Set PRs and qualify for the Boston Marathon on this fast, USATF-certified downhill course! The Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon and 50K distances begin at Mason Station with an out and back on McCoy Road (you will be bused to the start). After returning to Mason Station, you’ll jump onto the …
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Set PRs and qualify for the Boston Marathon on this fast, USATF-certified downhill course! The Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon and 50K distances begin at Mason Station with an out and back on McCoy Road (you will be bused to the start). After returning to Mason Station, you’ll jump onto the Bizz Johnson Trail and travel through scenic Lassen National Forest. The first few miles of the course climb 280 feet through the forest to Westwood Junction, then it’s downhill to the finish at Susanville, with a 1300-foot descent over the final 20 miles. The trail follows the route of the old Fernley and Lassen Branch Line of the Southern Pacific Railroad, built in 1914. Roughly two-thirds of the way through the race, the trail enters the Susan River Canyon. Here, you’ll pass orange cliffs and cross the river ten times on picturesque wooden railroad bridges. About four miles from the finish, you’ll pass through two former railroad tunnels, 800 feet and 450 feet in length. There are two different half marathon races. The Half Marathon (& 10 Km) on Saturday starts in Susanville and goes out and back using only the last quarter of the full marathon route. For the Express Half Marathon on Sunday, you will be bused to a remote start where you will do the second half of the full marathon.
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Flat and fast rail trail course
This race really exceeded my expectations. There was a farmer's market and chili cookoff at the packet pickup, which created a festive atmosphere. The shuttle bus pickup went off without … MORE
This race really exceeded my expectations. There was a farmer’s market and chili cookoff at the packet pickup, which created a festive atmosphere. The shuttle bus pickup went off without a hitch, but it was below freezing at the start which was at an altitude above 5,000 feet. My breathing was rather heavy right off the bat, but settled down after a couple of miles. It didn’t seem like I was running very fast at first, but in hindsight I should have started out a little slower or taken more frequent walk breaks from the start. The first half of the course was through mainly pine forest, but the vegetation an terrain got better the closer we got to the Susan River. The day before, I saw Scrub Jays, White-crowned Sparrows, Steller’s Jays, and some smaller birds that I couldn’t identify with certainty, but may have been Dark-eyed Juncos. Most of the finishing times were faster than the average trail run, so this would be a good race for a beginner or for someone wanting to PR. There was a good selection of food and drink at the finish, and the 50K finishers were given a ceramic drink coaster and a medal.
Beautiful course, small-town event
This is a really well done event for a small-town race, with an ideal course surface (slight downhill on fine gravel, on an old converted railroad track trail) through the … MORE
This is a really well done event for a small-town race, with an ideal course surface (slight downhill on fine gravel, on an old converted railroad track trail) through the foothills of Lassen National Park. They have several events to choose from: I ran the half marathon on Saturday (as opposed to the out and back option on Sunday), and I was really happy with that choice, since the first 6 miles are especially beautiful. It is a small race, which can either be awesome or boring, depending on what you’re looking for – but the natural beauty and fresh mountain air (it is at elevation) makes it super enjoyable. The weather was perfect both years I ran it (2014 and 15) – would do it again if scheduling allows! The slight downhill cancels out the elevation as far as impact on pace (in my experience), and the grade is very slight so you won’t destroy your quads – though I can’t speak to the first 13 miles of the full marathon. They do a great job at the finish line with post-run snacks too, especially for a small event – M & Ms, oranges, hot soup / chili, and a free Sierra Nevada beer. The shirts are all right, and the medal is lacking, but those should not be the reasons you choose this race anyhow! If you’re looking for a beautiful, mellow fall race on a great surface, this is a good choice.