Sept. 11, 2015
For immediate release
Contact:
John Schumacher
schumacher@runsra.org
Charity, guaranteed entries still available for Dec. 6 race
The California International Marathon remains a popular late-fall event, with the annual race from Folsom to the state Capitol reaching its
registration cap for the seventh consecutive year.
Runners hoping for a spot in the 33rd annual race, set for Dec. 6, can still gain entry by purchasing a charity entry or meeting the CIM’s time standards for guaranteed entry.
There are 300 tax-deductible charity entries available at $275 each, with proceeds going to partner beneficiaries, including Sacramento Running Association Kids youth fitness programs, the American River Parkway Foundation and the UC Davis Children’s Hospital.
Runners who meet the CIM’s time standards – five minutes slower than Boston Marathon qualifying times – are guaranteed entry during a registration window from Oct. 1-Oct. 16. The entry fee is $175.
General registration, charity entries and guaranteed entries are expected to push the registration total to 9,000 again.
The CIM is put on by the Sacramento Running Association.
Spots are still available in the Bank of the West Relay. The entry fee for the four-person relay is $190; high school teams can enter for $50. The relay division cap is 1,000 teams.
Runners can register at www.runcim.org.
“Selling out for the seventh straight year speaks to the CIM’s strong reputation nationally and even internationally as a runner’s race,” CIM race director Eli Asch said. “For runners who aren’t quite ready to tackle the full marathon distance, the UC Davis Children’s Hospital maraFUNrun and Bank of the West Marathon Relay are still accepting registrations.
“And for those who still want to participate in the marathon, a limited number of charity entries are available, with proceeds benefiting the American River Parkway Foundation, SRA Kids and the UC Davis Children’s Hospital. For runners chasing a Boston qualifying time, the guaranteed entry period from October 1-October 16 is another option.”
Asch also noted the closing of CIM registration marks the opening of registration for two upcoming Sacramento Running Association events, the California Family Fitness Super Sunday Run on Feb. 7 and the Credit Union SACTOWN Run on April 3.
“The California Family Fitness Super Sunday Run is a family friendly 5k & 10k with both a 1k and 40-yard dash as kids’ races,” he said. “New this year is an untimed division in the 5k and a Babysitting Zone staffed by certified childcare professionals. SACTOWN brings elite racing back to Sacramento in the spring, with some of America’s top road racers competing for a $12,000 prize purse in the 10-mile distance. The new community 5k and Miracle Mile assure that there’s a race for everyone at Northern California’s premier spring race.”
Marathon growth has exploded since 2000, with the number of U.S. marathons increasing from approximately 300 in 2000 to more than 1,100 in 2013. But the CIM remains strong thanks to its connection to the community and its reputation as an optimal Boston Marathon qualifying course.
The race has grown tremendously since 2005, when it featured 4,000 runners. With 6,238 finishers in 2013, the CIM ranked as the 13th largest marathon in the country.
The first CIM in 1983 had 1,600 entrants.
The CIM has long enjoyed a reputation as a great race to earn a Boston Marathon qualifying time. The 26.2-mile test from Folsom to the state Capitol is slightly downhill, and weather conditions are normally cool enough to help produce fast times.
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 California Family Fitness Super Sunday Run on Feb. 7, the Credit Union SACTOWN Run on April 3 and the Gold Rush 50k on May 14.
The post CIM reaches registration cap appeared first on Sacramento Running Association.