Sacramento, US · December 2026
California International Marathon
California International Marathon: 42.195 km, 14 m of climbing. Course route, elevation, weather and a personalised pacing plan.
- Distance
- 42.20 km
- Elevation gain
- 14 m
- Typical temp
- 5–13 °C
- Cutoff
- 6:00:00
The short version
A fair test with a few teeth
- ▸Most runners crack near km 32 — fuel before km 30, not at it.
- ▸Low sun in your eyes around km 22 — bring a cap or shades.
Next edition
6 December 2026
Typical race-day conditions
5–13 °C
We lock the real forecast into your plan in race week.
Course difficulty
ModerateDriven by a flat, fast course with mild conditions. Harder than Seville Marathon (4.3), easier than Haspa Marathon Hamburg (4.4) — tougher than 13% of the races we cover.
Race data quality
Medium confidence
Last verified: source review pending
Course distance, climate, and broad course features are suitable for pacing previews. Elevation profiles and aid-station details are approximate and should be checked against the official race packet before race day.
Elevation profile
Verified profile
Paid strategy guardrail
Official race packet remains source of truth
- Official course GPX (goandrace) + Open-Elevation DEM
Step 1 · Free preview
See the course-adjusted plan first
Enter one recent result. The preview returns course cost, first splits, and fuel target from the deterministic engine and the current course data model.
VDOT
49.1
Estimate
3:12:30
Course cost
-1:14
Fuel target
90 g/h
First 5 km preview
full race locked
- km 14:36
- km 24:37
- km 34:51
- km 44:34
- km 54:33
First race free · then €7 Race Pass · no monthly subscription
Uses an approximate course model; verify final logistics against the official race packet.
Step 2 · Your full California International Marathon plan
The preview shows the shape. The plan races it for you.
Course preview
Free
what you see now
- ✓Difficulty score & course data
- ✓Course-cost & toughest km
- ✓Your first full plan free, ever
Race Pass
€7
one-time, this race
- ✓Every km split, weather-adjusted
- ✓Nutrition & fluid timeline
- ✓Heat, wind & sun race tactics
- ✓Danger zones + watch file (GPX)
- ✓Race-week forecast & reminders
Annual
€19
per year, every race
- ✓Everything in Race Pass
- ✓Unlimited races, all year
- ✓Re-plan as your fitness changes
No subscription required — one race is a one-off €7. Cancel anytime on Annual.
Continue with approximate course data →Course elevation
14 m total gain · 114 m loss · max 110 m, min 5 m.
Fly the course
Sun & shade
Sun in your eyes
3 km
Sun on your back
8 km
Side / overhead
28 km
Expect low sun roughly in your eyes around km 22 — pack a peaked cap or shades; low glare hides kerbs and potholes.
Approximate — solar position from the route geometry and a 07:00:00 start (timezone estimated from longitude), for a mid-pack finishing time.
Signature sections
Folsom rolling start
Early miles roll through the Folsom foothills before the long net descent.
Net-downhill point-to-point
The course drops ~90 m toward Sacramento — 'The Fastest Course in the West'.
State Capitol finish
Flat final miles to a finish at the steps of the California State Capitol.
Race overview
A fast, net-downhill point-to-point road marathon from Folsom to the California State Capitol in Sacramento, run the first Sunday of December — famous for PRs and Olympic Trials qualifiers. The route measures 42.195 km with about 14 m of climbing and 114 m of descent (high point 110 m). It typically runs in December.
How hard is this course?
Reference table — how the California International Marathon compares to a flat sea-level course for four typical fitness levels. Computed from the route profile, mean course altitude, and typical race-week climate (9 °C / 85 % humidity). Your personal strategy uses your VDOT, per-km splits, nutrition timing, and the typical climate baseline for this static sample; paid strategies use Open-Meteo when a verified race date is inside the forecast window.
| Runner | Flat-course finish | California International Marathon finish | Course cost | Adjusted pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner (VDOT 35) | 4:16:08 | 4:14:30 | -0.6% | 6:04/km |
| Intermediate (VDOT 45) | 3:28:17 | 3:26:58 | -0.6% | 4:56/km |
| Trained (VDOT 50) | 3:10:41 | 3:09:28 | -0.6% | 4:31/km |
| Competitive (VDOT 60) | 2:43:24 | 2:42:21 | -0.6% | 3:52/km |
Reference nutrition
For a 70 kg runner finishing in 3:09:28 at 9 °C. Adjust to your weight and tolerance — these are ISSN-window targets, not prescriptions.
- Carbs / hour
- 90 g
- Total carbs
- 284 g
- Fluid / hour
- 640 ml
- Sodium / hour
- 500 mg
FAQ
Get your personalized strategy
The numbers above are samples. Sign up free and get the full California International Marathon strategy from your VDOT, the current course model, Open-Meteo race-week forecast when available, and your nutrition preferences.
First race free · €7 per additional race · €19/yr for unlimited
Get my California International Marathon strategyRelated races
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- Maratón de la Ciudad de México· Mexico City50 m gain · typical 13–23 °CCalifornia International Marathon vs Maratón de la Ciudad de México — which is harder? →
- TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon· Toronto48 m gain · typical 8–16 °CCalifornia International Marathon vs TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon — which is harder? →
New to the marathon? Start with our marathon pacing strategy guide or run the VDOT calculator.