The Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon, Half Marathon, 50k and 10K all take place this weekend, October 7th and 8th.
For more than a decade the marathon has been a big draw for runners, who travel here from around the world to run the unique course through forested canyons west of Susanville. It has become a tourist attraction, bringing celebrities like Alanis Morissette to town for the Boston Marathon qualifier.
According to Runner’s World Magazine, in a 2007 article by Bob Cooper, the buzz over the Bizz all started when race director Eric Gould set out to locate the perfect trail, one that could generate some of the fast times of a road marathon.
When he came upon a description of the gradually descending, 27-mile long, Bizz Johnson Trail in a rails-to-trails book, he knew he’d found the perfect course.
The challenge then became attracting people to the event.
“It was tough to convince runners to come this far,” says Gould, who lives in the Bay Area, a five-hour drive from the race site, but he succeeded.
In 2004, the race’s inaugural year, Bizz drew 486 participants to Susanville for the marathon, half-marathon, 10K, and 5K, including top ultramarathoner Scott Jurek.
“Once people run it, they tell their friends about it,” says Gould.
The Bizz Johnson Marathon begins at Mason Station and travels through the rugged, beautiful landscape of the Susan River Canyon. 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.
Here is a schedule of events for both participants and spectators!
- 6:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Race Day Registration & Bib Pick Up at the Railroad Depot
- 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Buses load at the Railroad Depot
- 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. All buses leave
- 8:00 a.m. – 8:40 a.m. Drive to start line
- 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Express Half Marathon starts
- 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Race Day Registration and Bib Pick Up at the Railroad Depot
- 6:30 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. Race Day Registration and Bib Pick Up at the Railroad Depot
- 6:45 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. Buses load at the Railroad Depot
- 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. All buses leave
- 7:00 a.m. – 7:40 a.m. Drive to start line
- 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. 50 Km starts
Marathon (Start: 9:00 a.m.)
- 6:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Race Day Registration and Bib Pick Up at the Railroad Depot
- 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Buses load at the Railroad Depot
- 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. All buses leave
- 8:00 a.m. – 8:40 a.m. Drive to start line
- 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Marathon starts
- 10 Km & Half Marathon (Start: 9:00 a.m.)
- 8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Race Day Registration and Bib Pick Up at the Railroad Depot
- 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. 10 Km & Half Marathon start
All events finish at Hobo Camp. On both Saturday and Sunday, there is a shuttle between Hobo Camp and the Railroad Depot as runners finish their events.
For more information about the marathon visit www.coastaltrailruns.com/bizz_johnson.html.
