The Sacramento Running Association (SRA) was established in 1982 with the mission of bringing world class running events to the Sacramento area. The first state of this mission was fulfilled when the inaugural California International Marathon (CIM) was held in December of 1983.
The California International Marathon (CIM) is a marathon organized by runners, for runners! The same route SRA management created for the 1983 inaugural CIM will take you through rural countryside, then through the towns of Orangevale, Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks and Carmichael and finally, under a canopy of trees in full fall colors, into the city of Sacramento for the State Capitol finish. Even though the course has remained the same, the race has grown into a true international event. CIM has a gently rolling, point-to-point, net downhill course with well-maintained streets and few turns. The CIM start is at a 366 ft. elevation and its finish at a 26 ft. elevation. CIM has steadily grown in numbers from a field of 1,600 runners in 1983 to a race that now fills to a capacity of more than 9,000 marathoners.
Since then the success of the CIM has enabled the SRA to expand its mission to encourage people of all ages to develop a healthy lifestyle through running. To this end, it has established a variety of running events and programs and provides funds and resources to a number of internal beneficiaries and community organizations.