Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon

The only things I new about this marathon was that it was above 5000 feet, it was on trails, and it was downhill. I was scared about the altitude, but happy I wouldn't be pounding pavement, and that I wouldn't have to do a lot of vertical. The race ended up being a real pleasure, with just enough people from two races to let me know I hadn't wandered off course. The altitude ended up being no big deal- I ran way faster than I expected. The aid stations were perfect, spaced every 2-3miles. My only complaint is the course marking could have used a few pylons(or a human) at the 1st turnaround to make it more obvious- Many of us probably ran an extra 1/8 -1/2 mile because we were focused on running instead of the smudged chalk. Other than that every marking worked OK. The organizers had a great attitude, and were universally helpful. Bottom line, this is a 'must do' race IMHO.

Really enjoyed this run. We were fortunate to have excellent weather. Clear, light breeze, cool at the start, getting a little warm at the end but not intolerable. I ran the 50K and was pleased with my time. The course is mostly downhill but the grade is slight and it does not thrash your quads. Friendly volunteers and excellent aid stations. Buses to the start and from the finish back to the starting point were on time and comfortable. 'Trail' in this case mostly means not paved, and the surface was good. I recommend these races if you don't want a crowd scene but want to challenge yourself.

I live nearby and have run on the trail many times, but figured it was time I ran the race. I did the regular half. Even knowing the course, my breath was taken away (not by the altitude!) by the gorgeous scenery and fall colors. We have mostly orange and yellows here. I loved the quiet and solitude of the run. The aid stations looked stocked! This course is not going to be faster than a road course, but if you worked very hard you may be able to PR here. The finish was very low key. There wasn't a table set up with drinks and snacks. They were getting ready for a yummy looking BBQ, which is included, but I needed something right away as I didn't take anything during the run. I disagree that the tunnels need more light. I love running through the dark tunnels! The lanterns cast shadows across little pebbles and slight dips making them appear larger than they were. They keep the tunnels well maintained, so running through them blind isn't a concern. The weather can be either very cold the entire day or start out cold and get fairly hot. There's often a wind blowing in the last section from Devil's Corral to the finish. I'd definitely do this event again, sticking with the out & back half as that is the prettiest section.