(Click here for the full view of the map at the left) This Sunday marks the 25th running of the California International Marathon - Sacramento’s premiere running event and one of the only marathons I can think of that boasts a nearly uniformly downhill course. Bad for the knees, good for the soul. Though I didn’t train for this year’s event (reason: lazy), the experience I had in last year’s relay was so awesome I can enthusiastically recommend the course to newbies and veterans alike. It’s a far smaller crowd of runners than in larger cities - giving you more room and more access to aid stations. And the aid stations are better, too, stocked with not just water and gatorade, but oranges and pretzels. Love it! Last year’s weather was gorgeous and given what we’ve enjoyed so far this year, my guess is we can look forward to more of the same.

You can still enter, by the way. Those of you not running, might want to check out the road closure schedule so you don’t get trapped across a barrier from your brunch reservations. The horror! Runners and spectators can enjoy a wide variety of roadside entertainment (my favorite last year was a group of bellydancers in East Sac). And if all you can handle is a tenth of the fun - maybe the maraFUNrun’s 2.62 mile course is more your style.

We’ll be out cheering for our friends Nic and Mike who’ve been training hard for the event. The official Metroblogging Spectator Stand can be found at the southeast corner of 22nd and L Street, if anyone is interested. Not enough people come out to cheer on marathoners, so if you live in midtown, you should stagger the few blocks out to see the action. Get up early enough (listen for the sound of news helicopters circling) and you can see the lightening fast Kenyan frontrunners charge past just a couple of hours after the 7:00am start time. The human body is an amazing thing, no?

Happy running! See you on the course!

Related posts:

1. CIM: Wrap-Up
2. The Marathoners Are Coming! The Marathoners Are Coming!
3. Run, you miserable bastard!
4. Moron-ing Rave
5. Koki Club Time!