I couldn't have asked for a better first marathon than this one! I was able to stay with the pace-setter for almost the entire race (3:45), but once I ran through the balloon "wall" at mile 20, I literally hit my wall. I was not ready for the pain and agony of the last six miles and finished in 3:54. Not too bad for my first-ever marathon! :) The aid stations were awesome, and the spectators were amazing. The best expo and tech shirts (although they were a bit big). Great course, with rolling hills. If hills are not your thing, maybe pick another race. I loved it though. The medals were absolutely beautiful! Overall, a wonderful experience. This is definitely not my last marathon! :) I will be back to CIM again!

Okay, I'm a native Sacramentan, so maybe I have a different perspective, but I'll try to be impartial.

The course: way more hilly that billed. And I liked Big Sur! But there was a lot of straight stretches when all you could was a hill of people. I guess that was my big problem - not enough twists and turns.

I am a small and ended up with a shirt that, although labeled a Medium, is way too large, they were out of smalls. Why do races always run out of smalls?

The 4:30 pacer was way too fast for the first half.

If straight and hilly is your cup of tea, go for it.

Make sure to check out the elevation chart. It is a fast course with a net downhill (which allowed me to take 30 min off my PR and qualify for Boston), but there are "rolling hills," which upset many unsuspecting runners. If you prepare for them during your training, you'll be fine.

I felt that there was a large contingent of Boston qualifying hopefuls and this is the group that the race organizers focused upon.

The pacers were great, and the website is informative. Also, the expo is surprisingly good for a medium-sized marathon.

This was my first marathon so I can only compare it to my experience at several half marathons and shorter races. The spectators were great, but if you were running with the goal of just finishing under 6 hours, there was little support on the course. The trucks picking up the mile markers and tables were constantly cutting us off and nearly hit me at one point. It was also very disappointing to finally cross the finish line of my first marathon and have no refreshments or a medal. They were taking everything down even though I finished under 6 hours. I will run this again, but only when I know I can finish well ahead of the truck. I can say that the CIM website provided very useful information and the Board does a great job of putting together a great event. If you are a slow runner, I would stick to marathons with a longer cut-off or no cut-off.

I couldn't have wished for a better marathon other than a better time, which was my own doing. The pacers were a lifesaver and a huge confidence-builder for running a race I'd come from out of the state to do. The size of the race was another plus. I never felt crowded except during the first half-mile.

I selected to run the CIM for two reasons: to qualify for Boston and to visit good friends who live in Sacramento. Training in Boulder at altitude and running lots of hills allowed me to take advantage of sea level and "easily" tackle the CIM rolling hills.

I drove the course and paid attention to the "rolling hills." I reviewed the elevation map offered on the site. At the expo lecture series, I attended Dr. Steve Polansky's lecture on "How to run each mile of the CIM." Information shared by Steve was invaluable and humorous. I applied 3 pieces of advice: wear a trash bag to keep warm at the start line; take a Tylenol before the race and carry (and took) another Tylenol during the race when the pain of cramps started; I agreed with his assessment of the hills that, except for two, were not noticeable. Steve was right on all accounts. They all helped me to run the CIM.

Weather on race day was perfect running weather. People complained that it was cold at the start at 33 degrees. Cold is relative. I was used to 20 degrees in Boulder, so 33 degrees to me is warm. I wore shorts, a sleeveless wick-dry shirt underneath an old wick-dry 3/4 sleeve, and a baseball cap. I also wore a bandana around my neck for the first 6 miles.

The pacing groups allowed me to meet runners who run my pace and who are trying to qualify for Boston. I started with Grant in the 3:45 group. This group ran the current pace in the first half and gained on Tim's 3:50 group in the second half of the marathon. I read the bio on Tim and later an article on him in December's Runner's World. His marathon PR is under 3:00 and he is an ultramarathoner. Tim ran too fast a pace in the first half and I am glad that I did not join his group.

The spectators lined the majority of the course. The crowd was at its fullest at the switch off points for the relay. It was great to have a cheering crowd throughout the majority of the race. The cheering definitely was encouraging, especially my friends who came out to cheered me around Mile 22.

Finishing at the capitol was very nice except for the horseshoe turns to the finish line. A bonus would have been to see Arnold and Maria waving to the runners and crowd at the capitol steps.

The finisher's medal is very colorful.

The volunteers at the water stations were very quick with handing water especially when I had to grab 3 cups to fill my 10 oz. bottles. The volunteers did a great job sorting out the sweat bags by bib numbers and efficient in finding mine and handing it to me with a smile.

The post-race refreshments were okay. The soup needed more salt.

Everything about the CIM race was fantastic except for the iron-on logo on the long-sleeve technical shirt. The logo peeled off after the first washing. No female sizes were available.

This was a great marathon. The weather was great; the organization was great. One point I would like to make is that where you train is probably important in whether or not you think this course is "hilly." Most people who run this probably train around San Fran, which is HILLY. I am from Ottawa, Canada - a flat place - and therefore, the "rolling hills" seemed mountainous to me and had sapped my legs much earlier than I anticipated. If you are from the east and train in flat conditions, be wary of this course's reputation as "fast."

This was my first marathon. The description of the course is misleading - it should be "rolling hills" rather than "downhill." Correct description will help first-timers to better pace themselves. The volunteers/spectators keep you going. They were awesome. Post-race organization was below average: There were no water bottles, so I had to wait for a gentleman to fill up little glasses. I did not find any sports drinks/bars/soup at the finish line either. There were only some slices of bananas and oranges. My time was 4:55, so I doubt if +5-hour finishers got anything much.

Clear sunny day, an amazing course and outstanding organization. Couldn't have been better. The hills were gently rolling and not the heavily corrugated ups and downs of the marathons I've run in the Pacific Northwest. And (bonus!) they were always followed by long gentle declines that seemed to melt into the horizon. My overall impression was for every one up, you got two downs in return, no doubt because of the net elevation drop. I found the combination of small communities and rural scenes along the route highly enjoyable and relaxing (if you can use that word to describe running a marathon). Certainly I didn't notice any tacky areas that seem to accompany some courses. Finishing at the capitol building was a touch of class, as were the volunteers who retrieved my sweats bag, the tomato soup and the Starbucks gingerbread lattes. My only suggestion would be to chuck the (really dry) bagels. Thanks, CIM, for a great experience. I would love to come back again.

This was a really great marathon to do! I decided to run it since I heard it was a fast course and I wanted to qualify for Boston (which I did do!). So that being said, you can run a fast time on this course. Just be well aware of the course. Yes, it is a net downhill but it is a very rolly net downhill. Pace well and be aware of the middle miles and you'll be set for a strong finish during the last 6 essentially flat miles. Other pluses to this race are great weather, taking the bus to the start was easy and made things less stressful, aid stations were very well spaced and easy to negotiate through, great spectators throughout the course (offering water, fruit, encouragement, and even beer), with planning you can have family/friends meet you many times along the course (my boyfriend was able to see me at the start, miles 7.5, 13, 20 and the finish), the separate finish for male and female was pretty cool (I was confused about this at first but in the end I felt special, it was much less crowded, and the photographer was able to get a finish picture of me without a stranger's arm or leg in the way), massages at the finish (!!!!), there was plenty of post-race food, etc.

So for negatives, I can't really think of much. A lot of people gripe about small details but just remember much of that has to do about how they felt during the race and how they did. This marathon gave me everything I was looking for: a fun and enjoyable race, great town and people, a Boston qualifying time, and memories. Put this one on your list to do! Oh, also wanted to mention that we ended up staying at a hotel called Inn Off Capitol Park. It was a very nice and reasonably-priced hotel that was within walking distance of the expo and the finish line, and it gave us a very late checkout (2 p.m.).