How to Run the Final 10K of CIM
Where I've fallen apart, where I've learned to fight, and what to expect from mile 20 to the Capitol.
By David Damron · 9× CIM finisher · 3× Boston qualifier · sub-3
Marathoners argue about where the race really starts. Some say the final 10K, others say something shorter, like the last 8K. Either way, I've run CIM enough times to know exactly where I've failed in the closing miles, and what I did on the days I finished strong. This is how I'd attack the final 10K of the California International Marathon.
It starts with the first 20 miles
Before we get to the last 10K, we have to talk about the first 20 miles. (The full breakdown is on the course page.)
The number one mistake CIM rookies make is overdoing it on the rolling hills in the first 10–13 miles. More of the course's net drop comes in the first half, but those rollers come back to haunt a lot of runners much later in the race.
Controlling your effort, even more than your pace, through the first 10 miles might cost you 3–5 seconds per mile. You can take that back in miles 14–19. Just know that the grim reaper catches up with you in the final 10K for the sins you committed in the first 13 miles.
Mile by mile
The final 10K
Apart from the finish line, there are three spots on the course where you can't miss the roar of the crowd:
- Mile 10: Old Town Fair Oaks
- Mile 13.4: Fair Oaks Blvd at Manzanita Ave
- Miles 20–21: Loehmann's Plaza
Miles 20–21 are one of the last places spectators see their runners before heading to the finish. It's loud, and it gives you about a mile of energy. The problem is that the crowds thin out drastically afterward. You just got a huge rush, and suddenly it's quiet and you're alone with your thoughts right when it starts to really hurt.
At mile 20, stick to your pace. No faster. Once you're past the crowds, ask yourself whether you can pick it up. Don't run a mile 30 seconds under goal pace at 20, only to realize you've blown the tires off with 4–5 miles to go.
You've come through the roar around the 21-mile marker and it goes extremely quiet. Ahead is a right-hand bend that takes you over the American River toward downtown Sacramento. This is what I simply call The Bridge.
It's not a hard climb. But any uphill at this point in a marathon is not appreciated. Trust me, you'll know what I mean when you get there. From miles 19 to 21, your only focus should be holding your pace to, up and over The Bridge.
If everything else has gone wrong in the first 20 miles, tell yourself: "JUST GET TO THE BRIDGE!" The 22-mile marker comes soon after, and once you're over, you've cleared a huge hurdle, mentally and physically.
I'm not going to lie: I hate this section. It's two straight, flat miles of grueling hell. Nothing is actually wrong with it. It just feels never-ending at this stage of the race.
I will say the big mile 24 banner is one of the most beautiful sights you'll ever see.
Past the mile 24 banner, things finally start happening, which breaks up the monotony. Within a block you make a hard left, go two blocks, then a hard right. You pass under the freeway and the hospital's walking bridge, then hit a water station and a slight bend in the road.
All of that inside one mile helps distract you from the pain that has definitely set in by now. After the bend, it's 1–2 blocks to the 25-mile banner.
This sounds odd, but there's one more hurdle: train tracks. Watch your footing. A fall with a mile to go could derail your entire day (see what I did there).
Next come the palm trees. The Capitol is lined with them, but you can't see them until you're a block or two away. Once you reach that corner, you have about 1K to go.
One of the biggest complaints I hear every year is about running past the finish. At the mile 26 marker you can look left and see finishers who just crossed the line a block over, but you have to go straight two more blocks before two left turns bring you into the finish. Yes, you'll cuss under your breath. Yes, it's okay.
The energy in the last three-quarters of a mile is awesome. Enjoy the moment.
Know it before you get there
How your last 10K goes depends mostly on how you ran the first 32K. But it's never a bad idea to know what's coming in those final miles, so you can build your plan before race day instead of figuring it out at mile 23.
I'll be right by your side for the CIM final 10K every year until the day I die.