CIM: A Force for Good
CIM expands sustainability efforts, continues to support local charities
The 37th annual California International Marathon, organized by the Sacramento Running Association, is set to bring together runners from around the world, while also leaving a profound mark on the local community.
A record-setting field of nearly 10,000 marathon runners and 3,000 CIM Relay runners is set to run the 26.2-mile course from Folsom to the state Capitol on Sunday, Dec. 8. Another 5,000 participants are expected for the Dec. 7 Capitol 5k and UC Davis Children’s Hospital maraFUNrun 5k, bringing race weekend totals to nearly 18,000 participants.
Seventy-five thousand spectators are expected to line the course running through Folsom, Orangevale, Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks, Carmichael and Sacramento and 4,000 volunteers are scheduled to assist operations throughout the weekend’s events.
“The California International Marathon has been one of Sacramento’s marquee events for the past 37 years – an opportunity for thousands of our local residents to achieve their athletic and life goals as friends and family cheer them on, and also a chance for our city to shine in front of visitors from all over the world,” said Darrell Steinberg, Mayor of Sacramento.
CIM runners are expected to fill nearly 10,000 hotel room nights and add an estimated $11 million economic impact to the Sacramento region. All 50 U.S. states will be represented on Sunday, as well as 44 countries from around the world.
In addition to the impact on local hotels, restaurants and retailers, the event helps raise over $500,000 for local charities and community organizations through leveraged fundraising and direct giving every year. The CIM’s charity registration entries alone directly fund $50,000 of CIM donations to official race partner charities, including chief beneficiary UC Davis Children’s Hospital.
“UC Davis Children’s Hospital is proud to be the chief beneficiary of the California International Marathon and receive such generous support from the Sacramento Running Association,” said Satyan Lakshminrusimha, chair of the UC Davis Department of Pediatrics and physician-in-chief of UC Davis Children’s Hospital. “Funds raised will help sick and injured children in the Sacramento community and the 33 counties that we serve.”
Additionally, throughout race weekend, the California International Marathon will work towards recertification as a sustainable sporting event by minimizing environmental impact. The CIM earned gold-level certification by the Council for Responsible Sport in 2017 and will continue and improve industry-leading sustainable practices.
“2019 is a recertification year with the Council for Responsible Sport, and we’ll be striving to maintain our status as one of only two events in California to hold a gold-level sustainability certification, said CIM Race Director Eli Asch.
“The Sacramento Running Association is proud that CIM is a nationally-recognized running event, but we’re equally proud of the positive impact that CIM has in our community. With all of our participants’ and volunteers’ help, we can assure that CIM continues to be a force for good in Sacramento,” added Asch.
The Sacramento Running Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding ways to encourage people of all ages and abilities to run. The SRA is committed to developing new, quality running events that appeal to a broad variety of runners.
Other SRA events include the recently concluded Run the Parkway, the Super Sunday Run on Feb. 2, 2020, the Credit Union SACTOWN Run on April 5, 2020, the Gold Country Half on May 17, 2020, the Capital Cross Challenge on September 26, 2020 and the Youth XC Series in the fall.