The California International Marathon is about to get a lot more crowded. Starting in 2027, organizers plan to introduce a second start wave, roughly doubling the size of the field and stretching race-day logistics deeper into the late morning and early afternoon. They say the December 2026 edition will stick with the current single-wave setup, with the revamped format kicking in the following year.
According to KCRA, Visit Sacramento and CEO Mike Testa are selling the change as a straight-up economic play. The race typically brings in about 10,000 to 11,000 athletes, and Testa told the station that doubling capacity would “double the economic impact.” The Sacramento Running Association lists current estimates at roughly an $11 million annual boost for the region, along with thousands of hotel room nights, and organizers say those numbers should climb with the two-wave plan.
What Will Change
KCRA reports that race officials intend to keep the familiar start near Folsom and the finish at the California State Capitol, but the clock around those landmarks will shift. Roads are expected to stay closed about 45 minutes to an hour longer, and the course time limit will be extended to at least six hours and 45 minutes so more runners can cross the line and collect medals.
Race directors told the station the goal is to thin out the crowd at key choke points while protecting CIM’s identity as a fast, qualifier-friendly route. In other words, more bodies on the course without turning the event into a traffic jam.
Course, Cutoffs and Why It Matters
The California International Marathon follows a point-to-point, net-downhill route that starts near Folsom Dam and rolls into downtown before ending at the Capitol. The Sacramento Running Association notes that the basic course design has stayed essentially the same for decades, a big part of why the race has a reputation as a place to chase personal records and Boston qualifiers…