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California > Bizz Johnson Trail Express Half Marathon
Westwood, CA
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Date
Saturday & Sunday, October 10 & 11, 2009
Event
Details
Those running in the Bizz Johnson Trail Express Half Marathon get one
of those rare
treats seldom found at any race event, whether road race or trail race
-- a course that's nearly all downhill, which has helped it become
known as the "fastest marathon in the West," according to race
organizers. Starting at the midway point of the full marathon course
(which takes place the next day) runners in the half follow the Bizz
Johnson trail through California's
Lassen National Forest all the way to the finish line in nearby
Susanville, with really only one significant hill during the entire
race.
Organizers also emphasize that this race is considered one of the
state's best opportunities for runners looking to set personal record
times, because while the race is all downhill and runners descend about
1,100 feet overall throughout the race, the angle of descent is never
steeper than about 2%, so the course offers a mild, easy downhill run
throughout. And because the race course is inaccessible to car traffic,
runners truly get a chance to get away from it all at this race, and
take in the gorgeous scenery of the surrounding mountains, trees, and
creeks and streams.
The half-marathon, as mentioned above, begins at the midway point of
the full marathon, on the portion of the Bizz Johnson trail that runs
alongside the Susan River, at the point where the full marathon is
beginning its long, slow descent toward the finish after taking runners
uphill in the first few miles of the race. After the first few miles of
the half-marathon, runners enter the area known as the Susan River
Canyon, where runners will cross the river no fewer than 10 times over
wooden bridges that overlook the river flowing far below. All around
there is beautiful natural scenery, from the high cliffs of the
surrounding mountains to the trees making their seasonal turn to many
different shades of yellow, orange and brown.
Runners hit a quick downhill and uphill just before the 7-mile marker
in the half marathon (and the 20-mile marker in the full marathon),
where the course falls and quickly rises a little over 100 feet in
elevation, but after that the course resumes its steady, mild descent
toward the finish. As they near the finish, after trekking through a
combination of wooded forest areas, open meadows and alongside the
river, runners get to run through two old railroad tunnels in the final
few miles of the race. To make sure they're well lit inside, organizers
place miners' lights throughout both tunnels.
In addition to Saturday's race, the Bizz Johnson Trail race weekend
offers those who want to run a half marathon two chances to do so --
with Saturday's Bizz Johnson Trail Express Half Marathon, or with a
second half marathon on Sunday. In Sunday's 13.1-mile race, the course
follows an out-and-back route over the last quarter of the full
marathon route instead of starting at its half-way point. Because it
follows an out-and-back course, Sunday's half marathon is uphill for
the first half of the race, and downhill over the second 6.5 miles.
Race
Weather & Climate
Located near the northernmost tip of the state in Northern California,
about 165 miles northwest of Sacramento, the town of Westwood typically
sees warm, dry weather in the late summer and cooler, somewhat wetter
conditions in the early and middle fall. In October, average monthly
temperatures range between 64°F and 35°F, while
rainfall totals average about 2.18 inches for the month.
Fees
$35 for the half marathon, if registered before January 1, 2009
$50 after Jan. 1
Registration
To reserve your spot in the fall 2009 running of Westwood's
Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K or 5K, register online at CTROnlineStore.com.
Website
www.bizzjohnson.com
Course Map
Share
Your Race Story
Ever run in Westwood's annual Bizz Johnson Trail Half Marathon? Share
your impressions and read fellow runners' stories
and tips for the event.
Discuss it in the HalfMarathons.Net
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