The 41st annual California International Marathon is this Sunday, Dec. 8 bringing some 10,000 runners and spectators to Folsom and the Sacramento region. Along with the many participants comes a number of road closures the day of the event.
The marathon begins at the intersection of Folsom Auburn Road and Folsom Lake Crossing at 7 a.m.The course continues through Orangevale, Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks, Carmichael, and Sacramento, and concludes at the State Capitol. Road closures include Folsom-Auburn Road from Folsom Dam Road to Greenback Lane, Folsom Lake Crossing Road from East Natoma Street to Folsom-Auburn Road, and Oak Avenue Parkway from Folsom-Auburn Road to Santa Juanita Avenue. Closures begin at 3 a.m. and roads are planned to reopen at 10 a.m. Detours will be clearly marked.
The CIM was founded in 1983 by the Sacramento Running Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The event brings an estimated 10 million dollar to the Sacramento County economy each year.
The event is certified and sanctioned by USATF and is a Boston Marathon and U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier. Learn more at runsra.org. For a complete listing of road closures, schedules, and courses, visit the CIM website or see a summary at the conclusion of this article.
41st edition of race boasts elite entry list
With good weather in the forecast, participants and organizers are excited about this year’s event and according to the Sacramento Running Association the event will feature 2024 Paris Olympian Calli Hauger-Thackery and defending 2023 CIM champion CJ Albertson, alongside a mix of returning veterans and first-time participants, setting the stage for potentially record-breaking performances.
The elite men’s and women’s fields will compete for a combined $100,000 prize purse, with additional bonuses for breaking course records. The current records stand at 2:10:27 for men, set in 1993 by Jerry Lawson, and 2:26:02 for women, set in 2022 by Paige (Stoner) Wood.
Hauger-Thackery, representing Great Britain at the 2024 Paris Olympics, holds the fastest personal best in the women’s field—2:21:24, achieved at the 2024 Berlin Marathon earlier this fall. She will make her CIM debut, joining her husband, 2:12 marathoner Nick Hauger, who is also competing.
“I’m excited to do this race for many reasons,” Hauger-Thackery said. “The main one being that my husband has had only fond experiences here over the past two years. I’m also excited because my dad raced CIM in the ’90s, and California is my favorite place! CIM has been on my radar for quite some time now.”
Hauger-Thackery will face stiff competition from four other women who have run sub-2:30 marathons: Laura Thweatt of Superior, Colo., with a personal best of 2:25:38; Jackie Gaughan of Boston, 2:27:08; Stephanie Bruce of Flagstaff, Ariz., 2:27:47; and Allie Kieffer of Austin, 2:28:12, who was the 2023 CIM runner-up.
Bruce returns to CIM with a strong record, having placed second in both the 2016 (2:32:36) and 2018 (2:29:21) editions. Since then, she has achieved milestones such as running her personal best of 2:27:47 at the 2019 Chicago Marathon and placing sixth at the 2020 U.S. Marathon Olympic Trials.
“Returning to CIM feels like an awesome homecoming because it was the first marathon I ran postpartum with my two boys in 2016,” Bruce said. “Now, eight years later, I’m coming back after giving birth to my third baby. I love the city, the energy, and the people who make this race so special.”
The men’s field includes three notable returners: defending champion CJ Albertson (Fresno, Calif.), 2023 runner-up Milton Rotich, and 2019 champion Elisha Barno. Joining them is CIM newcomer Tsegay Tuemay Weldlibanos, a 2:09:07 marathoner currently training in Flagstaff, Ariz., who is expected to push the pace.
“To race at CIM is very special for me,” Weldlibanos said. “Many of my teammates have found success here, and I hope to do the same. I want to make my family, team, and coach proud.”
Albertson has enjoyed a standout year, placing fifth at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials (2:10:07), seventh at the Boston Marathon (2:09:53) and Chicago Marathon (2:08:17), and tenth at the New York City Marathon (2:10:57). Another CIM victory will likely require a course record performance.
Barno, who won the 2019 CIM, has a personal best of 2:09:14. Rotich, last year’s runner-up, boasts a 2:08:55 personal best. Both are strong contenders to challenge Albertson and Weldlibanos for the win and the 2:10:27 course record.
“We’re thrilled about the 2024 elite field at CIM,” said Scott Abbott, executive director of the Sacramento Running Association. “This year has a unique homecoming feel, with so many ‘CIM alumni’ returning. It’s further evidence that CIM is a favorite among elite runners. We expect a strategic race between these battle-tested veterans, and we hope to see both course records fall.”
The Sacramento Running Association, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to encouraging people of all ages and abilities to run. The SRA focuses on developing quality running events that appeal to a wide range of participants.
For more information about the California International Marathon, visit runsra.org.
Below is a summary of the different area closures compiled by Folsom Times.
MILE 0
Closure and delay location: Folsom Lake Crossing and Folsom-Auburn Road in Folsom
When: 3 a.m. to 10 a.m.
MILE 1
Closure and delay location: Folsom-Auburn Road and Oak Avenue Parkway in Folsom
When: 5:20 a.m. to 10 a.m.
MILE 2
Closure and delay location: American River Canyon Drive and Oak Avenue in Folsom
When: 5:20 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Closure and delay location: Santa Juanita Avenue and Oak Avenue in Orangevale
When: 5:20 am. to 9:45 a.m.
MILE 3
Closure and delay location: April Street and Oak Avenue in Orangevale
When: 6:50 a.m. to 8:20 a.m.
MILE 4
Closure and delay location: Beech and Oak avenues in Orangevale
When: 6:50 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
MILE 5
Closure and delay location: Wachtel Way and Oak Avenue in Orangevale
When: 6:50 a.m. to 8:50 a.m.
MILE 6
Closure and delay location: Oak Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard in Orangevale
When: 6:50 a.m. to 9 a.m.
MILE 7
Closure and delay location: Woodlake Hills Drive and Fair Oaks Boulevard in Citrus Heights
When: 6:50 a.m. to 9:20 a.m.
Closures and delay location: Greenback Lane
When: 6:50 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
MILE 8
Closure and delay location: Niessen Way and Fair Oaks Boulevard in Orangevale
When: 7:05 a.m. to 9:35 a.m.
Closures and delay location: Madison Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard in Orangevale
When: 7:05 a.m. to 9:40 a.m.
MILE 9
Closure and delay location: Dorian and Fair Oaks Boulevard in Orangevale
When: 7:05 a.m. to 10 a.m.
MILE 10
Closure and delay location: Winding Way and Fair Oaks Boulevard in Fair Oaks
When: 7:05 a.m. to 10:10 a.m.
Closure and delay location: Sunrise Boulevard
When: 7:05 a.m. to 10:10 a.m.
MILE 11
Closure and delay location: New York Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard in Fair Oaks
When: 7:05 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.
MILE 12
Closures and delay location: Hollister Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard in Fair Oaks
When: 7:05 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.
MILE 13
Closure and delay location: California Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard in Fair Oaks
When: 6:15 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.
Closure and delay location: Manzanita Avenue
When: 6:15 a.m. to 11 a.m.
MILE 14
Closure and delay location: Grant Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard in Carmichael
When: 7:30 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.
MILE 15
Closure and delay location: Kenneth Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard in Carmichael
When: 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
MILE 16
Closure and delay location: Garfield and Fair Oaks Boulevard in Carmichael
When: 7:30 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.
MILE 17
Closure and delay location: Paloma Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard in Arden Arcade
When: 7:30 a.m. to 11:55 a.m.
MILE 18
Closure and delay location: Saverien Drive and Fair Oaks Boulevard in Arden Arcade
When: 7:30 a.m. to noon
MILE 19
Closure and delay location: Coronado Boulevard and Fair Oaks Boulevard in Arden Arcade
When: 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Closures and delay location: Watt Avenue
When: 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
MILE 20
Closure and delay location: Hawthorn Road and Fair Oaks Boulevard in Arden Arcade
When: 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Closures and delay location: Munroe Street and Fair Oaks Boulevard in Arden Arcade
When: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
MILE 21
Closure and delay location: University Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard
When 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Closure and delay location: Howe Avenue
When: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
MILE 22
Closure and delay location: Carlson and J Street in East Sacramento
When: 8 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
MILE 23
Closure and delay location: Bear Flag and J Street in East Sacramento
When: 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
MILE 24
Closure and delay location: 33rd and J Street in East Sacramento
When: 8 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Closures and delay location: J Street and Alhambra Boulevard turn in East Sacramento
When: 8 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Closure and delay location: L and 29th streets in midtown
When: 8 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
MILE 25
Closure and delay location: 22nd and L streets in midtown
When: 8 a.m. to 2:05 p.m.
Closure and delay location: 15th and L streets in downtown Sacramento
When: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
MILE 26
Closure and delay location: Eighth and L streets in downtown Sacramento
When: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Streets will reopen to traffic by law enforcement once clear of runners.
