2:53:36 |
| 20 | 9:07 | 5:40 | -15 ft (-5 m) | 3:02:42 |
| 21 | 9:11 | 5:42 | -8 ft (-2 m) | 3:11:53 |
| 22 | 9:15 | 5:45 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 3:21:08 |
| 23 | 9:14 | 5:44 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 3:30:21 |
| 24 | 9:11 | 5:42 | -7 ft (-2 m) | 3:39:32 |
| 25 | 9:11 | 5:43 | -6 ft (-2 m) | 3:48:44 |
| 26 | 9:15 | 5:45 | 0 ft (0 m) | 3:57:59 |
| 26.2 | 9:15 | 5:45 | 0 ft (0 m) | 4:00:00 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the California International Marathon flat or hilly?
The California International Marathon is moderately rolling (3/5 difficulty). Total ascent is about 590 ft (180 m) over 26.2 miles.
How much elevation gain does the California International Marathon have?
About 590 ft (180 m) of total ascent and 930 ft (280 m) of descent, for a net change of -341 ft (-104 m). Elevation is sampled from USGS 3DEP ned10m (US, 10 m) and smoothed over 500 m, so it will not match a GPS watch step for step.
What is the hardest part of the California International Marathon course?
Kilometre 18 (near mile 11) is the toughest split on the course by grade-adjusted effort. Grade-adjusted pace puts it at roughly 7% more effort than flat running. The steepest grade on course is 6.2%.
How long is the California International Marathon?
42.195 km (26.2 miles), the standard marathon distance. Certified courses are measured along the shortest legal line with a small safety margin, so a GPS watch usually reads a few hundred metres long — you run wider than the measured line, and GPS adds error of its own. Pace off the course markers rather than your watch's distance in the closing kilometres.
When is the California International Marathon?
The California International Marathon is typically held on the first Sunday of December. The next edition is expected around December 6, 2026. Confirm the exact date on the official race website.
How many runners take part in the California International Marathon?
The field is roughly 9,000 runners.
What pace do I need to run the California International Marathon in my goal time?
At an even pace: 3:00:00 needs 6:52/mi (4:16/km); 3:30:00 needs 8:01/mi (4:59/km); 4:00:00 needs 9:09/mi (5:41/km); 4:30:00 needs 10:18/mi (6:24/km); 5:00:00 needs 11:27/mi (7:07/km); 5:30:00 needs 12:35/mi (7:49/km). On this course, grade-adjusted pacing shifts a few seconds per mile between uphill and downhill splits — the pace calculator on this page computes those splits for any goal time.
Plan your Sacramento race
Courses like this one
- Grandma's Marathon — 3/5 difficulty, 530 ft (160 m) ascent
- Twin Cities Marathon — 3/5 difficulty, 680 ft (210 m) ascent
- Philadelphia Marathon — 3/5 difficulty, 740 ft (230 m) ascent
How California International Marathon ranks
- Flattest marathon courses — ranked 18 of 20 (590 ft (180 m) of climbing)
- Hilliest marathon courses — ranked 15 of 20 (590 ft (180 m) of climbing)
- Net-downhill marathon courses — ranked 3 of 13 (340 ft (100 m) net drop)
- Hardest marathon courses — ranked 14 of 20 (3/5 — 590 ft (180 m) up, 930 ft (280 m) down)
Official race site: https://runsra.org/cim/