Michelle La Sala is race director for the California International Marathon, or CIM. She ran in this year's Boston Marathon and had already finished the race when the two bombs that killed three people and injured more than 260 others exploded.
"It was a scary thing but in terms of the changes that a lot of races have made to just kind of step up security and safety, that was a great outcome."
La Sala says increased security at the start and finish lines and throughout the race course are among the changes CIM has made.
"We will have a bomb-sniffing dog at the starting line, we are requiring photo ID for packet pickup this year which is something we've never done."
La Sala also says runners will have to put your their extra clothing in clear bags at the "sweat check." And she says CIM has created an internal crisis communication plan with police and other emergency responders.
The 26.2 mile race stretches from Folsom to the state Capitol building in Downtown Sacramento.