Sacramento’s most famous running event is about to hit a major milestone—and it’s not just good news for the athletes lacing up their sneakers in December.
The California International Marathon is doubling down on its success. Starting in 2027, organizers will add a second wave of runners to the race, effectively doubling capacity from its current 5,000-6,000 participants to somewhere around 10,000 to 11,000. Visit Sacramento made the announcement at its State of Tourism event on Wednesday, and the numbers tell the story of just how much the race has blown up in popularity. This year alone, CIM sold out in February—months earlier than usual—with 6,000 runners still waiting on a standby list before registration closed.
Why the sudden surge? Mike Testa, president and CEO of Visit Sacramento, points to the CIM’s reputation as a serious, fast course that attracts elite and amateur runners from around the world.“You got a really fast course. People come and are trying to get Boston qualifiers, personal bests. We have the number one Olympic Trials qualifying marathon in the world,”said Scott Abbott, executive director of CIM. The relatively flat route and that perfect fall-like December weather in Sacramento have become legendary among the running community—it’s the kind of race where records get broken and Olympic dreams get qualified.
But here’s where it gets interesting for the city itself. Those extra thousands of runners mean serious economic impact. Marathoners typically stick around for a couple days before and after the race to prepare or recover, and they’re rarely traveling solo. Add in family members and friends coming to watch, and you’re looking at a massive boost for Sacramento’s hotels, restaurants, and local businesses. As Testa put it:“You double the capacity, and you double the economic impact of it.”
The expansion does come with some logistical adjustments. Roads will stay closed about 45 minutes to an hour longer than in previous years, and organizers are extending the finish-line time limit from six hours to at least six hours and 45 minutes. That last part matters more than it might sound. Abbott explained that a lot of casual runners train incredibly hard for months, only to face the gut-wrenching possibility of being pulled from the course before they cross the finish. Those extra 45 minutes to an hour could mean the difference between a medal and heartbreak—and it signals that CIM isn’t just chasing speed records anymore; it’s also opening the door to everyone who’s willing to put in the work.
If the expansion works as planned, Sacramento could join an elite club. Abbott suggests CIM could become the fifth-largest marathon in the United States, behind only Boston, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Not bad for a race that started over 40 years ago with fewer than 2,000 runners. The December 2026 race will stay the same, so if you’ve been thinking about running CIM, this year is your last chance at the current format. More details about the 2027 changes will come later, but one thing’s already clear: Sacramento’s winter running calendar is about to get a whole lot bigger.
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Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
