We’re officially one week out from the California International Marathon (CIM)—my favorite weekend of the entire running year.
I’ve run CIM seven times.
I’ve paced it.
I’ve been an ambassador for it.
I’ve cheered it, lived it, and breathed it.
Today, I want to share something special. These are seven CIM moments that changed me as a runner. They changed me as a pacer. Honestly, they changed me as a human.
If you’re running CIM this year, I want you to feel encouraged. Whether you’re chasing a PR or your very first marathon finish line, this should feel like a warm hug. I hope it feels like a pep talk wrapped into one. And if you’re not running CIM (yet!), I hope this gives you a peek into why this race holds such a big piece of my heart.
1. My First CIM Finish (2016)
I started running in 2011 after standing on the sidelines of a marathon and cheering on friends. The very next year—2012—I ran that same race as my first marathon, going from zero to 26.2 miles in under a year.
At the time, I was living and working in Mexico. I came home to California in the summer of 2012 and think I looked into CIM that year… but either it was already sold out or I just didn’t yet understand what a big deal CIM was.
I skipped CIM in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Then came 2016—a huge running year for me. Earlier that spring, I set my marathon PR (4:28). By the time CIM rolled around in December, I didn’t feel as well trained… but I still managed to run around 4:35, similar to my very first marathon finish. (Read my 2016 race recap here.)
Standing at the CIM finish line in downtown Sacramento, right by the California State Capitol, I finally got it.
- The point-to-point course
- The net downhill profile
- The electric crowds
- The energy of thousands of runners all chasing something big
I realized exactly why CIM is world-famous—and I fell in love with the race.
That first CIM finish in 2016 is the moment that started everything else I’m about to share.
2. Becoming a CIM Ambassador and Unofficial 6-Hour Pacer
After that 2016 finish, I knew one thing:
I needed more CIM in my life.
Around that time, I was also discovering the online running world—Instagram, blogging, and connecting with runners across the globe. By 2017, I was ready to share my love of CIM with everyone, so I became a CIM Ambassador.
One of the coolest parts of that role was mentoring runners in the First Timers Program, a free group CIM offered for runners completing their very first marathon. If you were a first-timer, you could join this community and even receive a special “My First Marathon” medal at the finish.
In that group, a lot of runners were worried about the 6-hour cutoff. At that time, the official CIM pace teams only went up to 5:20.
So in 2017, I volunteered to be an unofficial 6-hour pacer.
I literally taped a sign to my hydration pack that said:
“Unofficial 6-Hour Pacer”
Huge shoutout to Tanya, the runner I was primarily pacing that year. We fought for that six-hour finish together, and it was extra special because my husband, kids, and our exchange student were all there at the finish line cheering. (Read my 2017 race recap here.)
I went on to serve as a CIM Ambassador in 2017, 2018, and 2019—spreading the word about this incredible race and falling more in love with the CIM community every single year.
3. Officially Joining the CIM Pace Team (2021)
Fast forward through a few big life moments:
- 2018: I didn’t run CIM because I gave birth to my first child just a few days before race day.
- 2019: I came back to CIM for a strong postpartum marathon. (Read my 2019 race recap here.)
- 2020: We all know what happened—CIM went virtual due to the pandemic.
Then came 2021, and this is where one of my proudest running accomplishments enters the story:
I officially joined the CIM pace team.
At the CIM kickoff party in August, I was volunteering (still in my ambassador role) and chatting with Piper Ruiz about how I’d unofficially paced a 6-hour group back in 2017.
A little later, I opened my inbox and saw an email from Scott Abbott, Executive Race Director of CIM and the Sacramento Running Association.
The email essentially said:
“Thank you for being willing to pace the 6-hour group. Welcome to the pace team.”
I was thrilled. I was honored.
And I was also… six weeks postpartum from a C-section with my second child.
I had planned to run CIM that year, but pacing is a whole different level of responsibility. Still, I said yes. I trained. I showed up. And I paced.
I even have a framed display in my home with my 2021 PACER bib and race photos because that day meant so much to me. It was my first time officially representing the back of the pack at CIM, loudly proclaiming that:
From the front to the back, all runners count.
CIM has a reputation as a fast course where runners chase PRs, BQs, and even OTQs—but the runners in the back of the pack are working just as hard, and they deserve the same level of celebration.
Pacing solo that year was pure magic, and I wrote a full race recap about it if you want the deeper dive. (Read my 2021 race recap here.)
4. Running CIM With 9-Year-Old Benny
That 2021 pacing experience also introduced me to one of my favorite CIM stories: Benny.
Benny was just nine years old when he showed up to run CIM. If I remember correctly, the longest distance he’d run before race day was around seven miles. He started the race with his dad, but at some point, his dad dropped off the course.
Suddenly, Benny was with us—my pace group.
We all collectively adopted him for the rest of the race.
We reminded him to:
- Drink at aid stations
- Take fuel regularly
- Keep moving forward, one step at a time
His shirt was too big, his shoes weren’t exactly “marathon shoes,” but his heart? Absolutely massive.
With support from myself and the runners around us, Benny crossed that 26.2-mile finish line. Watching him do that at nine years old was incredible!
Even better? I saw him back at CIM in 2022.
Moments like that remind me that the back of the pack is full of world-class heart, courage, and grit.
5. Meeting CIM Streaker Bruce Mauldin
In that same 2021 race, I met another CIM legend: Bruce Mauldin.
Bruce is a CIM streaker, which means he has run every single CIM since 1984. (And no, “streaker” does not mean he’s out there without clothes!)
I remember Bruce coming up to me on the course, cracking a joke, and introducing himself. I immediately thought:
“I feel like you should be pacing, not me.”
He’s run multiple sub-3-hour marathons and countless other races. Now, years wiser, he runs one marathon a year—CIM—to keep his streak alive. Last I heard, there are only a few streakers left, and Bruce is one of them.
I was honored to interview Bruce on episode 2 of the Run Strong Run podcast, and his story is incredible.
Since 2021, I’ve had the joy of running with Bruce:
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
And I’m getting ready to run with him again at CIM 2025.
One of my favorite memories with Bruce came in 2023. I finished my pacing duties, but I knew something had happened around mile 23 and he’d fallen off our group. I made the decision to turn around, go back out on the course, and help bring him in.
We crossed the finish line together in about 6:09, and it’s a moment I’ll never forget.
6. Speaking on the CIM Expert Panel
Another huge honor CIM has given me is the opportunity to speak on the CIM Expert Panel at the expo.
I remember the first time I was invited to be on the panel thinking:
“Am I really an expert?”
I’ve run CIM seven times and paced multiple years, but I still feel like such a student of the sport—especially sitting next to runners like CJ Albertson (2023 CIM champion), incredible coaches like Brant, and Fleet Feet leaders.
But that’s exactly why it meant so much.
Being asked to represent:
- The pace team
- The back-of-the-pack runners
- And the belief that all runners count
on an official CIM stage… that was huge for me.
On the panel, I love telling first-timers:
“If this is your first marathon, you belong here. You are prepared. You will have an amazing day!”
I also love when people come up to me afterward and say, “Steph, I’ve been following you, and I’m so glad I got to meet you.” As a content creator, it’s so special to put real faces to the people you’re talking to online.
This year, I’ll be back on the expert panel on Friday at the CIM Expo from 2–3 PM. If you’re around, come say hi, listen in, and grab a sticker that says:
All Runners Count
Because you do. You belong at CIM. You count.
7. Start Line Energy, Expo Encounters, and a Special 2023 Surprise
For my seventh CIM moment, I’m bundling a few things together:
the start line energy, the expo encounters, and one especially emotional family moment from CIM 2023.
The Start Line Energy
Here’s how race morning usually looks for me:
- Park near the finish line in downtown Sacramento
- Hop on the early shuttle bus to Folsom
- Stay on the bus to keep warm until closer to race time
- Head to the corrals about 20 minutes before the start
By then, there are around 10,000 runners converging on the CIM starting line. The nerves are real—especially for first-time marathoners.
That’s where I come in, proudly holding my 5:50 pace sign.
In 2024, I was moved from the 6:00 group to 5:50 because CIM wanted to hold a stricter 6-hour cutoff due to city permits and road reopenings. They added official 6-hour sweepers and placed me at 5:50 to give runners a buffer.
I absolutely love being out there in the corral, holding that sign high, talking to runners, answering last-minute questions, and reminding people:
“Yes, you can do this. Stick with me—we’ll get you there.”
For many runners, it’s their one-and-done marathon. For others, that finish line lights a fire and they sign up for more. Either way, it’s magical.
Expo Encounters
The expo is another place where the CIM magic happens for me.
I get to meet runners who’ve watched my videos, listened to the podcast, read the blog, and followed along on social media. It’s always so funny when someone says, “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I’m meeting you in person!” because I feel exactly the same way about them.
At the end of the day, I’m just:
- A vice principal
- A mom to two little girls
- A wife, daughter, friend, and sister
Just like you—juggling life and still lacing up to chase big goals.
So if you see me at the expo, please come say hi. Let’s grab a photo, share a hug, and make it a weekend we’ll both remember.
A Special 2023 Moment: My Parents on Course
In CIM 2023, something extra special happened: my parents came to see me run a marathon (for my dad, it was the very first time)—at my 35th marathon.
They rode their bikes backward on the course from the finish line and found my pace group around mile 23, holding signs that said things like:
- “Run Strong Run”
- “All Runners Count”
- “6 Hour Power”
Seeing them there, cheering on not just me but all the runners around me—especially so many first-timers—was incredibly emotional.
Why CIM Will Always Be My Hometown Marathon
This year, CIM 2025 will be my eighth time running the California International Marathon and my 62nd lifetime marathon.
It still blows my mind to think that I once said,
“This body doesn’t run,”
and now I’ve crossed over 60 marathon finish lines!
CIM has shaped me in ways I never saw coming. It’s where I found:
- My confidence
- My purpose
- My people
- And my voice as someone who believes deeply that all runners count
I live a little north of Sacramento, but I proudly call CIM my hometown marathon. It’s one of my favorite weekends of the entire year, every year.
If you’re running CIM this year, I’ll be out there with my 5:50 sign, ready to help you chase whatever dream brought you to that start line.
If you’re not running this year… maybe next year. 😉
Either way, thank you for being here, for reading my stories, and for letting me be a tiny part of your running journey.
I can’t wait to see you on the course.
Ready to run CIM with confidence?
👉 Download your free 5:50 marathon pace band here and follow the exact pacing strategy I use on race day.
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