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☰
Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.7 
Organization 4.1 
Spectators 3.0
Number of comments: 103 [displaying comments 71 to 81]
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G. B. from San Diego
(10/9/2007)
"Excellent Run in the Woods!" (about: 2007)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 From reading previous years' comments, particularly those about the race organization, I was a little apprehensive about running this race. Nevertheless, I was very pleasantly surprised by how smoothly everything went. Eric did a good job of helping all of us "type A" runners keep things in perspective. The aid stations were exactly where they had been promised and were better stocked than any race I have run. As far as the race itself, I loved running in the cooler temperatures and on the soft (maybe a total of 20 yards of asphalt) but smooth trail. The conditions were just about perfect and I look forward to running this race again. | |
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D. S. from Salt Lake City, UT
(10/9/2007)
"Exceedingly poorly organized/non-existent support" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 Stunningly disorganized - never acknowledged my registration, changed the start time by 1 1/2 hours with no advance notice via email, had the wrong name/bib number when I checked in (which they said they'd fix but didn't), only had plain trash bags for gear drop-off, no race packet (just a bib & short sleeved cotton t-shirt), lost the stuff I left at a designated drop area, and I wasn't listed in the race results. Two tunnels (which were supposed to be lit) weren't and made for difficult footing. Very stingy with post-race food, etc. Absolutely no support on the trail. Water stations were mostly unmanned, with frozen water and Gatorade. In short, a complete disaster. Very nice & scenic trail, but I'd never run it again. | |
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J. R. from Dallas, Texas
(10/9/2007)
"This is a fantastic TRAIL marathon!" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a fantastic TRAIL marathon! Beautiful course, perfect weather, very organized, great aid stations and cool medals. Eat at the Black Bear Diner in Susanville after the race! | |
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J. M. from Reno, Nevada
(10/9/2007)
"Wonderful Trail Marathon" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This was my 20th marathon and I set a P.R. I live and train in Reno so the elevation didn't bother me and I think this is a fast course. The organization was good including the buses, water stops and finish line. I enjoy the smaller marathons without the crowds so this was perfect. If you like scenic runs I recommend this marathon. I plan to run it next year as well. | |
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T. G. from Chicago area
(10/9/2007)
"Easy trail marathon in a great location" (about: 2007)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 True trail marathons tend to be hilly and rugged with little chance for a good time. The Bizz Johnson is a pleasant exception. The race is run on a converted railroad bed which provided good footing throughout. The course profile shows a steady downhill grade with only one significant climb. The scenery was beautiful, especially with the fall colors beginning to change. We ran across a number of wooden bridges and through two short tunnels. The race is point to point so we had very comfortable busses to the start line. (This year an early start was offered. My wife ran with the early start and the busses and logistics worked exactly the same as for the rest of us.) The finish was in a great location called Hobo Camp which was about a mile from the start location. Shuttle busses were regularly available to get us back to the start although it would have been walkable. Temperatures were in the thirties when we started (9:00 a.m.) and rose to the low sixties by noon so conditions were ideal. Aid stations were at every even mile with water, gatorade, cookies, chips, oranges at every one. Sometimes there was only one or two volunteers but there were always full tables of drinks and food. Keep in mind that this is still a trail marathon. There are some rocks, some grass, some soft spots, etc. It is far smoother than most trails that I have run on. Also, it never felt like I was running significantly downhill but rather like a flat course almost all the way. The race starts and ends in Susanville and has a limit on the number of runners. Both of these factors make early planning necessary. Susanville has a number of hotels/motels but they fill up fast. Check the Lassen County Chamber of Commerce if you can't find rooms. We registered for the race and got hotel rooms in May for the October race. | |
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S. P. from Los Angeles
(10/9/2007)
"COLD!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I just ran the 2007 Biz marathon. It is a beautiful, remote course. Aid stations were well stocked. We had the option of starting at 7:30 AM...the temp in Susanville was a brisk 25 degrees! The water at the aid stations was frozen over. It was a brisk run. For those training in cooler temps, you will love it - for others...bring layers! | |
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Tom Pierce from Denver, Colorado, USA
(10/8/2007)
"Scenic course, but a nice low key event" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 Having read past comments, I'll try to limit mine to new/additional details, in the order a new entrant would encounter: Get a hotel room early, as Susanville fills up quickly (although several local hotels are not on the internet). I stayed at the Bailey Creek Cottages and loved it, closer to the start than Susanville (and no, I have no affiliation with them). If Susanville is full, look at Westville or better yet Chester, CA. Get to the start 30 mins+ prior to bus departure to get a decent parking spot. Have some sweats for the bus ride and pre-race time (approx. 1 hour); it snowed 2 days before the 2007 event and was brisk at the start. A cap/gloves/toss-away long sleeve shirt make sense (and boxes at aid stations are there for the ditched clothing). No water or trash cans at the starting area, at least none I could see; plenty of toliets but no food/aid/gels, etc. Bring your own. Efficient but super low key start. No complaints for aid stations; well stocked and helpful volunteers for middle of the pack runners like me. No need to schlep your fanny pack with bottles unless you can't wait 2 miles for fluids. Mile markers accurately placed; aid staions every 2. VERY limited mid-course access. Really non-existent except for the mile 20 station and the mile before the finish. Course is hard on the quads with the almost imperceptible downhill slant; TRAIN for downhills. It's a trail run; no toliets except at the halfway point, but lots of trees and no one will look/care if you duck out. No chip timing but the field is so small those at the back probably lost...1 minute?, if that, getting to the start line. Most important: This is NOT a polished, pampered event. It has the feel of a local, low key event so if you're confused about something, ask but keep it cool. This isn't Chicago or NYC with massive resources. A fun, great run on a sublimely scenic course. Fast, but train the (slight) downhills; harder than it seems. I set a PR here but was slower than I'd hoped (geez...will I ever be satisfied :-)??). Nonetheless I would definitely do this again, fun. Good luck! | |
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Jane Piel from Novato, California
(10/8/2007)
"Incredible, memorable, well organized marathon." (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I want to thank Eric and all his staff for their planning and efforts. My husband and I had a wonderful experience running in the Lassen National Forest. The smooth and gently sloping trails...the scenery... the well-stocked aid stations...the logistics...all were excellent. | |
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B. M. from Los Altos, CA
(10/8/2007)
"More difficult & less interesting than advertised." (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 For those who love trail marathons, this is probably a very good one. I found the course to be mundane for the first half (how many pine trees can you look at?); pretty and more interesting the second half. | |
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J. W. from Santa Barbara, CA
(7/26/2007)
"Obnoxious Race Organizers" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 I ran this race when it was in its second year. The course was a very pretty place to have a course and the race had a lot of potential, but race organization needed improvement. Volunteers at packet pick-up were not only unhelpful and rude when we asked them questions. When I crossed the finish line and not a single person was paying attention, I was worried that my time wouldn't even be recorded and I had to tell them that I finished. The finish area organization was terrible; the 5K had much finished earlier, and all the volunteers were starting to leave - and there was no ice available either. I sent the race organizers an e-mail with some constructive comments on things they could improve on and received a rude "no thanks" in reply. |
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