mountains 2 beach vs cim
By PaceKit Team · Updated April 2026
Mountains 2 Beach and CIM are both net-downhill, USATF-certified BQ courses in California. Both produce high BQ rates. Both attract fields full of runners chasing qualifying times. And both are frequently described as the best BQ option on the West Coast. But they're different races for different runners, and choosing between them comes down to a few specific tradeoffs.
The drop. M2B drops roughly 700 feet over 26.2 miles (about 27 feet per mile net). CIM drops about 366 feet (about 14 feet per mile net). M2B is nearly twice the net descent per mile, which produces a faster-feeling course but also significantly more quad damage on the descent. CIM's gentler grade is easier on the legs and produces a more runnable flat section in the final miles.
The terrain. CIM is gently rolling throughout with a net-downhill trend. There are no flat miles, but there are also no dramatic shifts in grade. M2B is more uneven: the first 2.8 miles are uphill (the Ojai loop), the descent from miles 9 to 19 is sustained and noticeable, and the final 6 miles are essentially flat. That shift from downhill to flat is M2B's defining pacing challenge and one that CIM doesn't have.
The weather. CIM runs in early December in Sacramento. M2B runs in mid-April in Ventura County. CIM weather is typically cooler (40s to low 50s) and more consistent. M2B weather averages warmer (52°F to 68°F) and is more variable. Some M2B years have been run in near-ideal conditions (overcast, low 50s). Others have seen mid-70s and direct sun by late morning. If weather reliability matters to your BQ attempt, CIM has the edge.
The field and BQ rates. CIM is the larger, more established race with historically higher BQ rates and a bigger field to draft behind. M2B is smaller (about 1,700 finishers vs CIM's 8,000+) and its BQ rates, while strong (21.6% in 2025, 24.8% in 2024, 28.3% in 2023), are slightly more variable year to year.
The experience. This is where M2B pulls ahead for many runners. One race blogger described it as "CIM with warmer temperatures and better scenery," and that's accurate. M2B starts in a mountain valley surrounded by orange groves, descends through the Ventura River basin, passes through a historic downtown, and finishes on the beach near the Ventura Pier. CIM runs through Sacramento suburbs. Both courses are well-supported and well-organized, but M2B is a destination race in a way that CIM isn't.
The BQ gong. M2B has a gong at the finish. CIM has a bell. Runners who've done both have opinions about which is more satisfying. The gong seems to be winning.
The bottom line. If weather consistency and a gentle grade are your priorities, CIM is the safer choice. If you want a steeper descent, better scenery, a spring race instead of a December one, and you're willing to manage the warm-weather risk, M2B is the pick. Both will help you BQ. The question is which race you want to remember.