
Susanville, United States of America · Sunday 11 October 2026
The course begins at Mason Station, nestled within the Lassen National Forest, and initially requires runners to ascend approximately 280 feet to reach Westwood Junction. After this opening climb, the course transitions into a predominantly downhill route, descending about 1,300 feet over the final 20 miles until the finish in Susanville. This extended descent creates unique pacing demands and can be challenging for quads as the downhill gradient becomes sustained.\n\nRunners follow the historic
Adjusted Time
4:34:30
Time difference: +34.5 minutes compared to a flat, road, temperate course.
Bizz Johnson Marathon is a full marathon held in Susanville, United States of America, scheduled for Sunday 11 October 2026. The course is run on trail surface with 169m of total elevation gain, reaching a maximum altitude of 1700m above sea level. For registration and full race details, visit the official Bizz Johnson Marathon website.
With 169m of elevation gain, this is a moderately undulating course. The route ranges from 1297m to 1700m above sea level (403m total range). While not completely flat, the elevation changes are manageable for most runners and shouldn't significantly impact pacing strategy.
Based on historical weather data for October, the expected race day conditions are as follows. Near-ideal running temperatures are expected, ranging from 2°C to 17°C. This temperature range is widely considered optimal for marathon performance, allowing efficient heat dissipation without cold-related issues. There is a low chance of rain (3%), so dry conditions are likely.
Bizz Johnson Marathon is a trail race, meaning the course includes unpaved surfaces such as dirt, gravel, or forest paths. Trail surfaces are inherently slower than road courses due to uneven footing, technical sections, and often steeper gradients. Trail-specific shoes with good grip are recommended, and runners should expect a finish time 10-20% slower than their equivalent road marathon time.
Our difficulty rating for Bizz Johnson Marathon is calculated using a model that combines elevation gain, temperature impact, and surface type. Use the difficulty calculator above to enter your target finish time and see exactly how many minutes this course would add or subtract compared to a perfectly flat, cool, road-based marathon. Faster runners and slower runners are affected differently by the same course conditions, so the difficulty is personalised to your pace.
Looking for an easier marathon or a tougher challenge? You can also compare Bizz Johnson Marathon against other marathons to find the right race for your goals.
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