Sept. 19, 2014
For immediate release
A field of 9,000 entrants expected for Dec. 7 race
The California International Marathon has reached its registration cap for the sixth consecutive year. But there are still two ways runners can gain a spot in the Dec. 7 race, which is put on by the Sacramento Running Association.
There are 300 charity entries available at $275 each, with 100 percent of the money going to the SRA’s youth fitness programs. Part of the entry fee ($125) is tax deductible.
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. 15. The entry fee is $150.
General registration, charity entries and time-standard entries are expected to push the registration total to 9,000 again.
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.
“We are very excited to have achieved a sellout for the sixth straight year,” SRA Executive Director Scott Abbott said. “We’re proud of the fact there are still numerous ways to be involved in the event for people that are interested, as the Bank of the West Relay and UC Davis Children’s Hospital MaraFUNrun events are still open, as well as the charity and guarantee entry periods for the marathon.”
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.